The Champions League play-offs deliver another blockbuster fixture as Celtic welcome Bayern Munich for a thrilling first-leg encounter at Celtic Park.
The Scottish giants have been dominant in domestic competitions and will aim to capitalize on their formidable home support when they take on a European powerhouse struggling with away form.
Celtic secured their place in the play-offs after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Young Boys. However, a subsequent 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa exposed some weaknesses. Still, Brendan Rodgers’ men have been dominant in Scotland, cruising past Rangers to stay in control of the Premiership.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich arrive with a mix of dominance and inconsistency. While they sit atop the Bundesliga, their European campaign has been far from smooth. They lost three of their four away games in the group stage, raising questions about their ability to handle pressure in hostile environments.
With Celtic Park known for its electrifying atmosphere, the hosts will be looking to take full advantage and upset the six-time European champions.
Celtic vs Bayern Munich: Match Details
- Location: Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland
- Date: Wednesday, 12 February
- Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
- VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (ESP)
Celtic vs Bayern Munich Head-to-Head
| Teams | Wins | Draws | Last Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic | 0 | 1 | 1-2 Bayern (31 Oct 2017) |
| Bayern Munich | 3 | 1 |
The last time these two sides met, Bayern edged Celtic 2-1, but the Scottish club will be hoping to reverse their fortunes this time around.
Celtic’s Team News & Predicted Lineup
With Kyogo Furuhashi departing for Rennes, Adam Idah has stepped up in attack, scoring four goals in his last three appearances. The Irish striker is set to start after being rested during Celtic’s 5-0 win over Raith Rovers.
Daizen Maeda, despite his weekend hat-trick, is unavailable due to suspension. Meanwhile, James Forrest is ruled out with a foot injury, and Paulo Bernardo remains a doubt. However, Jota’s return offers Rodgers a massive boost in attack.
Predicted Celtic lineup (4-3-3):
Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; Engels, McGregor, Hatate; Kuhn, Idah, Yang.
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Bayern Munich’s Team News & Predicted Lineup
Bayern Munich had a comfortable 3-0 win over Werder Bremen last Friday, allowing Vincent Kompany to give his side ample recovery time before this trip to Scotland.
Despite minor health concerns, Joao Palhinha and Serge Gnabry are expected to be available. However, Alphonso Davies is nursing a hamstring injury, which may limit his role in this match. Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise will provide attacking support for the in-form Harry Kane.
Predicted Bayern Munich lineup (4-2-3-1):
Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane.
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Key Battles to Watch
- Adam Idah vs. Dayot Upamecano – Can the Celtic striker trouble Bayern’s defense?
- Musiala & Kane vs. Celtic’s Backline – Will the Scottish champions contain Bayern’s attacking duo?
- Celtic’s High Press vs. Bayern’s Possession Play – Can Celtic exploit Bayern’s defensive frailties?
Celtic vs Bayern Munich Score Prediction
Bayern Munich are the clear favorites, but Celtic’s incredible home form and Bayern’s shaky away record suggest that this will be a closer contest than expected.
Rodgers’ side will need to capitalize on counter-attacks and use the raucous home crowd to unsettle Bayern. The visitors, on the other hand, will rely on their world-class attack to break down Celtic’s resistance.
Prediction: Celtic 2-1 Bayern Munich
