Bayern Munich Faces Uphill Battle After 1-0 Defeat to Lazio in Champions League Round of 16

In a tense Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash, Ciro Immobile’s 69th-minute penalty secured a 1-0 victory for Lazio over 10-man Bayern Munich. The decisive moment came after Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano’s clumsy challenge on Gustav Isaksen, leading to a red card for the French international.

Harry Kane, Bayern Munich’s striker, expressed the need for resilience after receiving brutally-low player ratings following the defeat. Despite having 17 shots, Bayern failed to register a single effort on target, and Kane’s performance drew criticism from German media.

In Bild’s player ratings, Kane received a ‘6,’ symbolizing a disappointing display. The defeat to Lazio adds to Bayern’s recent woes, having lost to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga over the weekend.

Kane, who started the season strongly, has seen a drop in form, scoring only six goals in his past 12 games. Bayern’s struggles extend beyond Kane, as they face the risk of ending the season without a trophy, having been eliminated from the German Cup by third-division side Saarbrucken.

The pressure on Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is mounting, with the Lazio loss marking his 10th defeat in 43 competitive matches. Tuchel, facing criticism, acknowledged the team’s frustration and vowed to keep working hard.

The upcoming second leg in Munich on March 5 presents a critical opportunity for Bayern to turn the tie around. However, Bayern’s recent statistics indicate a challenging task, as they have been eliminated on the past seven occasions they lost a Champions League first leg, dating back to 2015.

Bayern’s struggles are not limited to the Champions League, as they aim to recover in the Bundesliga title race, trailing leaders Bayer Leverkusen by five points.

The defeat to Lazio also highlighted racist comments directed at Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano on social media. Bayern Munich strongly condemned the comments, emphasizing that such behavior has no place within the club.

“FC Bayern strongly condemn the racist comments being directed towards Dayot Upamecano on social media. Anyone who comments hateful words such as these is no fan of our club. We’re all behind you, Upa!” Bayern posted on X, formerly Twitter.