Prediction: Lazio vs Bayern Munich

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: BetUS

Lazio and Bayern Munich are set to face each other in the first leg of their encounter in the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday evening and the Stadio Olimpico.

The Serie A side with enter the match on the back of a very important victory away to Cagliari a few days ago as they aim to close the gap to the top four, while Bayern have a lot to prove after suffering a proper thrashing at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, the current Bundesliga leaders.

Lazio

Despite their lackluster performance in domestic competitions, Lazio find themselves back in the Champions League knockout phase after navigating through a tumultuous group stage.

Having finished as runners-up to Italian champions Napoli last season, Lazio currently sit in eighth place in Serie A, struggling with inconsistency. They recently ended a three-match winless streak with the victory against Cagliari but remain five points behind the top four.

Their rough patch began with a humbling defeat to Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana, which prompted club president Claudio Lotito to publicly reassure head coach Maurizio Sarri of his position.

During the group stage, Lazio heavily relied on home advantage, finishing second to Atletico Madrid but above both Feyenoord and Celtic. Their highlight was goalkeeper Ivan Provedel’s unlikely late equalizer against Atletico, securing Lazio’s third appearance in the Champions League knockout rounds.

However, Lazio’s history in the knockout stages hasn’t been favorable, with immediate eliminations in their previous two appearances – against Valencia in 2000 and Bayern Munich in 2021. With Bayern as their opponent once again, Sarri’s priority will be to stay competitive after the first leg on Wednesday.

Team News

Though Nicolo Rovella returns from suspension, Sarri faces a decision between the Juventus-owned midfielder Danilo Cataldi and Matias Vecino to feature in Lazio’s three-man midfield, alongside Matteo Guendouzi and Luis Alberto.

On one hand, Spanish center-back Patric’s is still suffering from a shoulder problem, but on the other, there is hope for Mattia Zaccagni’s return to the Biancocelesti’s squad after recovering from a toe injury.

After scoring his 200th Serie A goal over the weekend, captain Ciro Immobile will once again lead Lazio’s attacking trio. The prolific Italy striker boasts an impressive record in the Champions League, averaging a goal every 99 minutes, with only Simone Inzaghi having scored more times for Lazio in Europe’s top club competition.

Bayern Munich

With an unbeaten streak in a dozen Champions League matches against Italian opponents, Bayern Munich have also advanced from 11 of their 12 most recent last-16 ties, barring their defeat to eventual champions Liverpool five years ago.

After dominating Group A, where they finished on top by eight points and secured victories in all but one match, the German giants are now eyeing another deep run in the tournament.

Under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance, Bayern swiftly dispatched Copenhagen, Galatasaray, and Manchester United. Tuchel, who previously led Paris Saint-Germain to the 2020 final and guided Chelsea to Champions League glory the following year, now faces the challenge of maintaining Bayern’s European momentum.

However, Tuchel’s tenure in Munich hasn’t been entirely smooth, with Bayern currently trailing Leverkusen by five points in the Bundesliga following the 3-0 defeat to their title rivals over the weekend. Their usually prolific scorer Harry Kane was kept quiet in the match, and Tuchel’s side struggled to generate attacking momentum, resulting in a comprehensive loss against Xabi Alonso’s team.

While Lazio remain active in the Coppa Italia, having secured a place in the semi-finals by defeating arch-rivals Roma last month, Bayern has experienced setbacks in the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup.

For a club accustomed to winning trophies, facing the prospect of a season without silverware is particularly challenging from Bayern’s perspective. This places additional pressure on Kane and his teammates to deliver in the Champions League and salvage the season with European success.

Team News

Kane has been a standout performer for Bayern in the Champions League this season, being directly involved in more goals than any other player with four goals and three assists. This level of involvement was only surpassed by his performance in the 2017/18 season. Bayern have also bolstered their squad with the additions of Sacha Boey, Eric Dier, and Bryan Zaragoza since the group stage, although Zaragoza’s availability for Wednesday’s match may be in question due to illness.

However, Thomas Tuchel’s side continue to grapple with injuries and absences, with players like Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Konrad Laimer, and Bouna Sarr unavailable for selection. Additionally, there are doubts surrounding Alphonso Davies due to a muscular injury. Tuchel may opt to make tactical adjustments, possibly reverting to a four-man defense following their recent match against Leverkusen. This could see Eric Dier dropped to the bench to accommodate the change.

Conclusion

Bayern’s track record in the Champions League speaks for itself, and despite the recent struggles, they remain a formidable force. With a versatile and potent attacking lineup, they pose a significant threat to any opponent.

Lazio, on the other hand, have been inconsistent and vulnerable in recent matches, which could make it challenging for them to contain Bayern’s attacking prowess for the full duration of the match. While upsets can happen in football, it would likely require a major one for Sarri’s side to come out victorious over Bayern, considering the quality and experience of the German champions.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: BetUS