
Date: Wednesday 14th February, 2024
Time: 9:00 pm
Stadium Stadio Olympico, Rome
Referee Francois Letexier (France)
Goal Scorer:
Lazio
Maurizio Sarri could have a fully-fit squad to deal with, as only Spanish centre-back Patric is a significant doubt with a shoulder problem. Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli are pencilled in to play in the central defensive positions, with Adam Marusic and Elseid Hysaj the manager’s preferred choices in the full-back roles.
Davide Renzetti is also suspended for this clash, although he would not have started ahead of Ivan Provedel between the sticks. Sarri can also count upon on-loan Juventus midfielder Nicolo Rovella, and the Italian must fight for a place and convince the manager to pick him ahead of Danilo Cataldi and Matias Vecino, with the trio contending for one position out of the three available.
Sarri will certainly choose Matteo Guendouzi and Luis Alberto in the other two, and looking at his patterns, he might go with Cataldi in that holding midfield role. Further ahead, skipper Ciro Immobile, who scored his 200th Serie A goal at the weekend, will continue to lead the line for the Roman side. Gustav Isaksen will start on the right side of the front three, while Brazilian Felipe Anderson will attack through the left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Alberto; Isaksen, Immobile, Anderson
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel still has to deal with many players who are absent due to injuries, with Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, Konrad Laimer, Kingsley Coman, and Bouna Sarr missing from action. There are also rumours of problems in the background with Matthijs de Ligt, who insisted he was fit for the weekend but was not selected.
The Dutchman might remain on the sidelines, considering Tuchel may not change his central defensive options for the trip to Rome. Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae will begin the game in the central positions, with Noussair Mazraoui and Raphael Guerreiro playing the full-back roles.
Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are the starting midfielders under Tuchel, which might remain the case on Wednesday. On the bench, the manager has extra options, with January arrivals Sacha Boey and Eric Dier supporting the first-choice players. However, due to illness, fellow new arrival Bryan Zaragoza will miss this clash.
Tuchel will rely on Thomas Muller’s experience in the advanced midfield role, with Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala operating from wide areas. Harry Kane has been heavily involved in Bayern Munich’s Champions League campaign so far, and he would certainly aim to improve his stats by leading the line against Lazio.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Mazraoui, Upamecano, Min-Jae, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Muller, Musiala; Kane
Prediction: Lazio 1-2 Bayern Munich
Posted: at | |