Our prediction for this Champions League match:
There will be fireworks when Lazio and Bayern Munich go head to head in the last 16 of the Champions League, first leg. The Biancocelesti were producing fine displays in the group stages, but they will have a mountain to climb in the double-header with Thomas Tuchel’s troops. Nicolo Rovella is back from the domestic ban, while fellow midfielder Mattia Zaccagni is sidelined with injury. Right back Patrick is a major doubt.
The Bavarians, on the other hand, aim to recover from a heart-breaking 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Even though Bayern Munich failed to impress in the Bundesliga derby, away win should be considered as Thomas Tuchel has a number of top-class players to choose from. A man to watch in the away team will be Harry Kane, who has netted four goals in the Champions League so far this term, while all Serge Gnabry, Konrad Laimer, Anthony Davies, Kingsley Coman, and Bouna Sarr are out of contention with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Harry Kane):
Widely regarded as one of England’s best strikers at the moment, Harry Kane enjoyed a meteoric rise at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 21 Premier League goals during the 2014/2015 campaign to be voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
The highly rated striker went on to surpass that achievement the following season as he helped Tottenham Hotspur mount a serious title challenge for the first time in club’s recent history and he made seamless transition to international football. Kane scored four goals in his first ten appearances for England to prove he was here to stay and at the same time established himself as a first choice striker in Roy Hodgson’s squad ahead of the Euro 2016 finals.
Kane is a modern striker, who is extremely dangerous in the opposition box, but it was some outstanding goals from distance as well as link-up play with teammates that earned him an excellent reputation in world football. Kane is expected to lead both Tottenham and England in years to come, that is if he can resist the lure of top European clubs that continue to cast admiring glances his way.
Highlighted Team (Lazio):
Lazio Roma are an Italian football club based in Rome. Lazio were founded in 1900 and they compete in the Serie A. The Biancocelesti (The White and Sky Blues) have won two Serie A trophies (1973/1974, 1999/2000), while lifting six Coppa Italia titles.
The capital club play their home games at Stadio Olimpico and Roma are regarded as Lazio’s main rivals.
The two teams face each other in the Derby della Capitale and it is considered the fiercest inter-city derby in Italy. Lazio won UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999, with the team beating Mallorca in the title game. The same year they managed to clinch the UEFA Super Cup trophy as they outplayed English giants Manchester United at Stade Louis II, Monaco.
The likes of Pavel Nedved, Giuseppe Favalli, Juan Sebastian Veron, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Roberto Mancini, Giuseppe Signori, Miroslav Klose and Simone Inzaghi are notable footballers who played for Lazio in the past.