Munich (dpa) – Lothar Matthaeus is particularly relishing the striking duel between golden boot winner Ciro Immobile and world player of the year Robert Lewandowski when Lazio host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
“I’m looking forward not just to the contest Lazio against Bayern but also Immobile against Lewandowski,” the 1990 World Cup winner said Monday at an event held by the Interwetten betting firm.
Immobile had a difficult spell in the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund but hit 36 Serie A goals last season for Lazio to claim the honour of being Europe’s best scorer.
“He scores again where he’s loved, where he speaks the language,” said Matthaeus, who played part of his career in Serie A with Inter Milan.
And he warned his former club Bayern, the current title holders, would find life hard in Rome for the first leg of the last 16 tie.
“That is a difficult task, above all for Bayern at the current time,” he said in light of the recent Club World Cup trip, coronavirus infections and injuries. “Even Bayern don’t deal with that so easily.”
Domestically Matthaeus also sees the opportunity for RB Leipzig, who trail leaders Bayern by two points, to finally take the Bundesliga crown out of Munich once more.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side are “a super team and for me have a better substitute’s bench than Bayern Munich,” the 59-year-old said. “That is important due to the high burden at the present time.
“Leipzig have a great chance to end Bayern’s spell as German champions after eight years.”
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