Lazio finished second in Champions League Group E behind Atletico Madrid, with Maurizio Sarri’s team now hoping to pull off a Champions League upset when they clash with a European heavyweight. The Rome side are among a clutch of teams who are challenging for fourth place in Serie A this season, having achieved modest results so far.
There was recently a five-game winning run for the Azzurri which propelled them up the standings, although they were then beaten 3-0 in the Super Cup by Inter and then came a goalless draw against Napoli. This game will come after away trips to Atalanta and Cagliari, so it’s not the best preparation for a game of this magnitude.
Bayern are battling it out with Bayer Leverkusen when it comes to finishing top of the German Bundesliga, although they are firm favourites to not only qualify for the last eight but actually win this first leg clash in Rome. They are clearly a formidable outfit who could be the team capable of stopping Manchester City retaining their European crown.
It is noticeable that Lazio’s home clashes have tended to be tight this season, with the team only averaging a goal per Serie A game in front of their supporters. They have run a tight ship to the extent that only seven have been conceded, although stopping Bayern could be a tricky task and this is reflected in the latest betting odds available.