Bayern Munich are no spent force. Celtic in for a difficult night.
Everything is relative in life as well as football. Bayern Munich have performed below their best so far this season, but that doesn’t diminish their status as one of Europe‘s elite clubs.
Bayern always mean business. When Karl–Heinz Rummenigge warned there would be ‘consequences’ for the hammering suffered in Paris last month, he wasn’t joking. Within hours Carlo Ancelotti had been handed his jotters.
In truth, Ancelotti, an outsider, never quite seemed at home at a club chock full of names from its own glorious past. With Jupp Heynckes, mastermind of the 2012 treble, back in charge, the feel good factor and link with history is back. His appointment until the end of the campaign, buys Germany’s record champions time ahead of a likely swoop for Hoffenheim’s youthful general, Julian Nagelsmann.
I would caution against anyone thinking this is an opportune moment for Celtic to be taking on Bayern. When the Bavarians have something to prove, they usually succeed in proving it. This is still a side with very few weak links.
One obvious area of mediocrity is in goal where Sven Ulreich is simply not close to the same level as the injured Manuel Neuer, in my view, the world’s best. Ulreich, who has been mostly a bench warner since joining from Stuttgart in 2013 has mistakes in him. Celtic must try to test him.
Ulreich cost Bayern 3 points at home against Wolfsburg last month and I hope it’s a game Brendan Rodgers and his analytics team have put under the microscope. Wolfsburg are one of the lesser lights in the Bundesliga these days but through heart, tactical discipline and a strong belief, they were able to leave the Allianz Arena with a creditable 2-2 draw.
I’ve heard it said that the way to beat Bayern is to ‘press them high.’ Well, that’s easy to talk about but a lot harder to do. Celtic won’t necessarily have a say in the matter, so their defence will be forced deep at times. Withstanding an onslaught will undoubtedly be part of the story, if the Hoops are to get something from the game.. It won’t be comfortable.
I would expect Joshua Kimmich and David Alaba to occupy the full back positions with Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels in central defence. Thiago could have utility mam Sebastian Rudy next to him what with Javi Martinez out due to a shoulder injury. Thiago was arguably Bayern’s best player last term and was my man of the match in the 5-0 win over Freiburg on Saturday. Arturo Vidal is also in the running after recovering from a muscular injury.
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Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller and the youthful, pacy Kingsley Coman make up a considerable attacking trio behind the unmistakable Robert Lewandowski.
Bayern were always going to miss Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso, who both retired at the end of last season. The squad is still evolving. Newcomers like James Rodriguez and Corentin Tolisso are still finding their feet.
But there remains an explosive quality about them and with Heynckes back at the helm, we must expect a return to the power football that was such a feature of his previous spell.
Celtic have Heynckes‘ respect. He reflected at yesterday‘s media briefing on the club’s draws against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Manchester City in the group stage a year ago.
Yet Bayern rarely underwhelm in a home Champions League game. The Celtic players must hold their nerve on a night that will be about as difficult as they come in Europe‘s premier club competition.
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