Harry Kane scored the killer goal for Bayern Munich at Parkhead and left Celtic with a Champions League mountain to climb.
Brendan Rodgers’ side lost their play-off first-leg 2-1 as goals from Michael Olise and England captain Kane gave the Germans a vital lead in the tie. Daizen Maeda pulled a goal back with 10 minutes left to give Celtic hope – but they’ll have to overturn a deficit and win in the Allianz Arena next Tuesday to make the last-16.
Vincent Kompany’s men dominated large spells of the game and deservedly went in front through Olise’s stunning strike just before half-time. Shortly after the break, Kane made it 2-0 with a back post volley from a corner as Celtic looked to be out of the tie.
But Maeda’s close range header late on kept them in it. Manuel Neuer’s injury time save from Alistair Johnston denied the Hoops an equaliser – which could have been crucial ahead of the second-leg against the Bundesliga giants.
Here’s five talking points from Parkhead
Brilliant in Bavaria
Celtic will need to produce the performance of their lives in the Allianz Arena next week after losing at home to Bayern – and deep down Brendan Rodgers will have known a play-off tie against this standard of opposition was always going to be a tall order for his side. It’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to overturn a one-goal deficit in Germany but they’ll be able to look back on their Champions League campaign with pride having reached the knock-out phase and made progress in Europe’s top competition – just like the manager vowed to do when he returned to the club.
His one gripe will be that his team failed to find their A game when it mattered here, even though Bayern are a top outfit. Celtic had to play with an intensity they rarely require in Scotland but they couldn’t quite manage it, especially in the first half. If Nicolas Kuhn’s early strike would have stood it might have been different. Or if Kyogo Furuhashi was still around, could he have caused Bayern more of a problem? We’ll never know and Rodgers isn’t one for regrets – but he’ll be disappointed Celtic didn’t play to their full potential.
German efficiency
A lot was made before the game of how the electric Celtic Park atmosphere on a Champions League night might spook Bayern Munich. As the teams lined up it was certainly spine tingling stuff as usual and the noise was deafening. Bayern’s players looked around them in wonder as the teams lined up. When Nicolas Kuhn thought he’d opened the scoring after just 28 seconds the roof nearly came off the place. But when it was ruled out for offside, the Germans quickly composed themselves and duly quietened Parkhead down. Bayern’s control of the game with their quality of passing, movement and speed on the ball sucked the life out of the home crowd as the first half went on, which would undoubtedly have been part of Vincent Kompany’s game plan going into the first-leg. Goals either side of the break dampened the spirits of the Hoops fans before Maeda’s goal breathed new energy into them towards the end of the game.
Happy Daiz
Rodgers had one big call to make with his team selection and it was no surprise to see Adam Idah get the nod ahead of Jota in the starting 11. After Daizen Maeda’s ban was reduced making him available for the tie, he was always going to play. Rodgers’ choice was to play the Japanese star in his usual wide berth with Idah up front or go with Maeda through the middle and Jota on the flank. He opted for the former which would have been largely down to the Portuguese star’s lack of minutes since returning to the club – and also Idah’s performance and goals at Villa Park last time out in the Champions League. He doesn’t have the pressing, running power or energy as Maeda in the central striker role but the Irishman’s hold-up play was decent. He’d run his race after an hour and as predicted, Jota was introduced with Maeda going central. He pulled a goal back with a close range header almost immediately to make it 2-1 – and made you wonder if he should have started there in the first place.
A huge Leip from RB
Celtic might have beaten German opposition in the shape of RB Leipzig en route to this Champions League play-off tie – but Bayern Munich are on a different level to their Bundesliga counterparts. Kompany’s side will feel they can win the whole tournament, especially with the final at their own Allianz Arena later this year. And in spells last night they showed why they’ve got every chance of lifting the trophy. Despite Celtic’s pressing, the ease in which Bayern’s players kept the ball at Parkhead was a joy to watch. And even though there are most star studded names in Kompany’s squad, ex-Crystal Palace winger Olise really caught the eye. Greg Taylor struggled to cope with the 23-year-old on Celtic’s left flank and when he cut inside the Hoops full-back just before half-time you felt there would only be one outcome as Olise smashed the ball past Kasper Schmeichel into the roof of the net for Bayern’s opener. And to show the German’s strength in depth, when Kompany wanted to change his wide men, he was able to replace Olise and Leroy Sane with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry from the bench.
Kane and able
You’re playing a dangerous game if you think at any point in a match that you’ve kept Harry Kane quiet. Because that’s usually when the England skipper pops up to punish you and Celtic were the latest victims last night. Kane’s every touch was booed by the home crowd from the off and for 49 minutes the Hoops defence would have been pretty pleased at how they’d shackled Bayern’s number nine.
He even passed up a gilt-edged opportunity before half time with a header wide that he’d normally bury. But Kane has never let missed chances bother him and when Celitc’s rearguard switched off for a second at Joshua Kimmich’s corner early in the second half, Kane got his customary goal to silence the Parkhead faithful. You do wonder how one of Europe’s top marksmen found themselves completely unmarked at the back post to knock home a volley for 2-0 – but Kane’s movement is so good in the box you’ve come to expect it.