Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich face a vital Champions League last-16 second leg in opposition to Lazio on Tuesday, trailing by a single purpose from the primary leg in Rome.
The Serie A facet, aiming for his or her first quarterfinal look in 20 years, holds the benefit.
However, the Bavarians, in search of their seventh European crown and having reached the quarterfinals for the previous three years, will not be a workforce to be underestimated.
Despite a dominant efficiency within the group stage, the place they topped Group A by eight factors, Bayern suffered a setback in Rome, shedding 1-0.
The turning level was Dayot Upamecano’s pink card and the next penalty transformed by Lazio’s captain, Ciro Immobile, halfway by way of the second half.
Adding to Bayern’s challenges is the upcoming departure of their supervisor, Thomas Tuchel, whose tenure in Munich has been much less profitable than his stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Currently trailing Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen by 10 factors, Bayern’s current kind has been shaky, with only one win of their final 5 matches.
While Bayern have a powerful report at house within the Champions League, being unbeaten in 13 matches and profitable 10, historical past suggests a comeback is not going to be straightforward.
They have been eradicated from their final seven Champions League ties after shedding the primary leg.
On the opposite hand, Lazio, again within the knockout part after an eventful group stage, are in a promising place.
Immobile’s penalty purpose offers them the benefit and they are going to be aiming to safe their first quarterfinal spot since 2000.
Despite their sturdy European report, Lazio have been eradicated on each earlier events they reached this stage, together with by Bayern in 2021.
Bayern will likely be with out Upamecano as a result of suspension, whereas Lazio’s important harm issues are Nicolo Rovella and Patric.
The German facet will look to gamers like Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel for inspiration, whereas Lazio will depend on Immobile and Luis Alberto to create alternatives.
Real Sociedad vs. PSG
In one other conflict, Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are set to conflict as soon as once more, with the return fixture happening on the Reale Arena.
The first leg on the Parc des Princes noticed the Parisians emerge victorious with a 2-0 win after weathering an early storm from Real Sociedad.
La Real, semifinalists of the outdated European Cup in 1982-83, confirmed promise within the first half of the preliminary encounter however did not convert their possibilities.
Kylian Mbappe broke the impasse for PSG within the 58th minute, adopted by Bradley Barcola’s purpose, leaving Real Sociedad with a two-goal deficit to beat.
However, historical past shouldn’t be on Real Sociedad’s facet, as they’ve struggled in Champions League knockout rounds previously.
Momentum can also be missing, with the workforce experiencing defeats of their current matches, together with a painful loss within the Copa del Rey semifinals.
On the opposite hand, PSG, nonetheless trying to find their first top-level European honor, will look to take care of their spectacular 20-match unbeaten run.
Despite some current attracts in Ligue 1, PSG stay a formidable opponent, led by supervisor Luis Enrique.
Real Sociedad will welcome again key defender Aritz Elustondo for the second leg, however they nonetheless have a number of gamers sidelined as a result of accidents.
PSG, in the meantime, might even see the return of Marquinhos, however they are going to be with out a number of key gamers as a result of numerous health points.
Mbappe’s early substitution within the final Ligue 1 sport raised eyebrows, however Enrique assured that it was a tactical determination.
Whether PSG can proceed their sturdy kind with out Mbappe stays to be seen, however they are going to be decided to safe one other victory and transfer nearer to the elusive Champions League glory.
Source: www.dailysabah.com