Champions League: FC Bayern loses the first leg of the round of 16 at Lazio Rome after a red card and penalty

First leg defeat at Lazio Rome
FC Bayern suffers bitter CL defeat after red and “slapstick”

February 14, 2024, 10:51 p.m

After the setback in the fight for the Bundesliga championship, FC Bayern suffered the next bitter setback. The Munich team lost the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Lazio Rome. A hard foul by Dayot Upamecano is followed by a red card and then the goal.

The extremely insecure FC Bayern have taken their old worries with them to the “eternal city”, and their big dream of returning to Wembley is in danger of bursting prematurely. After the sobering 0-1 (0-0) at Lazio Rome, the Munich team has to fear their first round of 16 exit in the Champions League since 2019 – and coach Thomas Tuchel is seriously worried about his job. The first titleless football season since 2011/12 is looming. Tuchel watched the gruesome events at times shaking his head and with his hands in front of his face.

“We have to take the lead in the first half. There was a reaction. We had three clear chances, we have to do those things,” said Thomas Müller at DAZN. The second half was “characterized by uncertainty again”: “It was a bit slapstick.” Tuchel was “frustrated and angry”. “We lost the game, I don’t know if Lazio won,” he said. “We completely lost track in the second half. But we still have a second leg.” According to the data service provider Opta, Tuchel suffered his tenth defeat in his 43rd competitive game as Bayern coach – that’s how many times his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann had lost in his 84 games.

Defender Dayot Upamecano’s entry into the penalty area against Lazio attacker Gustav Isaksen, which was punished with a red card and a penalty, led to the next bitter defeat. Ex-Dortmunder Ciro Immobile, with strong nerves, converted from the spot in the 69th minute against the hopeless Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Being outnumbered, Bayern were unable to turn things around. There needs to be a significant improvement in the second leg on March 5th. However, the big goal of returning to London for the final on June 1st eleven years after the triumph at Wembley seems as far away as the Colosseum is from a modern football temple.

The fact that Tuchel returned to the tried and tested playing system and an eleven with the drivers Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich after the 0:3 in the top league game at Bayer Leverkusen had an effect. However, despite having a lot of possession, it didn’t translate into goals. The offensive forces around Harry Kane, Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala are currently clearly lacking form and esprit. “I hope that we play without a backpack,” Tuchel said shortly before kick-off at DAZN. For long stretches, Munich’s game, which was once again riddled with mistakes, seemed like hard work.

Kimmich needs to be treated during the break

At the Stadio Olimpico, the infamous Lazio fans got in the mood for a big evening with a light show, disco fog and the Sinatra classic “My Way”. On the sidelines, a real eagle spread its mighty wings, the supporters encouraged their favorites with the choreo saying “Momento audere semper” (Remember to always have the courage) by the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio.

Kimmich, who tried a shot early on (2nd), and Müller, who set up a chance for Kane a little later (7th), tried to take control of the game from the start. Like the rest of the team, it was clear that the two leaders were lacking ease after difficult days in the Bundesliga. Especially since Lazio limited themselves to defense at the beginning and showed little interest in creating space and thus offering Bayern space.

A free kick from Sané, who was far from his form in the first half of the season, narrowly missed the goal (32′). Musiala’s finish after a good individual performance (40′) would normally be hard to highlight, but it was one of Munich’s few chances to take the lead in the first half that evening. Müller discussed with Jamal Musiala and Kane after playful misunderstandings. Tuchel watched the encounter sometimes standing, sometimes sitting with a critical eye.

The Bayern defense around Upamecano and Minjae Kim was hardly challenged in the first half. Coach Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio team – unlike Leverkusen four days ago – mainly deals with pressing, but not with dangerous offensive actions. Exceptions were Luis Alberto’s shot, which narrowly missed Neuer’s goal (22′), and Isaksen’s shot, which missed the target even more clearly (37′). During the break, Kimmich received treatment on his ankle but was able to continue playing.

Tuchel changes things – without much effect

“Lazio will make the most of being an outsider,” Tuchel had predicted – and he was right. The seventh-placed team in Serie A remained an uncomfortable opponent, driven by the loud home crowd – and was suddenly dangerous to score at the beginning of the second half. After a mistake by Upamecano, the ball went to Isaksen, but he was too hesitant to finish and was denied by Neuer (48′). Lazio now sensed how vulnerable Bayern are.

Tuchel had already made a slight change, ordering Musiala to the center behind Kane, Sané to the left and Müller to the right. But the measure couldn’t really inspire Bayern’s game. Then Upamecano initiated the next setback with his clear foul on Isaksen in the penalty area: Immobile made the fans in Rome cheer. With one man less, the task became even more difficult for the Munich team.

On the other hand, Bayern once again failed to showcase their star striker Kane. Many attacks were carried out too slowly and were easy for the eighth in Serie A to calculate. In the final phase, Lazio even pushed for the second goal. Felipe Anderson missed the chance to make it 2-0 (89′).