Cool heads needed as Bayern tackle Celtic cauldron in Champions League play-off first leg

Bayern are in Glasgow for the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie against Celtic on Wednesday (kick-off at 9pm CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). One of the challenges for Bayern in the heat of Celtic Park is to keep a cool head. “It’ll be very emotional, very loud, with huge support for Celtic. We need to show our qualities on the pitch,” said board member for sport Max Eberl in the build-up. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the first leg in our preview.

Recap all the build-up to the game on Tuesday:

Latest news from Bayern

Bayern finished the league phase in 12th place with a record of five wins and three draws from eight games. It meant they missed out on direct qualification for the last 16 and now have to put things straight against Celtic, as CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Thomas Müller put it. The objective for the play off is clearly “we want to progress,” as Herbert Hainer declared. “Recent wins have given us encouragement and confidence for the coming games,” the president added. Bayern have won their last four competitive fixtures and arrive in Glasgow with wind in their sails.

However, the Bavarians will need to improve on their record of one win and three defeats away from home in Europe this season if they’re to ensure a good position in Scotland for the return leg at the Allianz Arena next Tuesday. “We’re playing against a team that’s used to winning a lot and deciding games through their attack. They’re used to scoring goals. You take that confidence into big European games. But there are also things you do less of, maybe defending a bit deeper than in your domestic league,” coach Vincent Kompany explained at his press conference on Tuesday evening. “I’ve spoken with Thomas about our last game here in 2017, and he told me about the impressive atmosphere. I’m excited about tomorrow, a bit of football history and the history that Celtic’s written. It’s special to play here,” added captain Manuel Neuer.

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

Opponent: Celtic

Celtic qualified for the Champions League as champions of Scotland and finished the league phase in 21st place after three wins, three draws and two defeats. Their record at Celtic Park was particularly impressive, earning 10 points from their four fixtures on home soil, including a 3-1 victory over RB Leipzig. The Hoops’ strength at home is built on their famously vocal support, having not lost in front of their own fans for over a year. “Celtic are a force at home. We need to know what this is about – a very good team and an enthusiastic crowd. When we lose the ball, it’ll very quickly go the other way. We need to be incredibly alert,” Eberl insisted. Brendan Rodgers’ side hold a commanding 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership over arch-rivals Rangers.

“Celtic have great tradition in the Champions League. We’ll give them the respect they deserve, but we have a team that’s also a great team. And as long as we understand how big and important this game is, we’ll play well,” Kompany said of the opposition. “I think Celtic play well together, have an aggressive team. We need to break through their press, need to try to play our attacking football. That starts with our build-up play, that we’re wide awake. This atmosphere can create some nerves. We’re prepared for that. Celtic don’t like playing without the ball, so we want to build up our play towards the Celtic box as best we can and create chances,” Neuer added of facing Scotland’s champions.

Celtic claimed a comfortable cup win at the weekend:

Team news

Bayern have travelled to Scotland with only Alphonso Davies (hamstring), Daniel Peretz (kidney) and Joao Palhinha (ill) remaining at home. That means Serge Gnabry, who missed Friday’s game against Werder Bremen will illness, and Hiroki Ito after his broken metatarsal are both in the squad.

There are doubts over the involvement of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (back) and midfielder Paulo Bernardo (knee) for the hosts. Forward Daizen Maeda had been handed a two-game suspension for a red card in Europe, but that has been reduced to one game, which he has already served, and means he’s available on Wednesday.

We spoke with ex-Bayern and Celtic striker Alan McInally about Wednesday’s opponents:

What the coaches say

We got some travel tips for Glasgow from some Scottish Bayern fans: