Prediction: Lazio vs Bayern Munich

Verdict: Ciro Immobile to score anytime

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Unibet

In a contest that could see a string of chances in midweek, Lazio and Bayern Munich will turn their attention back to Champions League duties when they meet at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night.

Lazio

Starting with the hosts, while Lazio might have seen their eye-catching Serie A purple patch come to an abrupt end away at Inter Milan last week, the Italian outfit managed to make an immediate return to winning ways over the weekend. Eventually claiming a 1-0 win against Sampdoria on home soil, the Eagles will be desperate to keep up that momentum in midweek. On the verge of forcing a route back into the top-four, Head Coach Simone Inzaghi should find the mood in his camp at a high. Entering Tuesday’s showdown after winning seven of their last eight Serie A matchups, Lazio have also lost just a single top-flight contest since returning from the festive break. If Inzaghi’s men are to pick up what would be a shock advantage in Rome, then the Eagles will be calling on attacking talisman Ciro Immobile to spearhead their charge. The Italian international has already notched himself 19 goals across all formats this season, including five in this year’s Champions League.

Team News

Lazio will be without the quartet of Luiz Felipe, Stefan Radu, Thomas Strakosha and Silvio Proto on Tuesday night.

Bayern Munich

As for the visitors, while Bayern Munich might have managed to lift the FIFA World Cup earlier in the month, the German giants are showing a host of issues. Watching RB Leipzig cut their buffer at the top of the Bundesliga table to just two points, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men put in another worrying display over the weekend. Eventually getting hit with a shock 2-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, the defending European champions also had to settle for an action-packed 3-3 draw against top-flight debutants Arminia Bielefeld on February 15th. While Flick might have been open about his side’s recent issues at the back, a red-hot Robert Lewandowski has once again continued to break records by the week. Bagging what turned out to be a consolation strike against Frankfurt over the weekend, the Polish striker has notched a stunning 33 goals for club and country so far this season. Despite their recent blip, it should also be highlighted that Bayern have not lost a Champions League contest on the road since March 2019.

Team News

Expected to be without a string of first-team stars in midweek, Both Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Muller are missing due to COVID-19.

Likewise, Corentin Tolisso, Serge Gnabry, Douglas Costa, Alexander Nubel and Tanguy Nianzou all have injury issues.

Key Factors to Consider

• Including that 2-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich have failed to win back-to-back Bundesliga games for the first time since the middle of December.
• However, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski has already recorded 33 goals for club and country so far this season.
• Likewise, including five Champions League goals, Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has 19 goals across all formats so far this season.
• Lazio have won seven of their last eight Serie A matchups.
• Eight of Lazio’s last nine Champions League fixtures on home soil has finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

Although Bayern Munich might open Tuesday’s meeting as a top pick with the bookmakers, the German giants could face a tough test out in Rome. Hit with a 2-1 defeat away at Eintracht Frankfurt over the weekend, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men failed to bounce back from that stunning 3-3 draw against Bundesliga debutants Arminia Bielefeld on February 15th. Up against a Lazio side that have managed to win seven of their last eight Serie A contests, Ciro Immobile should be smelling a chance to make a real marker. With Bayern missing a host of first-team stars on Tuesday night, the Italian striker should get some chances against a struggling German defence. Already recording five Champions League goals so far this season, we’re backing the one-time Borussia Dortmund striker to extend on that tally this week.

Verdict: Ciro Immobile to score anytime

Best Odds: 6/5

Bookmaker: Unibet