Bayern Munich vs Lazio Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Round of 16
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THE FACTS
When is Bayern Munich vs Lazio on and what time does it start? Bayern Munich vs Lazio will take place on Tuesday 5th February, 2024 – 20:00 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Bayern Munich vs Lazio? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Bayern Munich vs Lazio on in the UK? Bayern Munich vs Lazio will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Bayern Munich vs Lazio in the UK? Bayern Munich vs Lazio can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
BAYERN MUNICH
Bayern Munich have won 11 of their last 13 home fixtures in all competitions and if the six-time European champions are to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 Champions League, they will need to make it 12 wins from 14. It’s also worth noting that the Rekordmeister’s most recent 13 Champions League games played at home have seen them victorious ten times with just three draws and no defeats.
Since the Bundesliga title holders’ 1-0 defeat in Rome, one of three defeats for Bayern over the course of a week, it has been announced that head coach Thomas Tuchel will leave his post at the end of the season. With Bayer Leverkusen now ten points clear in the Bundesliga, this competition potentially represents Bayern’s last realistic chance at silverware this season.
LAZIO
Lazio have given themselves a real opportunity of pulling off what would be their first ever victory in a two-legged Champions League knockout stage tie after beating ten-man Bayern by a goal to nil in the first-leg. The Lazio fans created a magnificent atmosphere in Rome and Maurizio Sarri’s side made home advantage count, winning a second-half penalty which was converted by Ciro Immobile, giving them a slender lead to take with them to Munich.
Such an effort may have taken its toll from a domestic standpoint, with Lazio having three of their four Serie A fixtures since the first-leg. But that counts for very little here and the Italians will no doubt be ready to put it the effort required for them to finish the job in Germany. Whilst they’ll need to be at their best again defensively, the visitors will be confident that chances to score themselves will come along against a fragile Bayern backline.
THE TEAM NEWS
BAYERN MUNICH
Although Leroy Sane missed his side’s draw against Freiburg last Friday, the dynamic winger is back in training and should be available for this crucial second-leg. Dayot Upamecano is suspended following his sending off in the first-leg, whilst Kingsley Coman misses out through injury. With both Noussair Mazraoui and Sacha Boey both injured, Joshua Kimmich is likely to play at right-back, with Aleksandar Pavlovic partnering Leon Goretzka in central midfield.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, Kim, Davies; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Kane
UNAVAILABLE: Boey (Injured), Coman (Injured), Mazraoui (Injured), Peretz (Injured), Sarr (Injured), Upamecano (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE: Gnabry (Injured), Sane (Injured)
LAZIO
It would be no surprise if Sarri was to name the same starting XI who triumphed over Bayern in Italy, despite midfielder Matias Vecino being available on this occasion. The midfield trio of Guendouzi, Cataldi and Luis Alberto were excellent across the first-leg and breaking them up would be a risk. Nicolo Rovella is doubtful with a hernia and could join Patricio Gil (Patric) on the sidelines.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Alberto; Isaksen, Immobile, Anderson
UNAVAILABLE: Patric (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Rovella (Injured)
THE KEY STATS
- Bayern Munich have won their last six UEFA competition matches at home against Italian clubs.
- Bayern Munich have won the second leg in eight of their last nine UEFA Champions League round of 16 ties.
- Bayern Munich have never lost both legs of a UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie.
- Bayern Munich have not lost two successive UEFA Champions League matches since the 2016/17 quarter-finals when they were beaten in both legs by Real Madrid.
- Bayern Munich have won 11 of their last 12 UEFA Champions League round of 16 ties. The exception is their 2018/19 defeat by Liverpool (0-0 a, 1-3 h).
- Harry Kane has scored 20 goals in Bayern Munich’s last 15 matches in all competitions.
- Lazio have won four of their last six UEFA Champions League matches (L2).
- Lazio have won only one of their previous nine UEFA competition matches away from home against German clubs (D3 L5).
- Lazio have only failed to score in one of their last 21 UEFA Champions League matches (GS to F).
- Lazio have lost the second leg in four of their last six UEFA competition ties (D2).
THE PREDICTION
Expect Lazio to spend much of this second-leg camped inside their own half as Bayern Munich unleash wave-upon-wave of attack on their goal. Tuchel will no doubt stress the importance of patience to his squad pre-match, but with the stakes so high and Bayern’s side packed full of experience in crunch European encounters, they’ll know the importance of starting strongly. But although Bayern have Harry Kane within their ranks, Lazio boast a perennial goalscorer of their own in Immobile and if the experienced frontman gets one chance, don’t bet against him burying it. The hosts have now gone seven games in all competitions without a clean sheet and the smart move here is to back both teams to score across 90 minutes, regardless of which team progresses through to the quarter-finals.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
