Champions League play-off first leg: Celtic v Bayern Munich
When: Wednesday, 12 February The place: Celtic Park, Glasgow. Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
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“Mia san Mia.”
Bayern Munich’s membership motto shouldn’t be meant to return throughout as boastful. Translated into English it means: “We’re who we’re.”
What they’re is a successful machine. So you could possibly forgive them for a contact of vanity.
This would be the Bavarian giants’ third go to to Celtic Park as they and Brendan Rodgers’ facet goal a spot within the final 16 of the Champions League.
Underneath Belgium and Manchester Metropolis legend Vincent Kompany, who made the bounce from Burnley final summer season, the six-time European Cup winners are determined to make up for final season – their first marketing campaign and not using a trophy since 2011-12.
Bayern had received 11 successive championships earlier than Xabi Alonso led Leverkusen to an unimaginable, invincible season final yr, leaving Munich trailing in third.
That led to some merciless jibes at Harry Kane’s incapability to win silverware – however given the England captain scored 44 targets in his maiden season in Munich, it’s protected to say the blame didn’t lie at his ft.
This time period, ‘Die Roten’ have roared again with Kane’s 28 targets from 28 video games on the forefront of their cost to reclaim the league crown.
They’ve received their final seven league video games, scoring 23 targets within the course of, and a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen final day trip hoisted them eight factors away from Leverkusen.
Now, they’ve their eyes set on progressing in direction of Champions League glory, with the ultimate at their Allianz Area dwelling on the finish of Could.
Superstars’ stuttering away type provides Celtic hope
Given they’re enjoying on this play-off spherical, it’s clear Bayern’s European marketing campaign has had its ups and downs – with the lows principally approaching the street as they missed out on a top-eight berth.
They had been crushed at Aston Villa and Barcelona of their first two away assignments within the league section, having misplaced at eventual winners Actual Madrid in final season’s semi-final.
That was the primary time that they had ever misplaced three successive away European matches, and Kompany’s facet had been additionally properly crushed at Feyenoord.
One win from their final seven European journeys suggests Celtic have a possibility to get a constructive end in Glasgow.
That stated, Kane – who scored a two penalties within the win over Bremen – is simply one of many superstars who’re hoping to win the event, not to mention this tie.
In Jamal Musiala, 21, Bayern have the most effective younger gamers on the planet – as Scotland bear in mind vividly after he starred for Germany through the Euro 2024 opener, scoring the second purpose in a 5-1 rout.
Veteran World Cup winners Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller are nonetheless big gamers for the membership, with the previous lately signing a brand new contract on the age of 38.
France internationals Kingsley Coman and Michael Olise frequently battle it out for begins with one other Germany star Leroy Sane, in a daunting attacking line.
And the spectacular Joshua Kimmich performs as one of many Bayern sitters in midfield alongside 20-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Kimmich has gone from Philipp Lahm’s pure successor at full-back to the position of playmaker and it’s a job he relishes.
Left-back Alphonso Davies is prone to miss out because of a hamstring harm however midfielder Leon Goretzka returned towards Bremen after a spell on the sidelines.
Pavlovic has lately damaged into the Germany nationwide facet and is eagerly anticipating the wall of noise that may greet Bayern at Celtic Park, earlier than a possible title-deciding journey to Leverkusen between the 2 legs of this tie.
“Will probably be a really essential, very particular week for us,” he informed the media after Friday’s victory. “Everyone seems to be trying ahead to the environment in Glasgow.
“However I am not intimidated.”
Mia san Mia, in any case.
