A 1-0 defeat in Rome to Italian side Lazio in the first leg of Bayern Munich’s Champions League round-of-16 tie was understandably not ideal for the record champions. However, failing to overturn the deficit in the second leg could prove disastrous.
While it has already been confirmed that Thomas Tuchel will depart the club in the summer, who will take over is not yet clear. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso is currently Bayern’s only target, but Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi has also been reported to be a possible candidate.
Regardless, whoever does take charge will need to rejuvenate this lacklustre Bayern squad, and that will require a significant amount of money. This is why Der Rekordmeister’s clash against Lazio is so important, as up to €43.10 million is on the line.
As reported by Sky Germany, Bayern would be guaranteed €10.60M if they were to progress into the quarterfinals, where a further €12.5M would await them if they were to make it past the semi-finals. Defeat in London in the final would see an additional €15.50M added to their earnings, whereas €20M would be awarded to the winners of the competition.
Therefore, with Bayern aiming to refresh their squad in the summer, progression past Lazio is pivotal, as they are heavily reliant on Champions League prize money. So far, including matchday revenue, Bayern have earned €75.42M from the Champions League.
However, if they are to prevent Die Werkself from continuing their dominance over the Bundesliga into next season, they will need to at least make the quarterfinals. The league may be written off for many associated with the club, but advancing past Lazio in the Champions League is a priority, and if they fail to do so, then there will be a price to pay.
GGFN | Will Shopland
