How the mighty have fallen. Well, at least for the moment.
Bayern Munich’s terrible week in football continues to persist and haunt them, as the defending German champions fell to Serie A side Lazio in their round of 16 fixture in the UEFA Champions League last night.
A rudderless and rash Bayern paid the price for their incompetency as Lazio’s Ciro Immobile slotted in from the penalty spot to help the Italian side triumph 1-0 over the Bavarians.
Their loss last night brings about the 10th loss in 43 matches for manager Thomas Tuchel and also marks the first time the Bavarians have lost the first leg of the UCL round-of-16 fixture in 11 seasons.
Neither the Bayern fans nor Tuchel were pleased, as the head coach went on to describe his side’s performance as ‘slapstick’ in a post-match interview.
10 – Thomas Tuchel has lost 10 of his 43 competitive matches as FC Bayern coach, which is already as many defeats as his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann suffered in 84 games in charge of the club. Speechless. #LAZFCB #UCL pic.twitter.com/NAb5KVb961— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 14, 2024
Bayern started off on a high note, in classic Bayern fashion, pushing high up the Lazio defensive ranks and threatening the keeper with timely chances that just weren’t put away into the back of the goal.
“In the first half, we had to take the lead. We had three clear chances. We have to do these things,” Tuchel told DAZN.
But, the second half, on the other hand, was “characterised by uncertainty again”, he said. In Tuchel’s own words, “It was a bit slapstick.”
Dayot Upamecano’s ill-timed challenge on Gustav Isaksen in the second half, ended up in not only conceding Lazio the match-winning spot kick, but also a red card for the Frenchman. This was the beginning of the end for the Bavarians, who went on to struggle afterwards.
Here a better view of the red card for Upamecano!#UCL #LAZBAY pic.twitter.com/0JKeGMpNkR— fball_newzz (@fball_newzz) February 14, 2024
“We made a lot of individual mistakes and we conceded a penalty and red card from out of absolutely nothing,” Tuchel said in the post-match press conference.
“With the performance we did everything to lose this game, which was completely in our hands.”
Their defeat in Rome would only add more salt into the wounds that were inflicted upon their German title hopes as well, as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen surgically dismantled the Bavarians in a masterful 3-0 display, which ensured that Leverkusen extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga by five points.
(with inputs from agencies)
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