Preview: Celtic v Bayern Munich
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Celtic will face Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich at Celtic Park tomorrow as the Champions League knockouts kick off.
It is the Scottish champions’ first appearance in the knockouts since being eliminated by Juventus in 2013.
A victory over the two-leg tie will see the winners enter the last 16 of the competition, with Bayern heavy favourites to progress and one of the outright favourites for the competition itself.
Martin Melly, one of the hosts of Celtic fans podcast 20 Minute Tims, said: “It’s the first game at home in the Champions League this season that we’re going into as real underdogs, and that gets the crowd going.
“This is going to be the hardest team we’re going to play this season.”
Celtic will need home advantage to count in the first game of the tie, as Celtic Park’s famous atmosphere will roar on their team.
With Bayern unbeaten at home in the Champions League since 2021, a result at Parkhead will be a must for the Hoops.
The news that Daizen Maeda’s suspension has been lifted is a huge lift for the Bhoys, who have a nearly completely fit squad aside from the injured James Forrest.
Die Roten, meanwhile, are missing flying full back Alphonso Davies as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury, denying him the chance to play against Canadian international teammate Alistair Johnston.
It is likely that midfielder João Palhinha will also miss out through illness.
History is very much at stake for Celtic, as they have not won a European knockout tie since eliminating Barcelona in the UEFA Cup in 2004, so a victory over the two ties would see the Hoops snap a 20 plus year streak.
Melly added: “I’m as scared about it as I am looking forward to it.
“With the forward players they have, if you switch off for a second they can score.”
The Celts have already played German opposition twice this season, with mixed fortunes – a 7-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund was followed by a thunderous 3-1 win over RB Leipzig at Celtic Park later in the league phase campaign.
Bayern’s imperious home form has not been matched by their away form, as they lost comfortably away at both Barcelona and Feyenoord, causing them to miss out on automatic qualification for the last 16.
These teams last met in 2017/18 in Brendan Rodgers’ first spell, with Celtic losing 3-0 in Munich before falling to a late 2-1 defeat at home against the then German champions.
Several players that featured in that tie will feature again this time round, with Celtic captain Callum McGregor a goal-scorer against Bayern back in 2017, while German World Cup winners Joshua Kimmich, Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller all still feature for the Bavarian giants.
The first leg will kick off at 20:00 on Wednesday night, with the second leg in Munich at the same time next Tuesday.
