Lazio beats Bayern Munich 1-0 NEWS
in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Lazio - Bayern Munich
THE GOAL
At 24' LAZIO 1-0 Bayern Munich
- Biancocelesti ahead with a penalty scored by
Immobile
.
In the action
, Upamecano
was sent off for the Bavarians for excessive enthusiasm
The other match scheduled for the evening
Paris S.Germain beats Real Sociedad 2-0
NEWS
THE CALENDAR OF THE ROUND OF 16
Lazio - Bayern Munich
Valentine's Day is a Wednesday for white and blue lions.
The 1-0 against Bayern is a policy that does not guarantee qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals and Lazio, on March 5 in Munich, is expected to make a very tough, perhaps desperate, defense of the goal scored on a penalty by Ciro Immobile in the second half.
But it is still something, an important starting point.
On the eve Maurizio Sarri had asked him to face the mountain with a knife and a smile between his teeth and he was satisfied
.
Despite the always short deck - unbalanced forward and exposed to the counterattack or entrenched in defense, risking a siege - Lazio played a shrewd, diligent match of collective sacrifice.
And he was able to take advantage of at least one of the few opportunities given by Bayern.
At the Olimpico Tuchel does not give up the experience of Thomas Mueller and the attacker returns to the starting lineup, like Joshua Kimmich, who only played 30 minutes in the 3-0 defeat against Leverkusen.
The manager then abandons his three-man defence, deployed in the defeat in the Bundesliga to return to a more traditional 4-2-3-1, with Kane as the sole striker supported by the Sané-Muller-Musiala trio.
Sarri chooses Cataldi as the 'brain' of the midfield given the last minute unavailability of Vecino, stopped in the warm-up by the worsening of a muscle problem.
He entrusts Isaksen, Immobile and Felipe Anderson with the task of breaking down the red and white defense.
Lazio - Bayern Munich
Zero preliminaries, the start is immediately high intensity and Bayern presents itself with two chances completed by Kimmik and Kane, both off target.
Lazio tries to breathe with the dribble, but it is not easy against the German pressing, which starts already a few meters from Provedel's area, always carried by at least two-three players.
After 20 minutes in apnea, Lazio gets their head out with a nice right-footed shot from Luis Alberto, just over.
But it's a moment, and Bayern immediately resumes grinding out the game on the doorstep of the Biancoceleste goal
.
In the long run it can only result in a free kick from the edge of the box, like the one taken by Sané in the 32nd minute.
Ball whistling to the side of nothing.
The aim is lacking on both sides: Isaksen tries from outside the area, but sends it high.
Then a collective action leads Musiala to shoot, this too over the crossbar.
First half with several scoring opportunities, especially for the Bavarians, but no real saves.
A few minutes into the second half and Lazio created their first scoring opportunity.
Perfect throw from Luis Alberto for Isaksen who is good at controlling it, but then hesitates to shoot and allows Neuer to block it.
Serious mistake by the Dane, against an opponent who concedes so little.
But in the meantime Lazio proves they can do damage.
The president of Lazio, Lotito
At 14' Hysaj stops and Lazzari comes on.
Tuchel throws his arms around to encourage him, blatantly dissatisfied with what he sees.
And in fact the German siege is less vehement.
Tuchel's negative feelings materialize in the 22nd minute, when Lazio's counterattack blossoms, led by Felipe Anderson who serves Immobile from 20 meters: the captain's slalom and rebounded shot.
Isaksen tries and kicks out.
But the Dane suffered a stomp at the moment of conclusion which earned Upamecano a penalty and a red card.
From the spot, Immobile displaces Neuer and it's 1-0
.
Sarri wants fresh forces and changes the attackers: Isaksen out and Immobile, praised;
inside Pedro and Castellanos.
It's time to give everything: Luis Alberto and Gila come out for Patric and Kamada.
Bayern, even with 10 men, tries to build play, but with less clarity.
And he ends up defeated.
A second knockout that Tuchel could pay dearly for.
Behind him looms the shadow of Mourinho who for some days in Germany has seen destined for the Bavarian bench, with the former Roma coach who could find himself playing against Lazio.
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