Bayern Munich’s hopes of a successful Champions League campaign took a major blow as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the first leg of their last 16 tie. The Bundesliga giants traveled to Rome with the intention of going all out in the competition, but things did not go according to plan.
The match took a turn for the worse for Bayern when Anderson produced a moment of magic that saw them reduced to ten men and a goal behind. The Brazilian winger, who had previously played for West Ham from 2018 to 2021, ran at the Bayern defense and caused all sorts of trouble before finding Gustav Isaksen.
Unfortunately for Isaksen, his attempt on goal was thwarted by Dayot Upamecano, whose boot collided with the striker’s ankle. Referee Francois Letexier had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and showing Upamecano a red card. Ciro Immobile stepped up and buried the penalty, giving Lazio a crucial first-leg lead.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Bayern failed to mount a comeback and Lazio even looked more likely to score after taking the lead. This defeat comes on the back of Bayern’s damaging 3-0 loss against Bayer Leverkusen, which saw them drop five points from the top of the Bundesliga table.
For Harry Kane, who recently joined Bayern Munich, this defeat is another setback in his quest for silverware. The English striker is yet to win a trophy in his professional career, and many believed that joining Bayern would guarantee an end to his trophy drought.
However, Bayern’s chances of a trophyless season are increasing with each passing game. They are already out of the DFL Super Cup and DFB Pokal, and these back-to-back defeats in the Bundesliga and Europe have further dented their hopes of lifting any silverware this season.
It is clear that Bayern Munich’s plans to dominate the Champions League have hit a stumbling block. The defeat to Lazio has exposed their vulnerabilities and raised doubts about whether they can go all the way in the competition. With key players like Kane yet to taste success, Bayern will need to regroup and find a way to turn their fortunes around if they want to salvage their season.
In conclusion, Bayern Munich’s dreams of Champions League glory took a hit with a 1-0 defeat to Lazio in the first leg of their last 16 tie. The loss, coupled with their recent defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, has left them in a precarious position, dropping points in the Bundesliga and inching closer to a trophyless campaign. For Harry Kane, this defeat is another setback in his pursuit of silverware. Bayern will need to regroup and find a way to turn their fortunes around if they want to salvage their season and avoid a first trophyless campaign in 12 years.