Champions league: What are the chances? Bayern miss 16 in loss

Rome, February 15

High and wide. Headers and half-volleys. Free-kicks and more. No matter what Bayern Munich tried, the German club simply couldn’t find the goal.

None of Bayern’s 16 shots were on target Wednesday in a 0-1 loss at Lazio in the first leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16.

Four days after a damaging loss in the Bundesliga, Bayern again didn’t meet expectations.

Lazio captain Ciro Immobile converted a penalty kick when Bayern were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half after they failed to capitalise on a series of chances.

“It’s been a tough week,” Bayern striker Harry Kane said. “We started well and had some clear chances. I had one, Jamal (Musiala) had one, Josh (Kimmich) had one from the edge of the box. In these games, those are big moments which we weren’t able to take.”

Together with the 3-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen, the result puts pressure on Bayern and coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of the return leg on March 5.

Mbappe on target, again

Paris: Kylian Mbappe scored yet again in the Champions League and emerging winger Bradley Barcola grabbed his first goal in the competition as Paris Saint-Germain beat Real Sociedad 2-0 in the first leg of the Round of 16.

The 25-year-old Mbappe joined PSG in 2017 in a deal worth €180 million and has netted a club record 243 goals since then. The 21-year-old Barcola arrived from Lyon in a deal worth a hefty €50 million for a relative unknown, and is starting to impress with his skill and poise.

I’m really happy tonight,” Barcola said. “It’s a childhood dream come true.”

However, Sociedad dominated the game for long spells despite missing key players through injury, until Mbappe’s goal in the 58th minute. The breakthrough came when Marquinhos headed on Ousmane Dembele’s corner from the right and Mbappe was unmarked at the back post to volley in. “That’s where we lose the control of the game,” Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said. “We can’t allow that to happen.” — AP