Bayern Munich is continuing to struggle in big games. The Bundesliga giants suffered a surprising 1-0 loss to Lazio at the start of their UEFA Champions League knockout stage campaign.
Bayern entered the match as an overwhelming favorite and with a lot to prove. They received a 3-0 beating by Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on the weekend and needed a good performance to bounce back.
However, Lazio proved to be a much tougher opponent than expected. The Seria A side delivered an inspired defensive performance that left Bayern unsuccessfully looking for solutions at the front. The German club failed to register a single shot at the goal, something that didn’t happen since 2019.
Bayern’s frustration became obvious in the 67th minute when defender Dayot Upamecano made a reckless challenge on Gustav Isaksen in the penalty box. Upamecano received a straight red card, while Lazio was awarded a penalty kick. Striker Ciro Immobile remained calm under pressure, converting the penalty to give his team a 1-0 lead.
Relegated to 10 men, Bayern had even less chance to penetrate Lazio’s stout defense. Italians, on the other hand, made sure to suffocate the game while remaining disciplined and ended up celebrating a huge win.
“We worked and prepared for this match to have a say in it,” said Immobile after the match. “I was convinced that the team would put everything out there.”
