Who can stop Bayern Munich? The reigning champion moves to the Lazio field on Tuesday to play the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, on a day in which Atlético will play their match against Chelsea at home in Bucharest due to the pandemic.
– Reasons to believe –
A misstep by the current champion would mean an earthquake on the football planet. The Bavarian giant has gone 17 games without losing in the main competition (16 wins, 1 draw), an absolute record.
But on Saturday the Bundesliga leader drew 1-1 in Frankfurt, five days after having also equalized at home (3-3) against the humble Arminia Bielefeld. Their lead over Leipzig (2nd) has been reduced to two points.
“Giving us five points in a week is a lot for Bayern and not what we expect,” club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Saturday, recalling that only victory in Munich is worth, despite the long list of casualties due to coronavirus or injury (Benjamin Pavard and Thomas Muller, positive, are in quarantine; Serge Gnabry, Corentin Tolisso and Douglas Costa injured).
In Lazio, a week after a hard defeat (3-1) against the leaders of Serie A, Inter Milan, the players led by Simone Inzaghi achieved the victory with a goal from Spanish Luis Alberto against Sampdoria (1 -0). They are fifth and have a good series of seven wins and one loss in eight games.
– A leader who trembles –
The triple finalist – never champion – of the Champions (1974, 2014 and 2016), Atlético de Madrid, plays on Tuesday against the new Chelsea of Thomas Tuchel.
The rojiblanco team, leaders of the Spanish league, travels to Bucharest, with the idea of resuming the momentum, after losing some of its steam in the domestic championship.
A draw and a defeat against Levante – one of the games had been postponed – have stopped Atlético, which has only won one of its last four games and has Real Madrid, its most immediate pursuer, three points behind.
“There are moments with difficulties for everyone, not only for Atlético. Those who are strong in the bad moments are the ones who reach the goal”, assured the rojiblanco coach, ‘Cholo’ Simeone.
Tuchel, who remains undefeated since taking over the blues on January 26, is coming off a 1-1 draw with Southampton, snapping a five-game winning streak.
The man who led Paris Saint-Germain to the Champions League final last season faces the challenge now with Chelsea, whose last draw dropped from fourth to fifth in the Premier League.
– Program for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 (in GMT hours):
Tuesday February 23
(20h00) Lazio (ITA) – Bayern Munich (GER)
Atlético Madrid (ESP) – Chelsea (ENG)
Wednesday February 24
(20h00) Atalanta (ITA) – Real Madrid (ESP)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER) – Manchester City (ENG)
bds/ebe/pm/psr
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