Bayern Munich vs Lazio LIVE: Latest Champions League updates

Lazio were huge underdogs when they were drawn against Bayern Munich in the last-16, but they now stand 90 minutes away from a first Champions League quarter-final in 24 years under Maurizio Sarri.

Lazio are ninth in the Serie A table this season and look unlikely to qualify next year, but Sarri believes his side can continue their journey this season as they head to the Allianz.

“We are aware of how difficult it is going to be, which ought to give us that spirit of sacrifice. Nothing is impossible in football, this must give us courage. We must be fired up and angry,” Sarri said.

“Bayern Munich are a top-quality team and they can score goals easily. Thinking we could just sit there and defend for 100 minutes is a bad idea, we’ve got to have the courage to push forward.”

Tuchel – ‘We have no time to waste’

It has already been confirmed that Thomas Tuchel will be leaving Bayern at the end of the season – but if they were beaten tonight, would there be any point in staying on?

Tuchel led Chelsea to the Champions League in 2021 and says he is still motivated to help Bayern this year despite knowing his fate has already been decided.

“I know what we have agreed on and what we have communicated but you can be sure there is no one who has more ambition than me to win the game tomorrow,” Tuchel said.

“[Against Lazio] every minute will count. Patience yes, if it is about not getting frustrated if things take a bit longer. Patience no, if it is only about generating possession. We have no time to waste.

“Time is on Lazio’s side so we need to play with a cool head but still have emotion and with emotion step on the gas and play for goals.”

Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Kimmich, de Ligt, Dier, Guerreiro, Pavlovic, Goretzka, Sane, Muller, Musiala, Kane

Lazio XI: Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini, Guendouzi, Vecino, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni

The last time Bayern had a trophyless season was in 2012. Since then, they’ve won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row and won the Champions League twice, the last time in 2020.

Xabi Alonso has powered Leverkusen to the top of the table this season while Bayern have perhaps paid the price for pulling the trigger on Julian Nagelsmann last year.

Although Thomas Tuchel came in to steer Bayern to their 11th title in a row, his appointment has been disastrous – with standards slipping across the club this season.

Harry Kane has had an outstanding first season at Bayern Munich, with 27 goals already in the Bundesliga and a further four in the Champions League in his debut year.

But you just know what the jokes are going to be about if Bayern are knocked out tonight.

With Bayern out of the German Cup and 10 points behind Leverkusen in the table, with 10 games remaining, the Champions League is their best chance of silverware this season.

But he has not been the problem.

We’ll know the first two names in the hat tonight, but the draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the Champions League won’ be made until 11am GMT on Friday 15 March.

The Champions League is back this week as the knockout stage of the competition continues with the last-16 return legs.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the ties.

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel ahead of tonight’s crunch Lazio clash:

“I think the situation for us is very clear but for a top performance there needs to be a certain pressure,” Tuchel told a press conference.

“Our most recent results, including the first leg loss in Italy, mean that this won’t feel super-easy tomorrow. Pressure is necessary. It will be there tomorrow.”

“We need to win by two goals against an Italian team, a Maurizio Sarri team. The bar is high.”

Bayern’s recent form does not offer much confidence ahead of tonight’s second-leg, however.

They’ve won just one of their last five, drawing one and losing three.

• Leverkusen 3-0 Bayern
• Lazio 1-0 Bayern
• Bochum 3-2 Bayern
• Bayern 2-1 RB Leipzig
• Freiburg 2-2 Bayern

Bayern will be looking to overturn a 1-0 defeat to Lazio tonight.

The German champions were stunned in Rome as Ciro Immobile scored a 69th-minute penalty to give the hosts the advantage.

Immobile converted his spot kick after Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano’s clumsy challenge on Gustav Isaksen for which the France international was sent off with a straight red card.

Bayern failed to get a single shot on target throughout the match.