Bayern wax lyrical over Celtic experience as souped-up defender stands out and fans risk Uefa wrath

We pick out some 'extras' from Wednesday night's Champions League play-off first leg between Celtic and Bayern Munich.

Celtic's Daizen Maeda (centre) celebrates pulling a goal back to make it 2-1 against Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off first leg. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Celtic show fight

This was a strange game of football given that Bayern Munich will no doubt have left Glasgow with regrets - even if they prevailed 2-1 at an intoxicating Celtic Park.

When Harry Kane netted the Germans' second goal on 49 minutes, Bayern had one foot and more in the last 16. They had barely shifted through the gears and were 2-0 up, and a third goal or even maintaining that advantage would surely have killed off any hopes Celtic had of overturning the deficit in Germany next Tuesday.

Celtic deserve credit for the way they hauled themselves back into the tie. There was no raising of the white flag, no accepting of a 2-0 defeat that would not go down as a bad result against such illustrious company. They went looking for goals. Daizen Maeda got one and there were chances to grab a precious equaliser. Their fightback stirred Celtic Park enough for a proper send-off at full time.

Of course, the odds are stacked against Celtic. This Bayern Munich team is packed full of goalscorers and they are a monstrous force at home against any opposition. And despite all of the above, they lead the tie 2-1.

Celtic will require one of their greatest ever performances to progress to the last 16, yet they can at least head to the Allianz Arena with a modicum of hope. Anything beyond this stage of the Champions League is a bonus. Manager Brendan Rodgers and his team can go down fighting.

Tactical turning point

The turning point for Celtic appeared to be when Daizen Maeda was moved centrally from out wide, with Adam Idah replaced by Jota. The team looked sprightlier and more energetic and Rodgers pointed that out in his post-match comments.

"He's such an important player for us," Rodgers said of Maeda. "You see that once we got the pressure on how we would want the top end to do the field , then that changes the dynamic of a game because that's how we normally play. So yes, he's got a feeling for goals. All the different types of goals like you see. That one there, just a cute little striker's header in the six-yard box."

Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Wednesday February 12, 2025. | PA

Kompany on ‘exciting’ Celtic

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany could not help but be impressed by Celtic, even if he lamented letting the Scottish champions back into the tie. While he is still confident his team can close out proceedings at the Allianz Arena next week, he was magnanimous in his assessment of Celtic.

"I know this place, I know it transcends performance sometimes," Kompany said of the Celtic Park atmosphere. "I thought we dealt really well with it for long spells of the game, we didn't let the game go crazy, and in the last ten minutes we had to defend and we did that well as well, but of course you can feel in those moments that if the game comes alive, it is a special place.

"But I think in general, if you look overall, I don't want to draw too many conclusions now because we have to see each other in one week again, but overall if you look at the squad, Celtic has always been a fantastic platform for players who are building their careers to the very top.

"And of course they've got players who serve the club very loyally, who do well for many years, who represent the DNA of the club and the fans. But it's very clear to me that it's always, from a football side, a very exciting outfit."

Souped-up CCV

Those who watch Scottish football say that Celtic have a defensive cheat code in Cameron Carter-Vickers, a centre-half who is capable of bailing the team out of danger if they lose the ball and leave the backline exposed.

Bayern have a man who is a souped-up Carter-Vickers in French defender Dayot Upamecano, who was given man-of-the-match and is the perfect modern-day centre-back. Powerful, quick, great timing, composed on the ball. A terrific player.

Bayern play like Celtic do on domestic duty, pressing the opposition and keeping their backline high. They can do so safe in the knowledge that they have Upamecano as one of the last lines of defence. Celtic will do well to get past him and his teammates in the second leg.

Celtic fans unveil a banner which reads 'show Israel the red card' during the Champions League play-off first leg match against Bayern Munich at Celtic Park. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Fans risk UEFA wrath

The atmosphere, unsurprisingly, was electric at Celtic Park. European nights always are - especially when we are in the latter stages of the Champions League. The fans deserve immense credit for that.

However, one banner may well have caught Uefa's eye. "Show ‘Israel’ the red card" was unfurled at half time and into the second period, believed to be referencing some people's desire to have Israeli clubs banned from Uefa competition due to the ongoing war with Palestine.

Wherever you stand on that particular conflict, the issue for Celtic is that they are already treading on eggshells with European football's governing body after pyrotechnic incidents and Uefa takes a dim view of political statements at matches. It will be interesting to see if the match delegate reports back.