Having maintained their lead at the top of the Bundesliga at the weekend, Bayern Munich now switch their sights on to securing a spot in the Uefa Champions League last 16.
Bayern showed their defensive mettle during Saturday's goalless draw at second-placed Bayer Leverkusen in which the Bavarians failed to register an attempt on goal until the 73rd minute.
But the battling draw means Vincent Kompany's side remain eight points clear of Leverkusen who denied Bayern a 12th consecutive title by lifting their first ever Meisterschale last season.
And the Belgian coach made no apologies for his defensive tactics on the day. “When a team earns the right for you to have to sit deeper, then so be it," said Kompany ahead of Tuesday’s play-off second leg against Celtic.
“The opposition deserved it in that game and we did just that. We did it well. But at the end of the day, our first goal is always to win. That'll never change. But sometimes it's different and you require mentality. We also showed that.
“We got a point, are eight ahead and kept a clean sheet. Our focus is now on Celtic. We need to show that tomorrow.
“The Leverkusen game doesn't matter now. We've scored 100 goals, had the most shots, conceded the fewest goals, allowed the fewest shots on our goal. And during this period with so many games it's now just about focusing on Celtic.
“My first thought is never about 'what happens if …'. My thought is always that we can win something.
“We won at Celtic Park, which doesn't happen often. Very few teams manage that. That was also the goal in Leverkusen and is again tomorrow.”
The Scottish champions arrive at the Allianz Arena hoping to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Glasgow.
That match at Parkhead saw the Germans take a firm grip on the play-off clash thanks to a wonder strike from Michael Olise and Harry Kane's volley which arrived either side of half-time.
Daizen Maeda's header 11 minutes from time gave Celtic some hope but it is six-time European champions Bayern who are firm favourites of reaching the knockout stages.
Victory could mean another clash with Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen in the last 16 or going up against La Liga side Atletico Madrid, with the draw being held on Friday.
“When you're playing against teams who are used to dominating and scoring lots of goals in their domestic league, then you have a team who are always dangerous when they get forward,” Kompany said about facing Brendan Rodgers' side.
“Celtic showed that as well, but we did well against them. And we still have to play the second half of this tie. The parameters haven't changed. But it's our home leg and we want to take advantage of that.”
England captain Kane missed training on Tuesday having taken a blow to the face at the weekend, despite lasting the whole match at BayArena.
Kompany revealed it was “nothing really serious” but would make a call on the striker, who has 29 goals in 30 appearances for Bayern this season, on match day.
Celtic's defeat against the Germans was their first on home soil in 33 games dating back to December 2023.
On Saturday, after Celtic's 3-0 win over Dundee United, Rodgers praised his side's “mentality and focus” as they continued to develop and improve on the European stage.
“We've made great strides this season from last season in the competition.
“We've been competitive. I wanted us to show our level throughout the competition and we've done that.
“Whatever happens on Tuesday, the guys can be really proud of what they've achieved and can look to build on that.
“We always want to keep our boldness, but our humility is important as well. We understand the size of the task, but we want to go and give the best we possibly can.
“We're in a really good place, it's an exciting challenge for us in Munich and a big opportunity for us.”
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
The five pillars of Islam
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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Transmission: 6-speed auto
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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