BAYERN MUNICH took a major step towards the Champions League last 16 as Michael Olise’s thunderbolt and Harry Kane’s clinical finish secured a 2-1 win at Celtic in the play-off round first leg on Wednesday.
Vincent Kompany’s side dominated the first half and a stunning strike from Olise gave them a deserved lead before Kane maintained his red-hot scoring streak after the interval.
Daizen Maeda netted in the closing stages to give Scottish champions Celtic hope of a miraculous escape act in the second leg.
The Japan forward was only playing after his two-game ban was unexpectedly reduced on appeal this week following his red card against Young Boys.
But Bundesliga leaders Bayern will still be favourites to advance to the last 16 when Celtic visit Munich on 18 February.
Celtic finished just three points behind Bayern in the league phase, yet there is a huge gulf between the clubs’ European pedigree.
Six-time European champions Bayern lead the Bundesliga by eight points, while Celtic are attempting to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2012-13.
For the first 70 minutes that chasm in quality was clear to see before Bayern eased up in the closing stages, nearly allowing Celtic back into the tie as a result.
Celtic’s first defeat in 33 home matches across all competitions was a welcome confidence boost for Bayern, who had shown a weakness on the road in league-phase defeats at Barcelona, Aston Villa and Feyenoord.
Celtic thought they had preyed on that weakness when former Bayern forward Nicolas Kuhn fired home from 20 yards inside the first minute, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside against Ireland international Adam Idah.
Bayern could have been swept away by the tidal wave of noise cascading down from the Parkhead stands.
But Kompany’s men are too experienced for that and they quickly seized control with a steady diet of possession.
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- Predatory Kane -
Olise nearly put Bayern ahead with a powerful strike that forced Kasper Schmeichel to save at his near post.
Schmeichel was forced into action again moments later as Kane’s curler was pushed away by the Dane.
Bayern were camped on the edge of the Celtic area as they probed for an opener.
Kane should have broken the deadlock when he nodded Olise’s corner into the side netting from close range.
But the England captain’s blushes were spared by Olise on the stroke of half-time.
Cutting inside Greg Taylor to reach Dayot Upamecano’s long pass, Olise unleashed a blistering drive that arrowed into the top corner from 15 yards.
It was no more than Bayern deserved for their territorial dominance and the Germans struck again four minutes after the interval.
Joshua Kimmich’s corner swung to the far post without a Celtic clearance and the unmarked Kane guided a composed volley past Schmeichel from five yards.
Kane’s typically predatory finish took his season tally to 29 goals in 29 games in all competitions.
Upamecano’s challenge on Arne Engels prompted a long VAR check for a potential penalty, but Celtic’s appeal was correctly rejected.
That was the signal for Celtic to mount a late bid to haul themselves back into the tie.
Bayern had grown increasingly sloppy and Rodgers’ men earned their lifeline in the 79th minute when Maeda met Yang Hyun-Jun’s shot with a header from virtually on the line.
Kompany’s men had to cling on for dear life in the final minutes, with Manuel Neuer producing a crucial save to deny Alistair Johnston.
Elsewhere, a catastrophic mistake by AC Milan’s French goalkeeper Mike Maignan handed troubled Dutch side Feyenoord a precious 1-0 advantage after the first leg of the Champions League play-offs.
The surprise win was a welcome tonic for Feyenoord, who came into the match in disarray after axing manager Brian Priske less than 48 hours before the game.
Meanwhile, Vangelis Pavlidis scored his sixth goal in this season’s Champions League to give Benfica a 1-0 win away to 10-man Monaco.
Pavlidis scored the only goal of the game three minutes into the second half in the principality, with Monaco handicapped in their comeback attempts as midfielder Moatasem al-Musrati was sent off shortly after.
In the early game, Gustaf Nilsson shot Club Brugge to a 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday with a controversial penalty in stoppage time to boost the Belgians’ chances of reaching the last 16.
Atalanta looked to be escaping Bruges with a draw after Mario Pasalic’s fine header four minutes before half-time levelled Ferran Jutgla’s fabulous opener for the hosts.
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Late Maeda goal gives Celtic faint hope ahead of Champions League second leg
Updated at 22.46
BAYERN MUNICH took a major step towards the Champions League last 16 as Michael Olise’s thunderbolt and Harry Kane’s clinical finish secured a 2-1 win at Celtic in the play-off round first leg on Wednesday.
Vincent Kompany’s side dominated the first half and a stunning strike from Olise gave them a deserved lead before Kane maintained his red-hot scoring streak after the interval.
Daizen Maeda netted in the closing stages to give Scottish champions Celtic hope of a miraculous escape act in the second leg.
The Japan forward was only playing after his two-game ban was unexpectedly reduced on appeal this week following his red card against Young Boys.
But Bundesliga leaders Bayern will still be favourites to advance to the last 16 when Celtic visit Munich on 18 February.
Celtic finished just three points behind Bayern in the league phase, yet there is a huge gulf between the clubs’ European pedigree.
Six-time European champions Bayern lead the Bundesliga by eight points, while Celtic are attempting to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2012-13.
For the first 70 minutes that chasm in quality was clear to see before Bayern eased up in the closing stages, nearly allowing Celtic back into the tie as a result.
Celtic’s first defeat in 33 home matches across all competitions was a welcome confidence boost for Bayern, who had shown a weakness on the road in league-phase defeats at Barcelona, Aston Villa and Feyenoord.
Celtic thought they had preyed on that weakness when former Bayern forward Nicolas Kuhn fired home from 20 yards inside the first minute, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside against Ireland international Adam Idah.
Bayern could have been swept away by the tidal wave of noise cascading down from the Parkhead stands.
But Kompany’s men are too experienced for that and they quickly seized control with a steady diet of possession.
- Predatory Kane -
Olise nearly put Bayern ahead with a powerful strike that forced Kasper Schmeichel to save at his near post.
Schmeichel was forced into action again moments later as Kane’s curler was pushed away by the Dane.
Bayern were camped on the edge of the Celtic area as they probed for an opener.
Kane should have broken the deadlock when he nodded Olise’s corner into the side netting from close range.
But the England captain’s blushes were spared by Olise on the stroke of half-time.
Cutting inside Greg Taylor to reach Dayot Upamecano’s long pass, Olise unleashed a blistering drive that arrowed into the top corner from 15 yards.
It was no more than Bayern deserved for their territorial dominance and the Germans struck again four minutes after the interval.
Joshua Kimmich’s corner swung to the far post without a Celtic clearance and the unmarked Kane guided a composed volley past Schmeichel from five yards.
Kane’s typically predatory finish took his season tally to 29 goals in 29 games in all competitions.
Upamecano’s challenge on Arne Engels prompted a long VAR check for a potential penalty, but Celtic’s appeal was correctly rejected.
That was the signal for Celtic to mount a late bid to haul themselves back into the tie.
Bayern had grown increasingly sloppy and Rodgers’ men earned their lifeline in the 79th minute when Maeda met Yang Hyun-Jun’s shot with a header from virtually on the line.
Kompany’s men had to cling on for dear life in the final minutes, with Manuel Neuer producing a crucial save to deny Alistair Johnston.
Elsewhere, a catastrophic mistake by AC Milan’s French goalkeeper Mike Maignan handed troubled Dutch side Feyenoord a precious 1-0 advantage after the first leg of the Champions League play-offs.
The surprise win was a welcome tonic for Feyenoord, who came into the match in disarray after axing manager Brian Priske less than 48 hours before the game.
Meanwhile, Vangelis Pavlidis scored his sixth goal in this season’s Champions League to give Benfica a 1-0 win away to 10-man Monaco.
Pavlidis scored the only goal of the game three minutes into the second half in the principality, with Monaco handicapped in their comeback attempts as midfielder Moatasem al-Musrati was sent off shortly after.
In the early game, Gustaf Nilsson shot Club Brugge to a 2-1 win over Atalanta on Wednesday with a controversial penalty in stoppage time to boost the Belgians’ chances of reaching the last 16.
Atalanta looked to be escaping Bruges with a draw after Mario Pasalic’s fine header four minutes before half-time levelled Ferran Jutgla’s fabulous opener for the hosts.
UEFA Champions League results on Wednesday:
Knockout phase play-offs, first leg
Club Brugge (BEL) 2 (Jutgla 15, Nilsson 90+4-pen) Atalanta (ITA) 1 (Pasalic 41)
Celtic (SCO) 1 (Maeda 79) Bayern Munich (GER) 2 (Olise 45, Kane 49)
Feyenoord (NED) 1 (Paixao 3) AC Milan (ITA) 0
Monaco (FRA) 0 Benfica (POR) 1 (Pavlidis 48)
Played Tuesday
Brest (FRA) 0 Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 3 (Vitinha 21-pen, Dembele 45, 66)
Juventus (ITA) 2 (McKennie 34, Mbangula 82) PSV Eindhoven (NED) 1 (Perisic 56)
Manchester City (ENG) 2 (Haaland 19, 80-pen) Real Madrid (ESP) 3 (Mbappe 60, Diaz 86, Bellingham 90+2)
Sporting (POR) 0 Borussia Dortmund (GER) 3 (Guirassy 60, Gross 68, Adeyemi 82)
– Return legs 18-19 February
– © AFP 2025
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