Former Italian striker Oliviero Garlini has highlighted one major factor that played a role in Lazio’s lowly UEFA Champions League showing against FC Bayern Munich.
Lazio fought over the course of its Champions League Round of 16 first leg fixture against Bayern, but in the end, it was the Bundesliga powerhouse that reigned supreme. Bayern created high percentage goal-scoring chances with ease over the course of the match en route to a 4-1 victory.
As Garlini told Lazio Style Radio (via La Lazio Siamo Noi), defensive mistakes and the team’s mentality wound up being the theme for the Biancocelesti in its Champions League knockout stage loss.
With Bayern, the Biancocelesti paid dearly for the mistakes made. Mentally the players did not prepare the match at their best. The team must come down immediately in the field and find certainties.
Garlini sees that Lazio may respond to this loss with a strong performance up next against Bologna.
I expect Lazio to react morally against the Bolognese, also winning with a game of character.
Even with Lazio down 4-1 on aggregate in the tie against Bayern, the Italian side still has an opportunity to pull off a dramatic comeback win over in the second leg.