FC Bayern were lucky in the draw for the Champions League round of 16, says record national player Lothar Matthäus. However, progress for BVB is much more difficult.
From FC Bayern’s point of view, Lazio Rome is “a lucky ticket,” says Lothar Matthäus at “Sky” with a view to the draw for the round of 16 in the premier class. The first leg will take place in the Italian capital on February 13, 2024, followed by the second leg in the Allianz Arena on March 5.
Matthäus doesn’t believe that Munich will have too many problems with Lazio in the first and second leg: “Bayern Munich will definitely reach the next round. Lazio doesn’t have the level to be a threat to FC Bayern.”
The 62-year-old did highlight former BVB goalscorer Ciro Immobile, who has long been the club’s record goalscorer and the “most important player for Lazio”. But Matthäus added with a view to last season’s runner-up and current 11th place in the table. added: “Otherwise the team is just better mediocre in Italian football.” He put the Bundesliga club’s chances of progressing at “99:1”.
Matthäus: BVB is the slight favorite, RB Leipzig also has a chance
The encounters between PSV Eindhoven and Borussia Dortmund are likely to be much more balanced. Matthäus estimated BVB’s chances at 60:40: “Inter, Naples or Porto would have been of a different caliber based on the name. Eindhoven is more complicated for BVB than Lazio is for Bayern. Due to their performance in the group phase, they are in the difficult group PSG, Newcastle and Milan, but Dortmund is the favorite.”
At Eindhoven, Peter Bosz, an old friend, has been on the sidelines since the start of the season. The Dutchman was BVB’s coach for around five months in the 2017/18 season before the unfortunate collaboration was ended prematurely.
Meanwhile, the third remaining German premier class participant, RB Leipzig, has clearly got the toughest draw. Coach Marco Rose’s team has to survive against Real Madrid.
“Playing against Real Madrid was always an honor for me. Leipzig will need two good days to progress. RB are outsiders, but they don’t go into this duel without chances. Why shouldn’t you progress against Real if you believe in yourself? “, says Lothar Matthäus, who sees the Saxons’ chances at 40:60.