When Harry Kane headed Thomas Muller's cut-back over the Lazio bar seven minutes into the Champions League last-16 first leg, the Bayern Munich forward knew it was his best chance all night. I certainly didn't expect that to happen.
But Kane remained frustrated for Bayern for the final 83 minutes and stoppage time. defeated in romeCiro Immobile's penalty was the difference on a night when the German giants and their star striker were once again dominated.
In a season that started so brightly for Kane, this is becoming a worrying theme, and one that permeates the entire Bayern team. The team, which has won the Bundesliga for the past 11 seasons, is in danger of ending this season without winning a trophy.
Not only did Bayern lose to Lazio in the second leg in Munich on March 5, but they were also eliminated from the German Cup in their next game. Completely defeated by 3rd division Saarbrucken. Kane had already missed out on the trophy in his first game with his new club, suffering a 3-0 defeat to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup.
All this in addition to their precarious position in the Bundesliga title race. Lost 3-0 to leaders Bayer Leverkusen. The scoreline pleased Bayern on Saturday, leaving them five points off Bayern's pace.
Kane had one shot in this game, but against Lazio he did not have a shot on target. So did his teammates, with Bayern taking 17 shots without bothering keeper Ivan Proveder.
It wasn't supposed to happen for Kane, who moved from Tottenham last summer, and I didn't think it would happen this early in the season.
Kane scored 22 goals in the first 16 games, but only 6 in the last 12 games. It wasn't a terrible return for him, but it was enough of a slump to expose Bayern's obvious flaws.
“He hasn't had as much of an impact in recent weeks as he did earlier in the season,” European football expert Rafael Hornegstein told BBC 5 Live. “He looks like a shadow of that player now.”
“The pressure on coach Tuchel is increasing''
Unless Kane is firing on double cylinders, Bayern look lost. This is the first time they have not scored in two consecutive competitive matches since May 2015, when they did not score in three consecutive games under manager Pep Guardiola.
The defeats to Leverkusen and Lazio in five days were Bayern's first consecutive defeats since December 2019, when Hansi Flick was acting as caretaker manager.
“It's been a really tough week,” Kane told TNT Sports. “We started well in the first half and had some clear chances, but it was my own. In these games, that was the big moment. The second half was disappointing. We lacked energy and confidence. I was punished.”
“We are in a difficult situation. We have to fight. We have to turn the situation around.”
The only person currently under more pressure than Kane in Munich is manager Thomas Tuchel, and for him ending Bayern's season without winning a major trophy would certainly mean his job. would be fatal to the possibility of
The defeat at Lazio was Bayern's 10th defeat in 43 games in all competitions as Bayern manager, and is already the same number as his predecessor, Julian Nagelsmann, suffered in 84 games.
“Thomas Tuchel is a man who is under increasing pressure right now,” Chris Sutton told BBC 5 Live. “His team has to turn things around in Bavaria in the coming weeks.
“This draw is going really well. I still support Bayern's comeback, but Lazio are giving themselves a chance now.”
Sutton may still have confidence in Bayern, but the statistics suggest otherwise.
Bayern have been eliminated in the first leg of the Champions League the last seven times, dating back to 2015.
“Bayern are playing ugly football”
On the sidelines of the Stadio Olimpico, Tuchel, playing at his usual walking pace, was filmed growing frustrated as he repeatedly failed to break through the organized Lazio defence.
Bayern were hamstrung down to 10 men as Dayot Upamecano was sent off for a foul, resulting in Immobile's winning penalty, but they still managed to feed Kane the ball and the England captain conjured up some magic from the set. Didn't seem to have any ideas beyond what to expect. piece.
“Bayern are playing ugly football,” Rio Ferdinand told TNT Sports.
“I wouldn't bet on Lazio going there.” [to Germany] And suffocate them again. Bayern lack confidence, are stuck in a rut and have no idea how they will get out of it before the second leg.
“If they haven't had a good record in the league before, I don't know how they're going to turn it around.”
The only saving grace for Tuchel is the recognition that his experienced squad, which includes many of Bayern's defending Champions League winners in 2020, must improve and is confident that they can do so.
“Optimistic is the wrong word, but I'm confident,” Thomas Müller told DAZN.
“We know we have it in us, even if we didn't show it tonight, and who's to say that things shouldn't be a lot different in three weeks? ”
Three weeks is a long time in football. That's enough time for Kane to get back in goal. However, things could get even worse with a tricky league match against RB Leipzig this weekend.
