Sybaris Ali 
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Celtic face another European superpower on Wednesday night as they take on German giants Bayern Munich. The Hoops narrowly beat Dundee 1-0 at the weekend, as their Champions League opponents demolished Freiburg 5-0. The Bhoys recorded their first points in the European campaign last time out easing to a comfortable win away to Anderlecht, while Bayern were taken apart by Paris Saint-Germain and beaten 3-0.
Overview
Founded in 1900, current German champions Bayern Munich were seeded in Pot 1 for the Champions League. Bayern have been champions of Germany 27 times and have also won 18 German Cups. As well as their domestic success, they have won the Champions League an impressive five times. Currently though they sit second in the Budesliga, two points behind early pacesetters Borussia Dortmund. Given Bayern’s difficult start to their domestic season and a poor performance in Paris against PSG, manager Carlo Ancelotti was sacked and replaced with Jupp Heynckes, who won them their last Champions League trophy in 2013 – which was also a treble winning season for the Bavarian’s.
European Pedigree
Bayern Munich are regulars in the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition but were knocked out at the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, Real Madrid, last season. Prior to this, Munich have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for three consecutive years, reaffirming themselves as a superpower of world football.
Similarly to Celtic’s other group stage opponents, Bayern Munich finished second in their Champions League group last season. The German side were drawn in a group with Atletico Madrid, Rostov and PSV Edinhoven. Bayern won every home match in their group, scoring 10 and conceding just the one goal, but did lose two matches away from home.
Out with last season’s European campaign, Bayern Munich have a habit of winning European silverware. While their last Champions League success was in 2013, where they beat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, the German side boast an impressive record of winning three European Cups in a row between 1974 to 1976. Only Real Madrid have won more consecutive European Cups in a row.
Just over 25 years on from that treble success, Bayern Munich were to win the Champions League again, but this time Spanish side Valencia were the losing team, as they were beaten on penalties by the German giants.
Celtic’s most recent competitive meeting with Bayern Munich was in 2003 where both clubs were in the same Champions League group. Celtic narrowly lost 2-1 in Munich, but in the return match, the Hoops held Bayern to a goalless draw as the German side progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League that year, with demoting Celtic to the Uefa Cup.
🎥 The last time Celtic travelled to face Bayern Munich in 2003, Alan Thompson scored this goal pic.twitter.com/KAlROUfDVT
— Read Celtic and The Trinity Tims (@ReadCeltic) October 15, 2017
Danger Men
Bayern Munich have team laden with quality all over the pitch but they were easily disposed of by PSG in their last Champions League game. For Celtic though it’s a different story as they aim to try to nullify another European powerhouse.
Robert Lewandowski is the biggest threat to Celtic’s chances of picking up anything on Wednesday night. The Pole is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in world football and Hoops fans will pray he has an off day when the two sides clash. Lewandowski has scored 13 goals in 12 matches for Bayern this season.
While Celtic’s defence have to be wary Lewandowski, midfielder Thiago Alcantara is a player the Hoops midfield should watch out for on Wednesday. Thiago, who had been plighted with injury worries at Bayern, is now settled in the middle of the park. His vision and awareness could be an issue for the Bhoys backline. The Spaniard tends to dictate play in the heart of the pitch and will have to be marked closely when the teams meet.
Arjen Robben is the other standout player who could cause issues for the Celtic backline. With Bayern likely to go with Thomas Muller, Kinglsey Coman and Robben as three players behind striker Lewandowski, it is key for Kieran Tierney to be alert to Dutchman’s style of play. Robben has been well renowned for his speed but commonly does like to cut inside and shoot as opposed to going down the wing and using his right foot. The Hoops may opt to double up on the winger to stop him from getting too much space.
Bayern Munich Line-up in last league match vs Freiburg: (4-2-3-1) Ulreich (GK); Kimmich (RB), Boateng (CB), Hummels (CB), Alaba (LB); Martinez (CM), Thiago (CM); Robben (RW), Muller (CAM), Coman (LW); Lewandowski (ST)
Where the match may be won or lost
Celtic’s away record recently in European competition has been impressive with the Hoops only losing one match from four this season. Under previous management, Celtic sides would perform dismally away from Parkhead but under Brendan Rodgers it’s different scenario.
The Hoops boss has implemented a style of play which many may feel suits them away from home than at the hallowed turf in the East End of Glasgow. Counter attacking football is the key to Celtic’s chances on Wednesday night but an element of luck is needed if the Bhoys want to pick up anything.
After their performance in Brussels, Celtic should go into the game with positivity that they could potentially upset all the odds and win in Munich. However, what the Hoops do not need is a repeat of their home performance to PSG or last season’s game at the Nou Camp where Barcelona decimated Celtic.
For Celtic not to face a hammering, it is important for the starting team to be as aggressive as possible. This was a key aspect missing in the Hoops opening Champions League group game against PSG. While PSG put in unbelievably good performance that night, Celtic didn’t lay a glove on the Parisians and made it too easy for them, especially in the first-half.
As well as the needed aggression, the Celtic midfield must track the inevitable runners from the Bayern side who will look to exploit space in behind the Hoops rearguard. This was a common problem in the first group game which is why Celtic must work on this during training.
In attack though, the Bhoys will look to the likes of Olivier Ntcham to use the ball effectively as much as possible as possession in Munich is likely to be less than the game against Anderlecht. With precious possession away from home in Europe, attacking players like Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts have to take every half chance they get and with a bit of luck the Hoops will hopefully get a positive result to take back to Glasgow.
The key for Celtic is similar to the first group game against PSG. If the Hoops keep the game alive this time for first half, then potentially they could pinch a draw or even a win in Munich. The important aspect for the Celtic players though is to be far more aggressive against Bayern Munich than they were against PSG.
Being passive could land the Hoops in massive trouble given Bayern’s revival under Heynckes. Last season, Celtic managed to pick up points in Monchengladbach and in Manchester, coupled with their win in Brussels last month, this Celtic side should go into the game with the belief that they could get a result in Munich.
