FC Bayern Munich has been one of the ever-present sides in the UEFA Champions League over the years, going on to win the competition six times since its inception. Their latest triumph in the competition coming in 2020. Meanwhile, SS. Lazio, back in the competition after a two-year absence gave a good account of themselves in the group stages and their efforts have earned them a place in the knockout rounds.
The 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League group stage draw saw FC Bayern Munich pitched against the likes of Copenhagen, Galatasaray, and slumbering English giants Manchester United in group A while Lazio had to jostle with the likes of Atletico Madrid, Feyenoord, and Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in group E for a round of 16 spot.
FC Bayern Munich kicked off their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a very interesting seven-goal thriller against Manchester United with the Bavarians emerging 4-3 victors. Bayern took the lead twenty-eight minutes in after Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana made a mess of Sane’s tame shot, turning the ball into the back of the net. Serge Gnabry doubled Bayern’s lead just four minutes later with a left-footed strike into the bottom-right corner of the net.
United striker Rasmus Hojlund pulled one back for the Red Devils after the restart but Bayern responded almost immediately as Harry Kane converted from the penalty spot after Christian Eriksen’s handball in the box was penalized. Casemiro pulled another one back for United late in the game but any hopes of grabbing an equalizer were quickly buried by Bayern substitute Mathys Tel as he doubled their lead yet again, blasting his effort past Onana. Casemiro scored his second and United’s third in the fifth minute of stoppage time after heading in from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick.
The Bavarians followed up their win against Manchester United with another win against FC Copenhagen in their second group stage match, coming from behind to win 2-1 courtesy of Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel after Lukas Lerager put Copenhagen in front. Back-to-back wins against Galatasaray saw Bayern Munich secure a place in the round of 16 for sure. However, their trend of unblemished group-stage campaigns was broken by a resilient Copenhagen side who held the Bavarians to a 0-0 stalemate at the Allianz Arena. Bayern ended their group-stage campaign with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
On the other hand, Lazio kicked off their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a 1-1 stalemate against Atletico Madrid. The Spanish side went ahead against the run of play after Pablo Barrios’ effort from range took a hefty deflection to end up in the back of the net. Lazio got a last-minute equalizer most astonishingly as their goalkeeper Ivan Provedel came up for a last-minute corner kick which was repelled by the Atletico Madrid defense however, the shot-stopper managed to ghost through the Atleti defense to get on the end of a second cross speared in by Luis Alberto, grabbing a point for his team at the death.
Lazio secured all three points in their second group-stage match against Scottish giants Celtic. The Biancocelesti came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory. Kyogo Furuhashi put Celtic ahead twelve minutes into the first half, applying the finishing touch to a superb passage of play involving Diazen Maeda and Matthew O’Riley before Matia Vecino’s header drew Lazio level in the 29th minute.
Pedro Rodriguez won it for the Biancocelesti in the 95th minute with another header, guiding in Matteo Guendouzi’s teasing cross at the back post. Lazio fell short against Feyenoord in their next game, losing 3-1 but bounced back in the reverse fixture with a 1-0 victory, Ciro Immobile got the only goal of the game. Another victory over Celtic was enough for the Biancocelesti to book a place in the round of 16 despite losing their final group-stage match against Atletico Madrid 2-0.
As per the head-to-head records, FC Bayern Munich and SS Lazio have met twice in the UEFA Champions League. The Bavarians have triumphed on both occasions, scoring 6 goals, while Lazio managed just two goals.
Match tickets
This exciting encounter at the Allianz Arena in Munich is set to kick off on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 20:00 GMT.
The 75, 024 capacity stadium is set to host this intriguing encounter.
Getting tickets for the Bayern Munich v SS Lazio tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Line-ups
Tuchel’s Bayern focus on building up from the half-spaces and wide areas, making use of the central channels if options are available. Their full-backs are also much more conservative. Injury concerns include Bouna Sarr (cruciate ligament), Serge Gnabry (tendon), Daniel Peretz (knee)
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Laimer, Upamecano, de Light, Davies, Kimmich, Guerreiro, Muller, Musiala, Sane, Kane
Lazio like to keep hold of the ball and look to use short passing combinations to control the game, especially in the opposition half. Injury concerns include Valentin Castellanos (muscle), Ciro Immobile (hamstring)
Lazio XI: Mandas, Lazzari, Patric, Romagnoli, Marusic, Guendouzi, Cataldi, Vecino, Anderson, Rodriguez, Zaccagni
Prediction
It’s looking like a tall order for Lazio to progress at the expense of Bayern Munich. The Biancocelesti will need to be at their very best to pull off an upset as statistics and history favour the Bavarians to triumph in this one.
