Bayern Munich suffers 1st-leg loss to Lazio in UEFA Champions League
Lazio secured a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 match.
Immobile's Penalty Seals the Win for Lazio
Ciro Immobile scored a penalty in the 69th minute, leading Lazio to a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash. The goal came after Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano committed a foul on Gustav Isaksen, resulting in a straight red card for Upamecano.
Lazio displayed disciplined defense throughout the game, preventing Bayern from creating any significant scoring opportunities. In fact, Bayern failed to register a single shot on target in the match, the first time they have done so since February 2019. Despite having 17 shots, Bayern could not find the back of the net.
The defeat adds to Bayern Munich's recent woes, following their 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. It leaves them under increased pressure and puts their coach Thomas Tuchel in a precarious position.
Bayern Struggles to Find Rhythm
Bayern started the game strongly and created early chances for Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane, but both narrowly missed the target. However, as the match progressed, Bayern found it difficult to break down Lazio's disciplined defensive line. Their only notable chance came in the 40th minute when Jamal Musiala fired over the bar from close range.
Coach Thomas Tuchel expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, particularly in the second half, where they made several individual errors and lost concentration. He acknowledged that the responsibility for the loss lies with the team.
Despite the consecutive defeats, Tuchel remained confident about his future and brushed off concerns about his position as Bayern's coach.
Lazio Looks Ahead to the Second Leg
Lazio's victory in the first leg has given them a significant advantage going into the return leg in Munich on March 5. Ciro Immobile, who scored the winning penalty, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and their ability to capitalize on the opportunities they had.
Lazio is determined to continue their impressive campaign in the Champions League and hopes to exploit their advantage in the second leg against Bayern Munich.
