You might think FC Bayern have seen it all in Europe, but Tuesday's match will actually be a first. The Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash will see the first-ever competitive match between the German record champions and Serie A's Lazio. We've put together some interesting stats ahead of the clash with the Italians.
1. FCB’s impressive run against Italian teams
The defending champions are unbeaten in five Champions League games in Italy (three wins, two draws). The last two appearances by the men from Munich at the Stadio Olimpico, where they will also play on Tuesday, produced a total of 13 goals, including eight in a 7-1 win at Roma in October 2014.
2. Knockout stage experience vs. knockout stage return
Bayern have reached the knockout stage of Europe's premier club competition for the 13th time in a row; only Real Madrid (24) and Barcelona (17) can boast a longer run. In the last twelve campaigns, the men from Munich have reached the quarter-finals ten times. Lazio, on the other hand, find themselves in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in 21 years (last appearance in 1999/00), the longest gap between two knockout stage appearances by any given club. Back then, the team from Rome were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Valencia.
3. Europe's top scorers go head-to-head
Last season, Lazio's Ciro Immobile snatched the Golden Boot for Europe's top club striker from Robert Lewandowski by a whisker. The Italian (36 goals) scored only twice more in Serie A than the Pole (34) in the Bundesliga. The two are also prolific scorers in Europe's premier club competition. Since the start of the 2017/18 season, no player has scored more goals in the Champions League than Lewandowski (33; Cristiano Ronaldo 29). Immobile has scored eight goals in his nine Champions League starts.
4. Goals guaranteed
So it's obvious there will be goals in this clash. A look at the overall stats reinforces that hope. FCB have only failed to score once in their last 27 Champions League matches (0-0 against Liverpool at Anfield, February 2019). Lazio, on the other hand, have always conceded at least one goal in their last 17 games in this competition. The Italians also have a bizarre record: in their last 12 Champions League matches, they've always scored at least one goal and conceded at least one - something that has never before been seen in the history of this competition.
5. Clash of the victors
Both teams came through the group stage without defeat. However, while Bayern celebrated five wins and drew once, finishing up with the best record of all 32 teams (16 points, +13 goals), Lazio just managed to scrape through after two wins and four draws.
Check out the venue for Bayern's UCL Round of 16 first leg match:
Topics of this article