Bayern Munich vs. Celtic: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Bayern, with their significantly superior quality, should win this one fairly comfortably. They've won seven on the bounce on home soil and have only lost once at home all season (in the DFB-Pokal). Celtic haven't won a Champions League game away from home all season, so they could be in for a rough night. Bayern Munich 4-1 Celtic.

Bayern Munich are looking to finish the job in their Champions League tie against Celtic this week as they head to the Allianz with a 2-1 lead.

• Date: 18/02/2025
• Kick-off time: 20:00
• Location: Allianz Arena, Munich

Bayern got the job done in Glasgow last week in what was a professional performance. A fast start from the visitors saw them have a goal ruled out for a close offside amidst what went on to be a sustained period of early pressure. However, Bayern weathered the storm and gained control of the game, missing a number of chances before a superb goal from Michael Olise gave them the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Early in the second half, Celtic inexplicably left Harry Kane unmarked at the back post as Bayern swung in a corner, with the England man finishing with aplomb. Celtic did pull one back late on to keep the tie interesting, but Bayern should have few issues progressing from this one now.

Arguably Bayern’s biggest game of the season took place in the Bundesliga at the weekend where they travelled to title rivals Bayer Leverkusen. In what was a very regressive Bayern performance, the Bavarians proved stubborn enough to keep Leverkusen at bay for 90 minutes, securing a 0-0 draw and maintaining their eight-point lead in the title race, putting them in an unassailable position.

The jury is still out somewhat on Bayern this season in terms of their ceiling as a team, so it will be interesting to see how they fare in the latter stages of this competition. They’ve shown signs to suggest they’re capable of winning the whole thing, but they’ve in equal parts shown frailties that simply will not fly at this level. Expect them to deliver a dominant performance here against a Celtic side that has plenty of heart but limited quality.

It’s fair to say that Celtic have given a good account of themselves in this competition this season. Many would have fancied the Bhoys to exit the competition at the group stage, but they delivered their fans some very commendable performances to seal a playoff spot, with a win over RB Leipzig and a draw at Atalanta the pick of the bunch.

Celtic are sailing towards yet another league title as they sit miles of clear of Rangers in 2nd, with fan favourite Brendan Rodgers doing a fine job in his second season back at the club. Rodgers is a very good manager for Celtic’s level and fits the club well, and after the way his stint at Leicester City ended, it feels as though there won’t be a massive rush to prize him away from Glasgow this time, regardless of how much success he has.

Celtic are very likely going to exit the Champions League this week, and they might consider themselves extremely unlucky to have drawn Bayern Munich in the playoff round, but regardless, they’ve created a strong platform from which they can build next season.

There were a number of upsets in this year’s Champions League group phase that saw numerous big hitters finish outside of the top eight, but with better preparation, that may not be the case next season, and clubs like Celtic might be drawn into much more evenly matched playoff ties. A good summer in the transfer market could easily see a Champions League playoff exit turned into a last 16 berth next season, so there are plenty of reasons for Celtic fans to be very positive about their team’s achievements this season.

This game will be aired live to all subscribed UK viewers on Amazon Prime.

Bayern Munich Team News:

Bayern are doing very well on the injury front, with Daniel Peretz the only absentee for this one.

Vincent Kompany could make a change or two for this one following the game at Leverkusen at the weekend, with the likes of Leroy Sané and Leon Goretzka pushing for a place in the XI.

Predicted lineup: Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Ito; Goretzka, Kimmich; Olise, Musiala, Sané; Kane.

Celtic Team News:

The Bhoys enter this game without the injured Paulo Bernardo and James Forrest, but they should be the only absentees.

Celtic aren't likely to make many changes from the first leg, but Jota could come in on the wing in place of Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn.

Predicted lineup: Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, Engels; Maeda, Idah, Jota.

Bayern Munich:

Bayern's form is strong, with Kompany's side winning four and drawing one of their last five. Most recently, Bayern drew 0-0 away at Bayer Leverkusen, which followed the 2-1 win in Glasgow just days before.

After that, the Bundesliga club beat Werder Bremen 3-0 thanks to a Harry Kane brace and a goal from Leroy Sané, which came after a 4-3 win over Holstein Kiel, with the goals coming from Kane (X2), Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry.

Those results followed a 3-1 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League, courtesy of goals from Kane, Kingsley Coman and Thomas Müller.

Celtic:

Celtic are also in good form, with the Bhoys winning four and losing one of their last five, At the weekend, goals from Callum McGregor, Jota and Adam Idah produced a 3-0 win over Dundee United, which was preceded by the defeat to Bayern.

Prior to that, Celtic beat Raith Rovers 5-0, thanks to Daizen Maeda (X3), Luke McCowan and Yang Hyun-Jun, Dundee 6-0 - courtesy of Arne Engels (X2), Idah, Maeda (X2) and Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn - and Motherwell 3-1, with the goals coming from Maeda, Idah and Jota,

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