Bayern Munich is not a normal team. The Bavarians visit the Olympic Stadium in Rome tonight (9:00 p.m.) with more demands than they have had in recent years in the premier competition. Despite being the favorites, they will have to deliver without excuses against the team led by Maurizio Sarri to put out a fire that was lit after the painful defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga (3-0).
In practically no club in the world could it be considered a crisis to be five points behind the leader in the League and in the round of 16 of the Champions League. But the reality in Munich is different.. The painting directed by Thomas Tuchel, which has not lost a Bundesliga since the 2011/12 season, is ‘obliged’ to dominate in Germany and perform well in Europe. YesHowever, the situation in the Bundesliga and the premature elimination of the DFB-Pokal increase the tension ahead of the European tie against Lazio.
A COMPLICATED ENVIRONMENT
At this point in the season, Bayern has said goodbye to two titles. First, they lost the German Super Cup against RB Leizpig (0-3), on August 12. Afterwards, they were eliminated from the DFB–Cup against a Third Division team, Saarbrücken (2-1), on November 1, 2023.
In the Bundesliga, its favorite competition, the situation is dangerous. Second, five points behind the leader, Bayer Leverkusen, the threat of ending an 11-year hegemony torments a team that has not yet transmitted the best sensations on the field.
Leroy Sané, sunk after the defeat against Leverkusen / EFE
It seems that the stars have aligned against Bayern, who will face the duel with a significant list of injured players. Tuchel will not be able to count on proven footballers like Alphonso Davies, Kinglsey Coman, Konrad Laimer, Serge Gnabry y Bouna Sarr. Youngsters Daniel Peretz, Tarek Buchmann, Tom Hüslmann and Gabriel Marusic are also injured. Bryan Zaragoza It will be doubt until the end.
FEW OPTIONS FOR LAZIO
On paper, Lazio does not have many options in the tie, even less in a two-legged match.. Eighth in Serie A with 37 points and classified for the Coppa semi-finals, Sarri’s men dream of hitting the table in Europe. Everything will depend, to a certain extent, on the result they achieve at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, where they have only lost two of the last 16 games played (10 wins and four draws).
Lazio wants to surprise Bayern Munich / EFE
Lazio’s great weak point is consistency. Sarri has highlighted this on more than one occasion: “When I talk about my team lacking power, I don’t just mean physically, but also mentally. Sometimes we lack these aspects, even though we are the best in many other statistics“he explained at a press conference.
In his favor, Sarri will be able to count on practically the entire squad for the match. While Bayern is punished by several significant losses, Lazio will not be able to count only on Patri y Zaccagni.