Lazio vs Bayern Preview - Champions League: Kick-off Time, Team news, Prediction, Betting Tips and More

Lazio vs Bayern preview. Photo: Live

The Bayern juggernaut shows no sign of slowing. The holders are nearly two years unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League, winning 16 and drawing one since defeating by Liverpool in the 2018/19 round of 16-second leg. Lazio will approach the game unburdened by expectation and they have an ace in their pack. For all Robert Lewandowski's brilliance in 2019/20, one man outscored even him in Europe's top leagues: Lazio's Ciro Immobile.

Lazio vs Bayern: Kick-off Time

Lazio take on Bayern Munich at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 knockout tie, according to Sports Mole.

Lazio finished second behind Borussia Dortmund in Group F to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since 2000, with reigning champions Bayern comfortably topping Group A.

Lazio vs Bayern: Team News

Lazio are likely to be without Luiz Felipe, Stefan Radu, Thomas Strakosha and Silvio Proto for the visit of Bayern due to injury.

Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa should start in tandem in attack as Inzaghi looks to exploit Bayern's high line with the duo's searing pace.

Bayern, meanwhile, are without several first-team players, including Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Muller, due to COVID-19.

Corentin Tolisso, Serge Gnabry, Douglas Costa, Alexander Nubel and Tanguy Nianzou will not travel due to injury.

Leon Goretzka and Javi Martinez both returned from injury during the defeat to Frankfurt, though, so could come into the starting XI to bolster Bayern's midfield.

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Reina; Patric, Acerbi, Musacchio; Lazzari, Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas, Alberto, Marusic; Correa, Immobile

Lazio vs Bayern: Predicted lineups

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Neuer; Sule, Boateng, Alaba, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka, Martinez; Sane, Lewandowski, Coman

Lazio vs Bayern: Prediction

Lazio 2 - 1 Bayern

Lazio have lost just two of their last 10 competitive matches, winning the other eight, and have been exceptional at the Olimpico since the end of 2020. Indeed, head coach Simone Inzaghi has masterminded seven successive victories in Rome, says Who Scored.

After winning the World Club Cup earlier this month, Bayern have been brought crashing back down to earth, failing to win two successive games, including a 2-1 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend. Nevertheless, FC Hollywood were excellent in the group stages, earning 16 points from their six matches.

Bayern may have been nigh-on unstoppable in the group stages, but the absence of a key man coupled with fatigue following the Club World Cup could see Lazio earn a first-leg advantage on Tuesday night.

Lazio vs Bayern: Betting Tips

A fine run of form in recent matches saw Lazio rise to the top four in Serie A and they’ll be hoping for the same when they host Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Lazio’s only blemish in their last four matches was the 3-1 loss to Internazionale. They have three wins in the last four matches and will be confident as they prepare to face Bayern. However, they’ll head here with questions on their defense, having scored eight in the last five but conceded seven goals. Lazio have managed two clean sheets in their last five matches. The hosts will bank heavily on their home form too, having registered seven straight wins there ahead of this game. This season marked their return to the Champions League since 2015 and Lazio have done well to get to this stage, after two wins and four draws in the group stage. While they remain unbeaten in the competition, Lazio managed no clean sheet in the six group stage matches. At home, they scored eight goals in the three games but conceded four, notes Sporty Trader.

Lazio vs Bayern: Form guide

Bayern, just like Lazio are struggling in defense and have very few clean sheets to show in their recent matches. They also seem jaded after their Club World Cup exploits and the last two matches heavily suggest so. After winning the Club World Cup, Bayern returned to domestic action in a 3-3 draw with Arminia Bielefeld. In their most recent match, they lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt. They’ve been underwhelming in recent matches but have four wins in the last five away matches, with four clean sheets, as they go to this game. Robert Lewandowski has four goals in the last five matches and will once again be relied upon for goals here. Bayern will be hoping their recent struggles do not spill over to Europe – they haven’t lost a Champions League game in the last 17 outings. The Bavarians have done even better away from home, with a 19-match unbeaten run in the competition.

Key points

• Bayern Munich have conceded five goals in the last two matches.

• Bayern Munich are unbeaten in 19 away Champions League matches.

• Lazio have seven straight wins at home.

• Lazio have no clean sheet in the Champions League this season.

• Bayern are winless since returning from the Club World Cup.