14 February 2024 , 21:53
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Harry Kane was unable to stop Bayern Munich's season from further imploding as the German giants lost 1-0 to Lazio in the Champions League last-16 - and had a man sent off.
Dayot Upamecano saw red for a late tackle on Danish winger Gustav Isaksen midway through the second half, allowing Lazio's talisman, Ciro Immobile, to score past Manuel Neuer from the penalty spot. Thomas Tuchel cut a miserable figure in the Bayern dugout, as pressure on his position increases after three defeats from their last six games.
Bayern were thumped 3-0 on Saturday by title rivals Bayer Leverkusen, who now boast a five-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga. 2012 was the last time another side claimed the German title but Bayern's grip is looser than ever, with Tuchel having only been in charge for less than a year.
As a humbled Bayern squad travelled to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday, star signing Kane was unable to repeat his heroics at the same stadium where he broke England's all-time goalscoring record 11 months ago.
The ex- Tottenham hero - who had just 12 touches in the first half, three in the penalty box all game - and his Bayern teammates failed to assert themselves on Maurizio Sarri's team, who found joy on the counter. Kane was left to rue just one clear-cut goalscoring chance, a first-half shot which he leant back on and skewed over the the crossbar.
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Bayern were then unable to break the deadlock early in the second period before a clumsy challenge from Upamecano gave Lazio a huge helping hand in their bid to reach the quarter-finals. It wasn't all rosy for Sarri and co, however, as striker Immobile had to be withdrawn due to injury during Bayern's late but tame rally. Fortunately for the hosts, their back line held firm and goalkeeper Ivan Provedel was hardly troubled, as the Bundesliga champions didn't even manage a shot on target.
Meanwhile in Paris for the other last-16 tie, Kylian Mbappe's 58th-minute goal helped give PSG a 2-0 advantage in their clash with Spaniards Real Sociedad. The French superstar was visibly unhappy during the first half but within 13 minutes of the restart, he found himself free at the far post to clinically convert a flick-on from Marquinhos.
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Harry Kane was often left isolated (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)It wasn't an entirely convincing performance from PSG, though, as Luis Enrique's men struggled to suffocate the away side, who failed to score for the fifth successive game in all competitions, despite having chances. Japanese winger Takefusa Kuba, formerly of Real Madrid and Barcelona, frequently caused problems down the right flank but it was a long-range effort from ex- Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino which rattled the crossbar just before half-time.
PSG made them pay just prior to the hour mark, with Ousmane Dembele's outswinging corner finding captain Marquinhos. The Brazilian nodded the ball on and somehow Mbappe was in acres to prod home past Alex Remiro. Real Sociedad were then given a mountain to climb in the second leg on March 5 when Bradley Barcola made it two with 20 minutes to go.
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