Bayern Munich vs Lazio: UCL round of 16 second leg Preview

The Ruckrunde continues to get worse for Bayern Munich as they dropped two more points in the Bundesliga on Friday. After conceding a late equalizer away at Freiburg on matchday 24, Bayern have given Bayer Leverkusen a lead of ten points at the top of the points table.

With the hopes of retaining the Bundesliga title fading every weekend, Bayern have to step up in the Champions League to avoid a trophyless season. The Bavarian club will host Lazio in the second leg of the round of 16 phase on Tuesday. The Italian club visits Allianz Arena with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg. Bayern will need a convincing performance on Tuesday to keep their season alive in the Champions League. Let us look at what will be the possible starting XI for Die Roten against Lazio.

Team News

Serge Gnabry is expected to make a return to the matchday squad on Tuesday after being on the sidelines for three months due to a serious injury. Alphonso Davies is also fit to start the game after making his return to the team against Freiburg. Leroy Sane is expected to return on Tuesday after missing the game against Freiburg due to a minor injury.

Dayot Upamecano will miss the game against Lazio due to suspension. Kingsley Coman is eyeing a return to action from a knee injury later this month. Sacha Boey and Noussair Mazraoui have resumed training on the pitch, but Tuesday’s game comes too soon for both right-backs. Daniel Peretz and Bouna Sarr remain on the sidelines for the Bavarian club due to injuries.

Predicted Starting XI

Bayern will need a big performance from Manuel Neuer on Tuesday. The German goalkeeper has been in fine form, but he has been let down by the way the team has collectively defended in Ruckrunde. Neuer will hope to deliver a solid performance against Lazio and keep a clean sheet to do his part in helping the team qualify for the next round.

With Upamecano suspended for the game, Tuchel is expected to stick with Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier as the center-back pairing. Raphael Guerreiro has been in good form when Davies was injured, so I expect Tuchel to stick with the Portuguese left-back. Joshua Kimmich will continue to play in the right-back position since Boey and Mazraoui are ruled out due to injuries.

The selection in midfield is also straightforward. Leon Goretzka is set to be the senior midfielder for Die Roten against Lazio. The German international is expected to start alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic. Konrad Laimer will become a midfield option later in the game.

Mathys Tel made the most of the opportunity he got against Freiburg. The French forward is expected to start on Tuesday since Sane is not completely fit to play from the first minute. Jamal Musiala and Thomas Muller will complete the attacking trio behind Harry Kane.

Neuer
Kimmich-Dier-De Ligt-Guerreiro
Pavlovic-Goretzka
Musiala-Muller-Tel
Kane

Score Prediction

Bayern Munich 3-1 Lazio

Bayern will start the game at a good tempo to erase the deficit. I expect it to be a close game, but Bayern will do enough to win the tie on an aggregate score of 3-2. I wouldn’t be surprised if Musiala and Kane are on the scoresheet due to their recent form in the final third.