Celtic host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie with the Scottish side facing a mammoth task to reach the last 16 of the competition.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are flying high with a 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but this tie provides more difficult opposition in the form of one of the Champions League’s most successful sides.
Six-time winners Bayern may have only finished in 12th in the league phase but they top the Bundesliga by eight points, with a vast range of attacking talent including Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise and Harry Kane sure to test the hosts’ defence.
But Bayern’s European results have shown vulnerability, with their league phase including a 3-0 loss to Feyenoord, which will give Celtic plenty of hope that they can strike a blow to Vincent Kompany’s visitors ahead of the second leg in Munich next week.
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Match facts
Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their past 13 matches against Scottish sides in major European competition (W9 D4), with their last such defeat coming against Hearts in the Uefa Cup in February 1989 (0-1).
Celtic have won just one of their 12 Champions League/European Cup clashes with German opposition (D3 L8), although that victory did come in the most recent one, against RB Leipzig in November.
Chris Wilson12 February 2025 19:45
Celtic’s big Champions League night against Bayern Munich
Celtic are playing in their first Champions League knockout tie in 12 years, with their last coming in a 3-0 defeat to Juventus in February 2013.
The Scottish champions benefited from the changes to the Champions League format and finished the league phase in 21st position – with ten of their 12 points coming at Celtic Park.
In the play-offs they face “European royalty” and a side who are as experienced at this level as anyone.
Bayern Munich are looking to reach the last 16 for a 17th successive season. They may have finished 12th on 15 points, but the six-time European champions have reached the quarter-finals or better in 12 of their last 13 Champions League campaigns.
Jamie Braidwood12 February 2025 19:40
Head-to-head
Celtic have faced Bayern Munich on four previous occasions, going winless across all four in the group stages of the Champions League (D1 L3).
The last meetings between the two sides came in the 2017/18 season, when Bayern won 3-0 at home followed by a 2-1 away win courtesy of goals from Kinglsey Coman and Javi Martinez.
Chris Wilson12 February 2025 19:35
Harry Kane looks to continue extraordinary scoring form for Bayern
Harry Kane will be playing against Celtic for the first time in his career, having scored twice against Scotland on his previous two games in Glasgow (in a 2-2 draw in 2017 and a 3-1 win in 2023).
Kane has scored 31 in 33 games for club and country this season and since joining Bayern he has set the record for most Bundesliga goals in his first 50 games, scoring 55.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him,” said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers. “He was absolutely brilliant at Tottenham, showed the same for England and he’s gone out to Bayern and you just need to look at his goals record. A fantastic player and a good guy. We know that.”
Jamie Braidwood12 February 2025 19:30
Bayern’s away woes in Champions League
Bayern’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa in the second matchday of this season’s Champions League ended an unbeaten run of 41 group / league games in the competition.
It was then followed by further defeats at Barcelona and Feyenoord – making it three successive European away defeats for the first time in the club’s history.
Bayern, who lost to Real Madrid in last year’s semi-finals have featured in the Champions League in every season since 2008/09, reaching the knockout rounds in each one of those seasons.
Jamie Braidwood12 February 2025 19:15
Do Celtic have reason to believe ahead of facing Bayern Munich?
Celtic have already played German teams twice in this season’s Champions League – with mixed results. They were hammered 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund away from home but beat RB Leipzig 3-1 at home.
There are signs that Celtic are starting to improve in the Champions League. Although Celtic have won only six of their last 40 games in the Champions League proper, four of those wins have come in the last nine.
Celtic have never beaten Bayern in their four meetings, the last of which came in the Champions League group stages in 2017. Bayern won 3-0 at home and 2-1 at Parkhead.
Jamie Braidwood12 February 2025 19:08
Team news
Bayern have made four changes to the side that beat Werder Bremen 3-0 last weekend.
In defence, Konrad Laimer comes in for Sacha Boey at right-back, while Eric Dier partners Dayot Upamecano at centre-back.
In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlović drops out in favour of Leon Goretzka, while in attack Kingsley Coman is replaced by Leroy Sane.
Chris Wilson12 February 2025 19:00
Team news
Celtic have made eight changes to the side that beat Raith Rovers 5-0 at the weekend.
The entire back five is replaced, with the normal starting five of Schmeichel, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty and Taylor recalled.
In midfield, only captain Callum McGregor remains, with Reo Hatate and Arne Engels coming in for Luke McCowan and Paulo Bernardo.
In attack, Daizen Maeda is free to play after having a ban overturned, and himself and Kuhn both keep their places, with Adam Idah replacing Yang Hyun-Jun.
Chris Wilson12 February 2025 18:55
