2024-25 UCL Knockout Play-Offs: Second Leg – Bayern Munich vs Celtic

Bayern Munich meet Celtic in the second leg of their knockout play-off in 2024-25 UEFA Champions League.

With a 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg, Bayern can advance if they avoid defeat in their home leg.

Celtic must win to stand any chance of progressing to the Round of 16, although a 1-0 win will send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.

 

Team News

Bayern could welcome Joao Palhinha back into contention after he missed the first leg due to illness.

Alphonso Davies (hamstring) is back in training but is unlikely to be risked in this match.

Celtic have no fresh injury concerns to report following their domestic win over Dundee United, as only Paulo Bernardo (ankle) remains absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Bayern Munich host Celtic at Allianz Arena on Tuesday 18 February at 9pm CET (8pm GMT), live on Amazon Prime in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Bayern are unbeaten in their five previous Champions League meetings against Celtic (W4, D1).
• Celtic have lost their two previous Champions League trips to Bayern (L2).
• Three of Bayern’s four previous Champions League wins over Celtic were by 2-1 results.
• Bayern kept disciplinary clean sheets in two of their four home games in the league phase (W4).
• Celtic claimed goalless draws in two of their four away matches in the league phase (D2, L2).

 

Prediction

With a slim aggregate lead coming into their home leg, Bayern will need to be more clinical than they were in a lacklustre draw at Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday so I certainly expect Vincent Kompany to go for an attacking team because of how close this tie still is.

Celtic meanwhile are underdogs in Munich but with chilly temperatures forecast below zero degrees, they need to immediately hit the ground running attack wise and score first otherwise I can see the tie getting beyond them given Bayern’s almost-exemplary home form.

There is ultimately enough quality within both teams for this tie to still go either way but I just can’t see Bayern losing on their home turf.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-1 Celtic

Result: Bayern Munich 1-1 Celtic (Bayern Munich win 3-2 on aggregate)