Bayern Munich's disappointing loss to Lazio in the Champions League has put head coach Thomas Tuchel under pressure. After their recent defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, fans were hoping for a strong reaction from the Bundesliga giants. However, Bayern's lackluster performance resulted in a 1-0 loss, with the only goal coming from a penalty converted by Ciro Immobile.
Furthermore, Bayern's defensive struggles were compounded by the red card received by Dayot Upamecano for a foul inside the penalty box. As a result, Upamecano will be suspended for the return leg against Lazio, adding to Tuchel's headaches.
The performance against Lazio was far from impressive. Despite having 14 shot attempts, Bayern failed to land a single shot on target. Star striker Harry Kane struggled to make an impact and often dropped deep in an attempt to contribute to the team's attacking play, but neither Leroy Sané nor Thomas Müller provided much assistance throughout the match.
Müller argued that Bayern had clear scoring chances in the first half, but the data suggests otherwise. The expected goals (xG) for Bayern in the game was just 1.3. When combined with their previous defeat against Leverkusen, Bayern's overall xG over the last 180 minutes of football amounts to a meager 1.3. This is concerning, considering the record transfer fee paid for Harry Kane last summer.
Another statistical anomaly was Bayern's failure to register a shot on target in a Champions League match for the first time since the 2018/19 season. This is reminiscent of their goalless draw against Liverpool at the same stage of the competition.
The second half saw Lazio take control and test Bayern's defense on the counterattack. The penalty awarded to Lazio was a direct result of Bayern losing possession in a quick turnover. Tuchel admitted that his team lost momentum and concentration in the second half, resulting in many individual mistakes. These remarks raise concerns about Tuchel's ability to address the team's issues.
Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann as Bayern's head coach just a year ago. However, he has already lost ten of his 43 competitive matches, the same number of losses Nagelsmann had in 84 games. This raises questions about Tuchel's long-term future at the club.
When asked about his job security, Tuchel responded with a confident denial of any worry. While this may be expected, the reality is that if Bayern's results do not improve soon, Tuchel may find himself under even greater scrutiny. However, a coaching change alone may not be enough to address the deeper problems plaguing Bayern at the moment.
In conclusion, Bayern Munich's lackluster performance against Lazio has put pressure on head coach Thomas Tuchel. With disappointing results and concerns about the team's performance, Tuchel's future at the club remains uncertain. Only time will tell if he can turn things around and lead Bayern back to their dominant form.
