All the match stats ahead of tonight’s mammoth Champions League knockout playoff encounter between Celtic and Bayern Munich…
Celtic have faced the current Bundesliga league leaders on four occasions prior to their fifth head-to-head this evening. Winless across all four meetings in the group stages of the Champions League [three defeats and a draw], Brendan Rodgers’ men will be aiming to become the first ever Celtic side to defeat Bayern Munich.
Bayern has a formidable record against Scottish sides
On the other hand, the visitors have an outstanding historical record versus Scottish sides as Vincent Kompany’s side head for Glasgow’s east end. Unbeaten in 13 matches against Scottish opponents [nine victories and four draws], the Bavarian club’s last defeat against a Scottish team came at Tynecastle where they were beaten 1-0 from Hearts in the UEFA Cup in February 1989.
Celtic defeated German opposition at Paradise this season
Celtic’s hugely impressive 3-1 victory against RB Leipzig in November 2024 was the Hoops’ first win against German opposition in 12 attempts across the European Cup and rebranded Champions League. Will this undesirable record look slightly more polished come 10:00pm tonight?
Furthermore, the Scottish champions’ 2-1 win over Arne Slot’s Feyenoord at the end of last season’s Champions League group stage campaign was the first time in 21 games in European competition Celtic have beaten a side who have previously won the European Cup or Champions League.
However, Bayern’s away form in the Champions League this season does not make for pleasant reading for Kompany. Losing three of their four matches on the road in Europe’s elite club competition, a defeat for Bayern at Celtic Park would mean it would be the first time in the Bayern’s history they will have lost four away matches in a solitary campaign in any European competition.
Individual battles could prove to be a deciding factor in the outcome of this evening’s hotly anticipated first-leg affair. Only five midfielders in this season’s competition have played every single minute for their respective teams [720]. Veterans Callum McGregor and Joshua Kimmich are two of the five. Both faced off against each other the last time the two clubs met – November 2017, Bayern 3-0 Celtic.
Celtic are unbeaten at Celtic Park across all competitions this season. Let’s keep it that way tonight!
Conor Spence
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