Celts battle Bayern all the way in UCL clash at Paradise | OneFootball

UEFA Champions LeagueKnockout phase play-off first legWednesday, February 12, 2025Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 1(Maeda 79)

BAYERN MUNICH… 2(Olise 45, Kane 49)

Celtic produced a heroic performance against a top-quality Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off first leg, but it was the German side who will take an advantage into next week’s return leg at the Allianz Arena with a 2-1 win at Paradise.

The atmosphere inside Celtic Park at kick-off was typically electric and within 30 seconds of kick-off, Celtic had the ball in the back of the net.

The ball was fed out to Nicolas Kuhn on the right flank, and the winger cut inside and fired in a low shot from the edge of the area that flew by Bayern goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.

Paradise erupted but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, with Adam Idah in an offside position and deemed to be interfering with the keeper’s view.

It was a let-off for Bayern and the visitors soon settled into the game, enjoying good spells on possession without creating too many chances.

The first of those came in the 12th minute when Harry Kane and Michael Olise combined well on the edge of the area, but the Frenchman’s shot was well-saved by Kasper Schmiechel.

Celtic continued to look dangerous on the break but were having to work hard defensively against their German opponents.

Just after the half-hour mark, Schmeichel produced a superb save to block a Kane header from six yards out, although had it gone in, it would have been ruled out for offside.

And with three minutes of the first-half remaining, the English internationalist had a great opportunity at the back post from a corner, but his header hit the side-netting.

But just when it looked as though Celtic would go in level at the break, Bayern struck in the 45th minute.

A cross-field pass found Olise who controlled the ball and cut inside before unleashing a powerful shot from just inside the area that flew beyond Schmeichel and into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 to Bayern.

Having taken the lead on the stroke of half-time, Bayern came out after the break intent on extending their lead and Joshua Kimmich had an effort saved after just 40 seconds.

Three minutes later Leroy Sane’s shot was deflected wide for a corner, and it was from that set-piece that the German side made it 2-0.

A ball to the back post found an unmarked Harry Kane who followed it into the net from six yards out.

Celtic pressed forward in search of a goal and a way back into the game, and a minute after Kane’s goal, Reo Hatate had a shot from an Arne Engels’ cutback which was blocked.

There was a length VAR check in the 55th minute for a possible penalty after a challenge on Engels inside the area, but the decision didn’t go in Celtic’s favour.

As the game passed the hour mark, Celtic began to find a way back into the game and Engels was carving some quality passes through the Bayern defence.

However, Celtic still needed Kasper Schmeichel in the 71 minute to deny substitute Serge Gnabry, who hit a low shot from inside the area which was well-saved.

With Adam Idah going off, Daizen Maeda switched to a central attacking role, and he latched on to a slack back pass and knocked the ball round Manuel Neuer, but he couldn’t steer his shot on target.

However, the Japanese forward wasn’t to be denied, and on 79 minutes he headed home from a couple of yards out after a knock-on from Yang to make it 2-1 with his 22nd goal of the season.

And Celtic almost created a chance for an equaliser just moments later when Alistair Johnston’s crossfield pass almost evaded the Bayern defence and found Jota, but the Germans managed to clear the danger.

As Celtic heaped on more pressure, Hatate had a shot from inside the area was blocked, and then in the 90th minute, Yang knocked the ball into the path of Johnston, whose goalbound shot was pushed behind by Neuer.

However, there was to be no late equaliser for the Hoops, despite continued pressure in the seven added minutes at the end of the game.