Lazio, Bayern faceoff in Champions League Round of 16
Kicking off their last-16 tie at Stadio Olimpico, Lazio and Bayern Munich meet on Wednesday evening, as the Champions League knockout rounds get up and running.
While the Serie A side are aiming for a first quarter-final appearance in 24 years, the German champions have made that stage for three years straight and are ultimately targeting a seventh European crown.
While their domestic campaign has hardly gone to plan, Lazio are back in the Champions League’s elimination phase following an eventful journey through the group stage.
During the autumn, Lazio heavily relied on home advantage to see them through Group E, in which they finished second to Atletico Madrid but above both Feyenoord and Celtic, winning two and drawing one of three fixtures in Rome.
Three years ago, the German giants won both legs of the clubs’ last-16 contest, crushing Lazio 4-1 at Stadio Olimpico and winning 2-1 in Bavaria. Simply staying in the tie after Wednesday’s opener will therefore be Sarri’s priority.
Unbeaten in a dozen Champions League games against Italian opposition, Bayern have also progressed from 11 of their 12 most recent last-16 ties, except when losing to eventual champions Liverpool four years ago. Following an imperious stroll through Group A, where they finished top by eight points and won all but one game, the German giants are now focusing on reaching the latter stages again.
Though Bayern are not at their fluent best, they have proven prowess on their travels around Europe and boast a versatile attack. Lazio cannot keep the Bavarians at bay for 90 minutes – it may require a major upset for Maurizio Sarri’s side to prevail after next month’s second leg.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
PSG welcome Real Sociedad to the Parc de Princes
Paris Saint-Germain resume their bid to win an elusive Champions League crown when they welcome Real Sociedad to the Parc de Princes for the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday night.
Les Parisiens came from behind to beat Lille 3-1 on home soil in Ligue 1 last weekend, while the Txuri-Urdin suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Osasuna in La Liga. PSG’s 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions was under threat when Lille took a surprise sixth-minute lead thanks to a strike from Yusuf Yazici in Saturday’s Ligue 1 encounter at the Parc des Princes.
However, Lille’s lead was short-lived as PSG equalised just four minutes later through Goncalo Ramos, before an own goal from Alexsandro turned the game on its head for the reigning champions
Luis Enrique‘s men turn their attention back to the Champions League for the first time in two months since scraping through to the last 16 after finishing second in Group F. Despite failing to win any of their last three group-stage games, a 1-1 draw with group winners Borussia Dortmund on matchday six was enough to finish above AC Milan in third on goal difference.
Les Parisiens have struggled to come out on top against Spanish opposition in the Champions League knockout rounds as they have been eliminated on five of the last six occasions.
Real Sociedad, who are gearing up for their first-ever meeting with PSG, will hope to better their last performance in the round of 16 when they also faced French opposition in the form of Lyon, losing both legs by a 1-0 scoreline.
Having failed to score in any of their last four matches, the Txuri-Urdin must lace their shooting boots on Wednesday if they wish to claim a positive result against a PSG side who have not lost on home soil since September last year.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Champions League Returns; What To Expect?
The Champions League last 16 begins on Tuesday with holders Manchester City away to Danish champions FC Copenhagen.
Arsenal are the only other British club in action, hoping to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier competition after a 14-year absence.
Elsewhere, two Englishmen are charging in the golden boot race and Harry Kane is hoping to finally break his trophy duck by firing Bayern Munich to European glory.
BBC Sport has the lowdown on all the things you need to know.
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England captain Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham are stalwarts for European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.
Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham last August and has since scored 28 goals and provided eight assists in only 28 games.
He also managed four goals and three assists in six Champions League appearances, as six-time winners Bayern went unbeaten in Group A to set up a last-16 tie with Italian side Lazio.
As for Bellingham, the 20-year-old recorded four goals and three assists in five Champions League group stage fixtures – but will miss Tuesday’s trip to Leipzig with a sprained ankle.
In his debut campaign with Los Blancos, Bellingham has scored 20 goals and crafted eight assists in 29 matches across all competitions.
His Real Madrid team, record 14-time winners, hope to have the midfielder back in time for the second leg after tests allayed any fears of a serious injury.
Haaland for golden boot?
Last season Manchester City’s Erling Haaland finished as the competition’s top scorer with 12 goals from 11 games.
This term the Norwegian has netted five goals from five group games, putting him level with Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata, and Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund at the top of the competition’s goalscoring charts.
Though Hojlund’s United are no longer in the tournament, there are plenty of players from English clubs who could still challenge Haaland’s title.
Fellow Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez and Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus both have four goals in the Champions League this season, while City’s Phil Foden and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka have three each.
Last season, after scoring five goals in the groups, Haaland hit five in one match against RB Leipzig in the last 16.
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What else to watch as Champions League returns
Barcelona are back in the knockouts after a three-year absence, taking on Napoli who are one of seven clubs in the last 16 who have never won the Champions League or European Cup.
Two of those sides are Paris St-Germain and Real Sociedad, who will meet for the first time in a Uefa competition.
PSG squeezed through Group F to reach the last 16 for the 12th season running while Sociedad are unbeaten in their first Champions League campaign after a decade away.
Last season’s runners-up and Serie A leaders Inter Milan take on an Atletico Madrid side boasting Morata and Griezmann in unstoppable form.
PSV Eindhoven, who currently lead the Dutch top flight, are hoping to reach their first Champions League quarter-final since 2007. Borussia Dortmund, whose squad will include Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho, stand in their way.
Credit: bbc.com
FIXTURES
Lazio20:00 Bayern Munich
