Celtic preparing to take on Bayern Munich in Champions League clash

Celtic are preparing for an epic encounter against German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League play-off round.

The Hoops host the Bundesliga giants and six-time European champions at Parkhead for the first leg of the play-off game on Wednesday.

A place in the last-16 of the continent’s premier competition is on the line with the return leg taking place in Germany next Tuesday.

Celtic have never defeated Bayern in a competitive match in UEFA competition with three defeats and a draw from four previous meetings.

They have run them close on a couple of occasions including a 0-0 draw in Glasgow the first time the sides met in the group stages of the 2003/04 Champions League.

Germany stars including Michael Ballack and Oliver Kahn were celebrating the draw at full time such was Celtic’s reputation and home form at the time.

Martin O’Neill’s side, fresh off reaching the UEFA Cup final the previous season, had won every single home Champions League game up until that point.

They were also winning 1-0 with 15 minutes to go in Munich that same season before Roy Makaay scored a late double to secure all three points for the home side.

The result ultimately led to them finishing third in the group, that also included Lyon and Anderlecht, before dropping into the UEFA Cup again and going on a run to the quarter-finals which included knocking Barcelona out in the last-16.

The last time the sides were drawn together was in the 2017/18 campaign when Munich took all six points from the two games with a 2-1 win in Glasgow and 3-0 victory in Munich.

Celtic were on top for large spells at Parkhead and it looked as though they had done enough to earn at least a draw when Callum McGregor brought them level with 15 minutes to go.

However, Munich scored again just two minutes later following a rare blunder by Craig Gordon in goals.

Fast forward to 2025 and Brendan Rodgers’ side are taking part in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in 12 years after progressing through the league phase with three wins, three draws and two defeats from eight games.

They will now take on Vincent Kompany’s men in a two-legged tie and will be hoping to get a good result in Glasgow to have any realistic hope of progressing further.

The Scottish champions received a boost on Monday when they were successful in having Daizen Maeda’s suspension reduced, meaning he will be available to play in the first leg.

Rodgers admitted it was a “big surprise” to have the “extraordinary” Maeda available for the game on Wednesday night.

The Japan attacker was sent off in the 1-0 win over Young Boys last month and served the first game of his ban in the 4-2 loss away to Aston Villa.

It was thought Celtic’s top scorer this season would also miss the visit of the German giants but his two-match suspension was reduced to one after an appeal.

The manager said of Maeda: “It’s such a great bit of news that we got, obviously, last night, early evening. He’s an extraordinary player.

“How he’s been this year for us, not just in goals, but what his value gives to the team in terms of his pressing and his honesty to the game.

“So to have that mentality and that ability available was a big surprise for us, but a nice surprise.”

That came after more good news last week when it was revealed that supporters would be allowed to travel to Munich after avoiding a potential ban over a pyro incident at Villa Park.