Celtic

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With a visit to reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen looming on Saturday for Bayern Munich, is now as good a time as any for Celtic to take on the current German league leaders?

That was the question posed to German football journalist Constantin Eckner before the Scottish champions welcome the European giants in the Champions League this evening.

Last season was the first in a decade Bayern went without silverware as Leverkusen clinched a historic league title, and by the way Vincent Kompany's side are motoring domestically this season, it's safe to say they're keen for revenge.

Bayern are currently eight points clear before the top-of-the-table showdown and Eckner questioned whether their focus will be fully on Celtic.

"I don't know how focused Bayern are for the game at Celtic and how much they're actually already thinking about the game at Leverkusen - the second best team in the Bundesliga - a strong side, he told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

Eckner also expressed doubts about Bayern's defence, with starting centre-back pair Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim injured.

"There are also some injury woes are concerning Bayern right now," he added.

"So there's actually a possibility that instead of these two, the centre-back line-up could be Eric Dier and Josip Stanisic, who's actually more of a right-back.

"Dier played quite well in the second half of last season when he came on loan from Tottenham, which was kind of a surprise, but I don't know where he is right now in terms of playing at Celtic, in the Champions League knockout stage for Bayern.

"They play with a high line, are risk takers and have a lot of possession. Usually, centre-halves are kind of exposed and you need lot of individual quality in one-on-ones and two-on-twos to defend that backline, especially against counter-attacks, so it'll be interesting if actually Dier and Stanisic are playing."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Celtic's latest financial figures make for interesting reading. How other clubs must glance jealously at the Parkhead balance sheet when it contains a six month, pre-tax profit of nearly £44m. With cash at the bank in excess of £65m.

This after the club twice broke their transfer record in the acquisition of Arne Engels and Adam Idah. Around £26m was spent bringing in those two and Auston Trusty.

Those are sums other Scottish clubs can only fantasise about. Celtic are clearly operating from a position of great strength, in a football sense and financially.

If the sizeable sums spent on players in the summer window were something of a gamble, it has paid off. So much so, that in the parlance of the casino, Celtic are now playing with house money.

Progress has been made to the latter stages of the Champions League, with a significant transfer kitty now building up for the summer to make amends for failing to land all their January targets.

They can roll the dice against Bayern Munich safe in the knowledge their money for the season has been made.

No one is expecting Celtic to knock out Vincent Kompany's Bavarian heavyweights. What will be fascinating, however, is just how much of a game the Scottish leaders can give the Bundesliga's top side over the tie.

Brendan Rodgers wanted to restore pride and respectability to his club's results in Europe's elite competition. Job done. Now he's after a marquee result. He may struggle to take Bayern's scalp over two legs but could Celtic give the Germans a real scare in the home leg?

We may be about to gauge the measure of Celtic's European progress. If they can be truly competitive against a highly talented but sometimes erratic Bayern team – at least in the home leg – then Rodgers will have delivered on all his aspirations at this level.

When it comes to finances, cash-rich Celtic are, of course, dwarfed by Bayern. Rodgers, however, knows he can gather up all the chips he's won and have one last hurrah at the table.

Even if the cards don't fall kindly, he and supporters will look back fondly on their first foray in the competition's new format. And hope the cash at the bank is spent wisely as they plot the next one.

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Defender Auston Trusty says Celtic have "no reason to play with fear" at home to Bayern Munich in tonight's Champions League play-off first leg.

Celtic won 10 of their 12 points at Parkhead in the league phase, finishing in 21st place, while Bayern progressed in 12th after suffered three defeats in four away trips.

"We're all really excited," said Trusty. "It's a great opportunity for the club, but also us individually and us as a collective to take advantage and play our game.

"We're at home and I think we've shown that we back ourselves and can go out there and actually get a result.

"So I think there's no reason to play with fear. We have nothing to lose, only things to gain, and if we go out there and do our thing we truly believe we can get a result that's in our favour.

"I think when we are on it and have the right mindset and we play as a collective, I would truly back us against anybody. So it's really up to us."

The 26-year-old American says facing the German giants is "what dreams are made of" and this game is "definitely up there" in his career highlights.

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• Celtic have faced Bayern Munich on four previous occasions in European competition, going winless across all four in the group stages of the Champions League (D1 L3).

• Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their past 13 matches against Scottish sides in major European competition (W9 D4), with their last such defeat coming against Hearts in the Uefa Cup in February 1989 (1-0).

• Celtic have won just one of their 12 Champions League/European Cup clashes with German opposition (D3 L8), although that victory did come in the most recent one, against RB Leipzig in November.

• Bayern Munich have lost three of their four away matches (W1) in the Champions League this season. Should Celtic earn a victory here, it would be the first time the German side have lost four away games in a single campaign in major European competition.

• Bayern Munich made the most high turnovers (120) of any team during the league phase of this season's Champions League, while they turned 21 of those into shots (joint-most). Meanwhile, only five teams have suffered more high turnovers against them than Celtic (79).

• Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn has created 10 chances following a carry (travelling 5+ metres with the ball) in the Champions League this season; the most of any player during the league phase.

• Only five midfielders have played every minute for their teams in the Champions League this season (720), two of which play for clubs involved in this game: Callum McGregor for Celtic and Joshua Kimmich for Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer says "it is an honour" to play against Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as the two shot-stoppers prepare to face off in the Champions League. (Scottish Sun, external)

Celtic defender Auston Trusty is drawing on his experiences playing against the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa before taking on Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. (Daily Record, external)

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Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany says there is no risk of complacency when the Bundesliga leaders take on Celtic in Glasgow on Wednesday.

The sides face off in the first leg of their Champions League play-off before the return leg in Munich next week.

Six-time champions Bayern are eight points clear in their domestic league and have won their past four outings in all competitions.

Despite that recent run, Kompany is wary coming to "fortress" Celtic Park.

"Both clubs stand very high in the tradition of the Champions League because of the achievements of the past," Kompany said.

"For myself, and I imagine it's the same for Brendan, we're all here for the next piece of history.

"Anyone that has a deeper understanding of football would understand the home record of Celtic in this competition. It's not just recent. Throughout my career, I don't remember Celtic losing at home in Europe. It is a fortress. We give it the respect it deserves.

"We also have a team geared to look forward to big games. There's nobody from our side that will treat this any different to any other top game."

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits the club weren't overly optimistic in appealing Daizen Maeda's Champions League ban.

The Japan international was sent off for kicking out at an opponent in the win over Young Boys and missed the subsequent defeat at Aston Villa, but it was confirmed on Monday night the second match of his suspension has been overturned.

Maeda is now free to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday night and Rodgers said: "Obviously the club put in the appeal, which with the greatest respect to Uefa, we were thinking this probably wouldn't bear fruit.

"And then when I got the call to say he was able to play, I thought, goodness me, he's played the three full games, he couldn't run anymore as a striker, as a winger, I played him everywhere.

"But thankfully he's just a bundle of energy, so he'll be okay.

"I was a wee bit surprised when it came through."

Maeda has 22 goals in 38 appearances this season, with six in his past three games alone, and his availability for the play-off first leg is a boost for Rodgers' side.

"He's an extraordinary player, I think 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," the Celtic manager added.

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

"He's been an absolute joy to work with and just seeing him develop and grow over the course of the season. I think his ability, his finishing, but add to that, like I say, the work rate and intensities.

"He's a really, really pivotal player for us."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before his side's Champions League play-off first leg against Bayern Munich.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Rodgers says it's a "big surprise but a nice surprise" to have Daizen Maeda back after his suspension was halved, calling the Japan forward an "extraordinary player" and joking he "ran the legs off him" in the past three games, thinking he wouldn't be available on Wednesday evening.

• A key message from Rodgers was for his side to make sure they have something to play for next week: "It's very important to be very much alive in the tie."

• He insists Celtic are "not frightened to lose" and adds: "This is about going and performing. If we can do that, we can hopefully get what we deserve. The mindset is that we're going in, looking to win the game."

• On "football royalty" Bayern Munich, Rodgers says they are a giant of the European game who "see themselves as one of the favourites for the competition".

• He adds that "anything is possible in the game," as Celtic will have "the energy and support behind" them at Parkhead.

• Rodgers is fulsome in his praise of Harry Kane, calling him "world class" and "a fantastic player and a good guy", but is also wary his side will have to "nullify" the threat carried by all of Bayern's attackers.

• Winger Jota has "star quality written all over him" Rodgers says, but he still needs a "physical level and that's just time".

• Celtic posted their interim report yesterday, showing a pre-tax profit of £43.9m, with Rodgers saying "as a manager, you want to put funds into the team and the club has done that," and "we want to keep proving ourselves at this level for that you have to build and build".

Tino
Fan writer

Is there anything Daizen Maeda can't do?

The man is so quick it takes him just one game to serve a two-game ban, and incredibly he'll now be available for Wednesday night's all-important Champions League play-off first leg with Bayern Munich following a successful appeal.

Make no mistake about it, Maeda is the most important player Brendan Rodgers has at his disposal right now, and his inclusion against the German giants massively increases our chances of pulling off a big result before heading to Bavaria next week.

Six goals in February alone – and it is not even Valentine's Day – has been Maeda's gift to a fanbase already head over heels with everything the Japan star brings to the party.

Put simply, the man's all heart. And while his own unique brand of football can be described as unpredictable, erratic and even chaotic at times, we wouldn't have him any other way.

The big question for Rodgers now, however, is who misses out on what will be our biggest game of the season to date?

Four into three doesn't go, and while Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn will almost definitely start, it is less clear who out of Adam Idah or Jota will take the remaining place in the frontline.

Following Kyogo Furuhashi's departure, Idah has stepped up to the plate with four goals in three starts while returning superstar Jota is, well, Jota.

Cliched as it is, these are the selection headaches that managers seek, and it is now down to Rodgers to decide what trio are best suited to the task of taking on Harry Kane and Co.

Should he make the right call then we could be set for one of the biggest night's Celtic Park has seen in some time.

And on current form, if we are to pull off what would be a spectacular result, who would bet against Maeda being the star of the show yet again?

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Celtic will face Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Celtic Park.

Brendan Rodgers' men beat Raith Rovers 5-0 in the fifth round to earn themselves a place in the quarters.

For Hibs, they beat Ayr 1-0 on Friday evening to earn themselves a place in the quarters.

The ties will be played on the weekend of Saturday 8 March.

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Bayern Munich won't be an entirely unknown quantity to Celtic's players on Wednesday night, as right-back Alistair Johnston prepares to face compatriot Alphonso Davies.

The pair play for Canada and Johnston is all too aware of the qualities that Davies - who has amassed over 200 appearances for Bayern since joining in 2018 - possesses.

"It's one of those ones where you look at their squad and it's players of Fonzie's quality," Johnston said. "I've obviously trained against him and played with him with our national team plenty of times. And it's a different level.

"He's a truly world-class player. I think he was in the world's best XI when he was 19 years old and a Champions League winner, multi-time Bundesliga winner.

"You just see his level in training and you realise that it's 18 more guys like that."

Both full-backs have made over 50 appearances for the Canucks, but it is Davies who holds the title of Canada's youngest-ever player, making his international debut at 16.

"Just in terms of his physicality, his physical traits are unbelievable," Johnston said. "And then you match in how quick his feet are and how he sees the game, his football IQ, everything.

"I've always been really impressed by training with him and just seeing the game through his eyes.

"Teams will double-team him and he's the left-back for our national team. It's unheard of, but when we play games in CONCACAF, they'll do that and often they'll send their best winger on to my side.

"I get that, it's a mismatch against Fonzie, so they try and pick on me instead. It's something that comes with the territory, but he's a super-talented player.

"And again, that's what Bayern Munich is all about. They are going to have a lot of those players."

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Former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan thinks the Champions League tie against Bayern Munich could be "a blessing in disguise" for Brendan Rodgers' side.

Sheridan also suggested that a tie against Vincent Kompany's Bayern side is preferable to the alternative - a game against Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid.

The German giants travel to Parkhead on Wednesday night in the first leg of the Champions League play-off tie.

"The Dortmund game could prove to be a blessing in disguise at this stage," Sheridan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Where they know the perils of going away and playing like that and what can happen against teams of that level.

"So maybe that kind of gives a little bit of a lesson, but ultimately I think it was the better of the two draws.

"I was kind of looking at it and thinking, would you prefer to play a team coached by Ancelotti or by Vincent Kompany? You feel like Brendan would have the upper hand over Vincent Kompany."

Sheridan also believes Adam Idah is going to have a very important part to play on Wednesday night in light Kyogo Furuhashi's departure and Daizen Maeda's suspension.

"I think Adam Idah is going to play a big role in it," he added.

"I think he's looked very good since he scored those goals against Aston Villa. And I think he's actually starting to score instinctive finishes.

"I think it's probably given him a little bit more hope, his recent form."

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Brendan Rodgers insists Celtic have "earned the right" to be in the Champions League last 16.

The Parkhead club host Bayern Munich on Wednesday night before travelling to Germany for the second leg.

Celtic go into the game off the back of a 5-0 Scottish Cup victory over Raith Rovers but will be without Daizen Maeda who is suspended for the game.

"It'll be an amazing game to look forward to," the Celtic manager said.

"We earned the right to play the game so we'll have 60,000 super-charged souls in here on Wednesday night and I can't wait for it.

"It's a big test for us, a big challenge but we'll look to bring our very best game and see what happens.

"We play at home, we always feel with the support, and especially how we've done this year in the competition, how we've been progressing at this level, we will give everything we can.

"We know we're playing against a top team with top players but we want to always make it really difficult for every team we play against."

Celtic were keen to bring Kieran Tierney's free transfer forward to January, but the 27-year-old Scotland defender and Arsenal decided together he would remain with Mikel Arteta's squad until the summer despite his lack of game time. (The Athletic), external

Kyogo Furuhashi's agent, Joel Pannick, says the 30-year-old had clubs from all over the world expressing an interest in his services, but the Japan striker joined Rennes from Celtic to improve his World Cup selection chances despite more lucrative contracts offered elsewhere. (The Times), external

Bayern Munich have been dealt an injury blow with £47.5m Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha set to miss the Champions League showdown with Celtic. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Celtic fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John: We were expected to take this tie with ease and duly did so. I like the look of Dane Murray, there's something about him. Looks like he has a touch of class about him.

Michael: Another great performance. Raith had decent spells in defending but the Celtic train was too much for them. I think Bayern Munich are in for a shock when they come to Parkhead, I can't see anything but a Celtic win.

Bear: The first time a "second string" has showed up well when given an opportunity. I always felt Daizen Maeda was a better player than Kyogo Furuhashi, but lived in his shadow, now we are seeing the real him. A wonderful player and maybe the people berating the club for not replacing Kyogo should take note, the answer was there all along, 20-plus goals and counting.

Gordy: Daizen is possibly one of our best signings in recent years. His commitment to the team and professionalism is second to none. Another fine performance from him and the team as a whole, no let up in the quest for another treble. Hopefully we can get something against Bayern and show we have grown in Europe, well played tonight

Patrick: Decent use of the squad and everyone performed well, I expect a totally different squad midweek. Thrilled for Maeda to be scoring so freely and nice for Viljami Sinisalo to have a chance in goal. Hoping for a nice draw for the next round.

Owen: Maeda has been a standout for Celtic since he signed but his recent form has been captivating. His off the ball work is one of the best in world football but sometimes on the ball his touch has let him down in the past. Recently that looks to have changed for the better and he is getting the goals and assists to prove it.

Daizen Maeda took his Celtic tally to 50 goals as his hat trick helped the much-changed holders into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable 5-0 win over Raith Rovers.

Brendan Rodgers brought nine players into the starting line-up but it was very much business as usual as Celtic extended their unbeaten home run to 32 matches - one shy of the mark reached by Gordon Strachan's vintage of 2007.

Second-half goals from Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun had Celtic well in command before Maeda completed his hat-trick late on from McCowan's fine assist.

The Japanese attacker, who scored twice before the break to dull the Championship visitors' resistance, now has 21 goals for the season.

An able deputy, perhaps, for departed compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi, having now rattled in six in his last three games.

Celtic fans, were you at Parkhead on Saturday or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

Have your say, external

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "Games like this can be tricky if the attitude is not right, no matter what talent you've got. It's a huge testament to the players in terms of how hard they worked in the game right from the beginning to play to the level they did.

"We knew we'd be expected to get through. The focus today was on the performance level, we made nine changes and we still wanted to attack the game well.

"To do that you have to be really concentrated and focused and we could see that in the team right the way through. The goals were excellent, you wouldn't know we've made nine changes."

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A hat trick for Daizen Maeda who impressed in a Celtic jersey once again. That's now 21 goals for the season for the Japan international.