Bayern claim first-leg advantage in play-offs

FC Bayern beat Celtic 2-1 on Wednesday night to take a lead back to Munich for next Tuesday's Champions League play-off second leg. Michael Olise handed Bayern the lead late in the first half and Harry Kane doubled grabbed a second after the restart. The Reds had their advantage halved again after Daizen Maeda pulled one back for the home side with 10 minutes to go but sealed a deserved victory.

Bayern started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Eric Dier and Raphaël Guerreiro in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané, with Kane up front. Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, Hiroki Ito and Thomas Müller came on for Olise, Sané, Guerreiro and Musiala in the second half.

Olise sets Bayern on their way

The first half almost began with a shock when Nicolas Kühn found the net inside 30 seconds, but the goal was ruled out for Adam Idah's offside position. Bayern then assumed the driving seat, Olise seeing a shot blocked and Laimer firing wide. Keeper Kasper Schmeichel denied Olise before Munich had a number of shots blocked.

A Goretzka pass just evaded Sané and Schmeichel saved from Kane, who soon headed into the side-netting, but a goal was coming and arrived when Upamecano's long ball found Olise, who sidestepped an opponent and unleashed a belter that rocketed into the near top corner of the net on the stroke of half-time.

Kane doubles

Moments after the restart, Schmeichel denied Kimmich, who soon whipped in a corner for the unmarked Kane to volley home. Celtic then got a grip on the game and clear-cut chances were at a premium for a spell.

Schmeichel parried against Gnabry with 20 minutes to go, with Maeda soon beating Neuer to a bad pass only to drag wide from an angle at the other end. Celtic then got one back with their first effort on target as Maeda headed in from close range a corner. The goal boosted the Bhoys, with Goretzka and Gnabry forced into making defensive blocks. Substitute Jota fired over and Neuer made a strong save against Alistair Johnston, but Bayern saw things out to claim victory.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga before Tuesday's return leg against Celtic.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen