Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers is “excited” by the problem of getting to beat Bayern Munich for the primary time ever if they’re to progress additional within the Champions League after being drawn in opposition to the six-time winners within the play-off spherical.
Bayern, who completed third within the Bundesliga final season, at the moment lead Germany’s high flight by six factors however completed twelfth within the new first stage of the Champions League following 5 wins and three defeats.
Celtic, who lead by 10 factors in defence of their Scottish title, had been unseeded within the draw after ending twenty first, having received three and dropping two of their eight ties.
The winners will face both Bayern Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid within the final 16.
Celtic have but to defeat Bayern in 4 conferences, all beforehand within the group stage of the Champions League.
Bayern received the primary of the 2003 conferences 2-1 in Germany, with the return in Glasgow ending goalless.
The Munich aspect received each video games in 2017 – 3-0 at house and 2-1 away – in opposition to a aspect led by Rodgers throughout his first spell as Celtic supervisor.
“We have performed Bayern Munich earlier than in my time and had a very good recreation at house, performed very properly and will have gotten one thing from the sport,” the Northern Irishman mentioned.
This time, the primary leg of the play-off will likely be at Celtic Park on both 11/12 February, with the return at Allianz Enviornment on 18/19 February, when Celtic are more likely to be with none travelling assist as they from governing physique Uefa over using pyrotechnics.
Rodgers identified that “the last word goal for us was to qualify” and Celtic had been all the time more likely to face high opposition within the play-off spherical.
Nonetheless, he thinks his aspect “have improved” since their earlier 7-1 thrashing away to a different German aspect, Borussia Dortmund.
“The important thing factor we needed to see was progress,” he mentioned. “Over the course of the eight video games, we have undoubtedly proven clear development each in our soccer, our mentality and our angle.
“To achieve success at that stage is not only about capability. It’s about angle and mentality and the gamers have proven that – and need to step that up once more.”
The brand new draw format meant that Rodgers’ aspect would both be drawn in opposition to Bayern or reigning champions Actual Madrid, who completed eleventh within the league section.
The 15-time winners had been as an alternative paired with Manchester Metropolis, the English champions having completed one place beneath Celtic.
Leverkusen and Atletico await the winners having certified on to the final 16 after ending within the high eight.
Atletico at the moment path metropolis rivals Actual by 4 factors on the high of La Liga however completed fifth within the league stage.
Leverkusen, who had been two factors behind in sixth, are second behind Bayern within the Bundesliga.
