- Lazio secured a 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 first leg, with Ciro Immobile’s penalty and Dayot Upamecano’s red card defining the heated game’s moments
- Despite the setback, Bayern’s Harry Kane urged his team to persevere, emphasizing the need to keep fighting
- Post-match, Bayern denounced racist abuse directed at Upamecano, while coach Thomas Tuchel faced scrutiny over the team’s performance
Lazio secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 tie, in a thrilling Champions League encounter.
The match, held in Rome, saw Italian striker Ciro Immobile emerge as the hero for Lazio, converting a crucial second-half penalty to give his team the edge.
However, the game was not without controversy as Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano received a red card for a challenge on Gustav Isaksen, leaving the German side with ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite Bayern’s relentless efforts, they were unable to find the back of the net, with Lazio’s defense holding firm throughout the game.
The match started with Bayern pressing high and creating several scoring opportunities, with Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane, and Leroy Sane all coming close to opening the scoring in the first half.
However, their efforts were thwarted by Lazio’s disciplined backline, led by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Lazio, who had suffered a 6-2 defeat to Bayern at this stage three years ago, showed resilience and determination, keeping the German giants at bay with a solid defensive performance.
While Bayern dominated possession and created chances, they struggled to break down Lazio’s defense, with their attacks often being repelled before they could pose a serious threat.
The turning point of the match came in the 69th minute when Upamecano’s mistimed challenge on Isaksen resulted in a penalty for Lazio.
Immobile stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly slotted the ball past Neuer to give Lazio the lead. With Bayern reduced to ten men, Lazio seized control of the game and held on to their slender advantage until the final whistle.
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Following the match, Bayern striker Harry Kane urged his teammates to keep fighting despite the defeat. Kane acknowledged the disappointment of going down to ten men but emphasized the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
He expressed confidence that Bayern could bounce back in the second leg and advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
However, the defeat added to Bayern’s recent struggles, with the team failing to score in their last two games across all competitions. Coach Thomas Tuchel, who faced mounting pressure after the loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, remained defiant in the aftermath of the Lazio defeat.
While acknowledging the frustration of the result, Tuchel expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back and vowed to continue working hard to turn their fortunes around.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich issued a statement condemning the racist abuse directed at defender Dayot Upamecano on social media following his red card.
The club emphasized that such hateful comments had no place in football and expressed solidarity with Upamecano in the face of such abuse.
As both teams prepare for the second leg of the tie, scheduled to take place at the Allianz Arena on March 5th, the pressure is on Bayern to overturn the deficit and secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. With tensions running high and the stakes higher than ever, football fans can expect another thrilling encounter between these two European giants.
