Bayern Munich narrowly escaped embarrassment against Celtic in the Champions League play-off round on Tuesday but lost Harry Kane to a calf injury. Bayern's performance has sparked considerable criticism in Germany and gave Joshua Kimmich a flashback to a previous European debacle.
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"Bayern stumbling into the round of 16," writes BILD after their narrow escape against Celtic. The German champions struggled to a 1-1 draw at home, securing qualification but leaving many concerns about their form.
According to Kicker, Bayern should start worrying. "This performance should make the club’s management think. Where is the uninspired Bayern heading?" The team had already faced criticism last week for their display in the top clash against Bayer Leverkusen. The atmosphere at the Allianz Arena was tense, with the home fans expecting a dominant performance against a Celtic side that had already been eliminated from the competition. However, Bayern once again failed to impress, showing the same lack of creativity and attacking sharpness that has plagued them in recent weeks.
The game itself was a frustrating affair for Bayern, who started sluggishly and struggled to impose their usual dominance. Celtic, knowing they had nothing to lose, played with determination and even managed to create several dangerous chances early on. Their defensive organization frustrated the hosts, who looked short of ideas in the final third. It was the Scottish side that took the lead in the first half, shocking the Allianz Arena crowd and exposing Bayern’s defensive vulnerabilities once again. The German side responded after the break, finding an equalizer, but their performance did little to silence the growing criticism surrounding the team.
At the Allianz Arena, much of the post-match discussion focused on the injury to top scorer Harry Kane, who did not return for the second half. The English striker is struggling with calf issues. "I can’t say exactly what it is, but it was already bothering me after the Leverkusen game. I didn’t train on Monday because I wanted to give it as much time as possible. It’s hard to say what it is we will have to examine it further. We’ll have to wait and see if I can play on Sunday," Kane said regarding the upcoming league match against Eintracht Frankfurt. Losing Kane for any period of time would be a major blow for Bayern, as he has been one of the few bright spots in their attack this season. His presence in the box and ability to convert chances have been crucial, and without him, the team could struggle even more in front of goal.
It remains uncertain whether Kompany will have Kane available. "We first need to determine what the problem is, and then we’ll know how long Harry will take to recover. During the match, he felt he couldn’t help the team at full strength, so we didn’t want to take any extra risks," Kompany explained. This cautious approach is understandable given the importance of the striker, but it also raises concerns about how Bayern will cope without him if he is sidelined for a longer period. Kane's absence would put additional pressure on other attacking players, who have struggled to step up in recent games.
Joshua Kimmich experienced flashbacks against Celtic, recalling Bayern’s painful Champions League elimination by Villarreal in the 2021/22 season. Back then, Bayern lost the first leg of the quarter-finals 1-0 in Spain and were knocked out after a 1-1 draw in Munich. "Three years ago against Villarreal, we wanted to avoid extra time, got confused, and conceded a goal from a counterattack. Luckily, that didn’t happen this time. We played with discipline in our hunt for a goal to avoid extra time." Despite his words, the similarities between the two matches were evident. Bayern once again lacked urgency and struggled to break down a well-organized opponent. The slow tempo, predictable build-up play, and lack of movement off the ball made it easier for Celtic to defend and limited Bayern’s attacking options.
Former Bayern midfielder and Sky analyst Dietmar Hamann was far from impressed by Bayern’s performance against Celtic. "It was bad, really bad!" Hamann said on Sky Austria. "Celtic were even the better team in the first half. Only one team came here to play football, and they wore green and black. At Bayern, responsibility kept being passed around. The play was static, no movement, no joy in playing. You never had the feeling they were going to score," said the former Germany international. His criticism echoes the frustration of many fans and analysts who have been questioning Bayern’s direction under Kompany. Despite having a squad filled with talent, the team has struggled to find consistency and fluidity in their play.
The problems for Bayern go beyond just this match. Their recent performances have raised serious questions about their ability to compete at the highest level. The lack of intensity, poor decision-making in the final third, and vulnerability in defense have been recurring issues. Against stronger opposition in the later stages of the Champions League, these weaknesses could prove costly. The uncertainty surrounding Kane’s injury only adds to the concerns, as Bayern’s reliance on him has been evident throughout the season. Without clear improvements, their journey in Europe could come to an end sooner than expected, and the pressure on Kompany and his squad will only continue to grow.
Updated: 11:12, 19 Feb 2025
