Bayern Munich Prepares for Champions League Clash Against Celtic Glasgow

Vincent Kompany is feeling the excitement ahead of Bayern Munich’s prestigious Champions League match at Celtic Park. The Munich coach recalled, „That was one of the loudest away games I ever had as a player.“ This thrilling playoff match is set for Wednesday at 21:00 CET (DAZN), just six days before the return leg. Bayern, Germany’s record football champion, aims not only to lay the groundwork for advancing to the Round of 16 but also to improve their sparse knockout round record. Their last away victory in elimination matches dates back two years to February 14, 2023, when they defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 under former coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Thomas Müller emphasized the challenges ahead, stating, „Anyone who underestimates the Scots has never experienced Celtic Park. The atmosphere is insane; it’s going to be a real highlight.“ Müller, along with nearly 39-year-old captain Manuel Neuer, will make their debuts in the sold-out „Paradise“ stadium, which holds around 60,000 spectators. Neuer expressed his anticipation, saying, „It must be an incredible atmosphere in a fantastic stadium.“

Both seasoned players missed the last encounter on October 31, 2017, when Bayern, led by scorer Kingsley Coman and substitute Joshua Kimmich, won 2-1 during the group stage. However, Bayern has faced considerable frustrations in this season’s revised European league format, suffering defeats away at Aston Villa (0-1), FC Barcelona (1-4), and Feyenoord Rotterdam (0-3).

Sporting director Max Eberl acknowledged the importance of the atmosphere, saying, „We have great respect. We felt the impact of a stadium’s energy against Feyenoord.“ The recent 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen has boosted confidence ahead of their trip to Glasgow. President Herbert Hainer noted that the upcoming month may have a title-winning feel to it, with the league summit clash against Leverkusen losing some of its shine due to Bayern’s eight-point lead.

Board chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen stressed the importance of this moment, stating, „We want to reach the Round of 16. Now we embark on this honorary round.“ Should Bayern progress, they would face either Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid in the next round, which promises to be a challenging matchup.

Former player Alan McInally, who has played for both Bayern and Celtic, cautioned against underestimating the Scottish champions. „Bayern is under great pressure and would have preferred a week off rather than facing Celtic in their own stadium,“ he remarked. Celtic recently triumphed over RB Leipzig at home with a 3-1 victory, while they suffered a heavy 1-7 defeat in Dortmund. Eberl warned his team about Celtic’s physical play and enthusiastic environment, saying, „I am not intimidated; I am just excited,“ commented national player Aleksandar Pavlovic.

The match marks the fifth encounter between Bayern and Celtic, with Bayern winning three times and one match ending in a draw. Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers, now able to include key player Daizen Maeda in his plans after a suspension protest, expressed confidence: „We know we are facing fantastic players, and the stadium will be filled with 60,000 fans. We will draw energy from that.“