Bayern Munich’s unbeaten run in the UEFA Champions League came to an end with a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Serie A club Lazio in the Round-of-16 first-leg fixture at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel’s team displayed consecutive poor performances, coming off a domestic loss in the Bundesliga.
The German giants showcased sheer dominance in the group stages, triumphing in Group A with victories over fellow group members Manchester United, Galatasaray, and Copenhagen, aiming to recreate their excellent performance. However, an unexpected loss has attracted criticism towards the team, particularly directed at Dayot Upamecano.
Bayern Munich issue statement over Upamecano racist abuse
Bayern Munich made their midweek trip to the Italian capital Rome to face SS Lazio and met with an unanticipated defeat in a fixture that was seen as an easy win for the Bundesliga outfit. Notably, the Italian defense stood tall against the star-studded lineup of the visitors.
The Bavarians failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. Their French international defender, Dayot Upamecano, conceded a penalty to the hosts in the latter half of the match by committing an offense inside the box, leading to his dismissal with a red card.
Capitalizing on their one-man advantage, the hosts defended their lead to secure the victory. Upamecano will miss the second leg at home next month, serving a one-game suspension. Following his performance, the 25-year-old center-back was subjected to online racism, with backlash from fans blaming him for the result.
Bayern Munich immediately issued an official statement defending their player and condemning the racial abuse on social media. The club stated, “FC Bayern strongly condemns the racist comments directed towards Dayot Upamecano on social media. Anyone who utters hateful words like these is no fan of our club. We’re all behind you, Upa!” on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bayern Munich’s form under Thomas Tuchel
Bayern Munich, the reigning champions, currently occupy second place on the Bundesliga points table, trailing behind their title challenger of the season, Bayer Leverkusen, by five points. So far this season, they have accumulated a total of 50 points from 21 games, with 16 wins and 2 draws.
Under the management of former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel, they have endured six defeats across all competitions. This includes three defeats in the league, an early elimination from the DFB-Pokal, and the recent UEFA Champions League upset at the hands of a Serie A outfit.
