Bayern Munich v Lazio – Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Bayern Munich face Lazio in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. Die Roten trail 1-0 in the tie and need to turn around some awful recent form. The Biancocelesti have lost five of their last nine matches and were fortunate to beat ten men in the first leg.

Bayern Form

Thomas Tuchel is having a tough time at Bayern and may not even see out the season after all. They have lost four of ten matches in 2024, beginning with a 1-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen. They responded with three successive Bundesliga victories but that proved a false dawn.

A 3-0 humbling at Bayer Leverkusen saw Bayern Munich have lost one shot on target. They lost 1-0 in Rome to Lazio after a red card and defensive errors led to a 3-2 loss at Bochum. After an announcement that Tuchel would depart in May, they beat RB Leipzig 2-1 after Harry Kane’s late winner. On Friday, Die Roten conceded late in a damaging 2-2 draw at SC Freiburg.

Bayern Team News

Bayern are set to recall Konrad Laimer after injury at right back. Alphonso Davies is back from injury and may be thrown into the XI at left-back after one substitute outing. Bouna Sarr, Sacha Boey, and Noussair Mazraoui are all injured.

Dayot Upamecano is suspended after his first-leg red card, meaning Eric Dier could start in central defence. Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry are out injured and Leroy Sane needs a late fitness test to determine his involvement.

Bayern Motivation

It’s not clear if the players can summon a good performance. They no longer seem to be playing for the coach.

Anything other than progressing to the next round would see the season have nothing to play for. Tuchel would probably be fired immediately.

Lazio Form

Lazio are in poor form with five losses in nine matches in all competitions. After a 3-0 thrashing in the Super Cup at Inter Milan, they later lost 3-1 at Atalanta. Before the first leg, they won 3-1 at Cagliari and then beat ten-man Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rome.

Since then, they have lost 2-1 away to Bologna in a damaging defeat in the top four race. After winning 2-0 at Torino, they have lost two more Serie A matches before this clash. They were beaten 2-1 at Fiorentina and lost 1-0 at home to AC Milan on Friday night as they finished with eight men.

Lazio Team News

Sarri remains without centre-back Patric (sprained ankle) and midfielder Nicolo Rovella who has a groin injury. Nicolo Casale was rested on Friday but should start over Mario Gila in defence.

Ciro Immobile and Gustav Isaksen were both used as substitutes against AC Milan. The former will return to the XI whilst the latter will hope to start.

Lazio Motivation

The Biancocelesti are desperate to progress, hence Sarri’s decision to rest Immobile in the last match.

Lazio will play a pretty defensive game and look to protect their 1-0 advantage.

Key Stats

Bayern Munich have lost 3 of their last 5 matches

Bayern have lost 11 of 46 matches under Thomas Tuchel

Bayern Munich have conceded in their last 7 matches

Lazio have lost 5 of their last 9 matches

Lazio have scored 1 or fewer goals in 8 of their last 11 matches

Verdict

Bayern are low on confidence, but they have enough to progress from this tie. They’ve been leaking goals so a win with both teams on target looks like a smart tip.

Best Bet: Bayern Munich win and Both to Score at 3.05
Alternative Bet: Bayern Munich (-1 handicap) at 1.76
Goalscorer Tip: Kane to score two or more goals at 4.00

James O'Connor

James is a football analyst who writes about the tactics of the PSL and English Premier League. He holds the UEFA A coaching licence and has previously worked for several clubs in analysis roles.Twitter: https://twitter.com/footy_analysis