Bayern Munich vs Lazio tips and predictions: Home form to keep Thomas Tuchel in employment

When you look at elite clubs across the world, they all have one commonality – remarkably high expectations.

However, it's fair to say that over the years Bayern Munich have taken their level of expectation to an almost unattainable level.

Winning the Bundesliga is an average season for the club. Claiming the double is slightly better. Even a treble would not suffice if it didn’t include the Champions League.

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This season, the Bavarians are on a path to a trophyless season – potentially their first since 2011/12.

For the club, this is shock therapy. It’s almost like getting out of the sauna and jumping into an ice bath. An unprecedented situation.

Manager Thomas Tuchel has already been forced out come the end of the season. Though if he’s not careful, the ruthless bosses in Munich could dump him out a lot sooner.

Bayern are 10 points behind Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen and are already out of the cup. With that in mind, the Champions League is quickly becoming their best hope of claiming silverware this season.

However, in order to progress, Bayern will need to overcome Lazio who take a 1-0 lead into this second-leg.

The Italian side are woefully out of form, winning three of their last nine competitive games. Interestingly, one of those was the first-leg success against Bayern.

Completing the job away at the Allianz Arena will require a tremendous effort from the Eagles – no matter how bad Bayern are.

For all their current troubles, Tuchel’s men still boast a strong home record, with just two defeats this entire season.

Bearing in mind Lazio’s poor form and Bayern’s impressive run at the Allianz, we’re backing the hosts to seal their spot in the quarter-finals.

Munich to win the match by a margin of two goals is the way to go.

 

Team news

Bayern’s injury list currently consists of Noel Aseko-Nkili, Sacha Boey, Tarek Buchmann, Kingsley Coman, Gabriel Marusic, Noussair Mazraoui, Leroy Sane and Bouna Sarr.

Dayot Upamecano is suspended while Serge Gnabry remains a doubt.

Lazio, meanwhile, are expected to be without Patric and Nicolo Rovella.

 

Key stats

- Lazio have never won an away Champions League match in Germany in four attempts

- Bayern Munich have gone out as early as the Last 16 in one of their last 12 seasons in the Champions League

- Lazio have progressed from 12 of their last 13 European knockout ties when winning the first leg

- Bayern Munich have been eliminated from each of their last seven Champions League ties when losing the first leg

 

Suggested bets

Bayern Munich to progress
Match winning margin – two goals
Harry Kane to score anytime