There will be mixed emotions from the Celtic fans following the first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
On the one hand, Vincent Kompany’s side are now clear favourites to progress after passing the Celtic Park test, but on the other, that Daizen Maeda goal has kept the playoff tie alive.
It was a hectic start because Nicolas Kuhn had the ball in the back of the net inside the opening minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Go back to Celtic’s win over Young Boys during the league phase, that’s a crazy number of goals that have now been ruled out for offside, if the luck isn’t with you, then it just isn’t.
Michael Olise’s incredible left-footed strike was a killer because it came on the stroke of half-time, as Celtic just weren’t at the races for the opening 45 minutes and then were sleeping for Harry Kane’s goal.
Thankfully, there was some fight, energy and attacking threat towards the end, including a deserved Maeda goal and this is what the German media had to say about it all.
READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers reveals what he told Celtic players after Harry Kane Bayern Munich goal
How the German media reacted to Bayern Munich beating Celtic in the Champions League
The Celtic Park noise was described as ‘hell’ by Bild and how it was eventually ‘silenced’ by the German leaders.
But they felt Bayern were ‘lucky’ with that offside Kuhn goal, including referencing his strike against RB Leipzig and how the noise of the crowd was recorded at ‘129 decibels’.
The German outlet also stated how former Tottenham centre-back Eric Dier was ‘unsure’ of Kuhn, before settling into the match and Raphael Guerreiro was criticised because of the ‘crazy’ issues Celtic were causing behind him.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was praised for his ‘world-class’ save right at the death to prevent Celtic from equalising, including how Konrad Laimer had ‘a lot to do’ because of Maeda.
Bild agreed that Maeda’s strike ‘really increased the tension’ and Bayern were ‘holding on’, in the end.
Kicker were straightforward in their thoughts and felt that Bayern were ‘clearly superior’ in the first half and there wasn’t much threat from Celtic, before the Olise goal went in.
Celtic were praised for ‘livening up’ the game after Kane’s goal and how things ‘turned up a notch’.
Kicker felt that Bayern were ‘trembling’, at one stage, but they felt it was a ‘hard-fought’ victory for Kompany’s side.
Bayern Munich’s home record this season
Bayern ended Celtic’s unbeaten home record, so can the champions of Scotland do the same for the return leg next week?
Let’s be honest, it’s a tougher task for the Bhoys, but that Maeda goal provides life, but you fear that is the only thing it will provide.
The Bundesliga leaders, after a horror campaign last time out, are now back to their best this season, scoring for fun, and unbeaten in the league and Europe at the Allianz Arena.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Goals scored |
| 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 51 |
The other positive for Rodgers and Co. is the fact that the Celtic away fans will be in attendance after the threat of a UEFA ban.
Plus, this is why Celtic progressed in Europe and towards knockout football, to deal with huge pressure moments like this.
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