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 isn’t meant to return throughout as conceited. Translated into English it means: “We’re who we’re.”
What they’re is a successful machine. So you would forgive them for a contact of conceitedness.
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.
Below Belgium and Manchester Metropolis legend Vincent Kompany, who made the leap 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 Bayer Leverkusen to an unbelievable, invincible season final yr, leaving Munich trailing in third.
That led to some merciless jibes at Harry Kane’s incapacity 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 toes.
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 previous seven league video games, scoring 23 targets within the course of, and a 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen final trip hoisted them eight factors away from Leverkusen.
Now, they’ve their eyes set on progressing in the direction of Champions League glory, with the ultimate at their Allianz Area house on the finish of Might.
Superstars’ stuttering away kind provides Celtic hope
Given they’re taking part in on this play-off spherical, it’s clear Bayern’s European marketing campaign has had its ups and downs – with the lows largely approaching the street as they missed out on a top-eight berth.
They have been overwhelmed 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 they’d ever misplaced three successive away European matches, and Kompany’s facet have been additionally nicely overwhelmed at Feyenoord.
One win from their final seven European journeys suggests Celtic have a possibility to get a constructive lead to Glasgow.
That stated, Kane – who scored two penalties within the win over Bremen – is simply one of many superstars who’re hoping to win the match, not to mention this tie.
In Jamal Musiala, 21, Bayern have probably the greatest younger gamers on the planet – as Scotland keep in mind vividly after he starred for Germany throughout the Euro 2024 opener, scoring the second purpose in a 5-1 rout.
Veteran World Cup winners Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller are nonetheless enormous gamers for the membership, with the previous not too long ago 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 function of playmaker and it’s a activity he relishes.
Left-back Alphonso Davies is prone to miss out resulting from a hamstring harm however midfielder Leon Goretzka returned in opposition to Bremen after a spell on the sidelines.
Pavlovic has not too long ago 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.
“It will likely be a really essential, very particular week for us,” he instructed the media after Friday’s victory. “Everyone seems to be wanting ahead to the ambiance in Glasgow.
“However I am not intimidated.”
Mia san Mia, in spite of everything.