Lazio vs Bayern Munich prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-02-13 20:00.
The UEFA Champions League returns with Lazio looking to add more misery on a wounded Bayern Munich in the first leg of this last 16 tie. The Aquilotti come into this clash having ended a three-game domestic winless run by beating Cagliari 3-1 over the weekend and will now look to build a platform to progress into the quarter-finals of this competition for the first time. However, defeats in both legs of their only previous tie at this stage against none other than Bayern in 2021 will give them a psychological hurdle to overcome.
As will Lazio's poor record against clubs from Germany, with just one of their last seven games against such teams delivering a victory (D1, L5). But their form at Stadio Olimpico in continental action should boost some confidence in the home camp, with only one of the Eagles' last 12 home European matches ending in defeat (W6, D5).
Bayern travel to Italy on the back of their “worst performance on one of the most important days” according to goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at title rivals Bayer Leverkusen, leaving them five points off the pace in the Bundesliga title race. That ended a run of three successive wins and leaves the Bavarians needing to bounce back in a competition they’ve not tasted defeat in since early April 2023 (W5, D2).
Despite coming into the clash on the back of a weekend to forget, Bayern are still heavily fancied to come out on top in this tie and reach a 12th quarter-final from their last 13 Champions League campaigns. A win here would set them on their way and also hand Bayern a sixth successive European win against a Serie A side.
Players to watch: In-form Lazio attacker Felipe Anderson has three direct goal contributions across his last five league matches (G2, A1). He could face Bayern defender Matthijs de Ligt who played under Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri whilst at Juventus. The Dutchman was benched for the clash against Leverkusen but did score in the game prior and is undefeated in his last three personal H2Hs (W2, D1).
Hot stat: Seven of Bayern’s last eight Champions League goals have been scored beyond the 60th minute.