Bayern Munich face Celtic Challenge: Opposition Preview for UCL Clash | OneFootball

Bayern Munich will face Scottish side Celtic in Glasgow on Wednesday, for the first leg of the Champions League play-off. Let's take a look at how the hosts are shaping up ahead of the game against Bayern.

Taking a look at all things Celtic ahead of the big showdown in Glasgow

In terms of the Scottish Premiership, it is business as usual for the Hoops, who are currently 13 points ahead of arch-rivals Rangers in second, with 66 points from their 25 games to date. In the Champions League, they finished in 21st place, ahead of Manchester City.

The league phase saw Celtic come up against two Bundesliga sides. Firstly, they lost 7-1 at Borussia Dortmund - though looking at the numbers, it was just a very hot finishing night from Dortmund, and not a 7-1 game. Later on, they hosted RB Leipzig and came out as 3-1 winners.

When it comes to dangermen, Celtic's best player is right-winger Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn. From 2020-2022, Kuhn played for Bayern Munich II, playing alongside the likes of Josip Stanisic. The winger scored a supreme curling effort in their aforementioned win against RB Leipzig.

Kuhn loves cutting inside off the right-hand flank, and Canadian international Alastair Johnston loves overlapping from right-back to try and create the space for Kuhn to go inside. It is a shame that Johnston's compatriot, Alphonso Davies, will not be fit for this game - because that right-hand side dynamic could cause some serious issues for Bayern.

On the left-hand side, cult hero Jota returned to the club this winter, after 18 months away from Glasgow with spells in Saudi Arabia and France. In the deal that saw him return from Rennes, striker Kyogo went the other way - but fellow Japanese international, Daizen Maeda, will now be playing up front. Maeda or target man Adam Idah is expected to lead the line for the hosts on Wednesday.

In midfield, Arne Engels has been a brilliant replacement for Matt O'Riley, having joined from Augsburg late in the summer. He played twice against Bayern for the fellow Bavarian side last season. He is someone who adds a goal and creative threat, and Vincent Kompany's side will need to be wary of him.

Likewise, Reo Hatate also plays as one of the two number eights. Both players have a serious attacking threat whilst also being able to be tenacious. Behind them, captain Callum McGregor is tasked with holding it down as the number six. He will be tasked with the job of keeping Jamal Musiala quiet on Wednesday.

At the back, they have plenty of experience. The aforementioned Johnston has over 50 caps for Canada, whilst USMNT defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Aaron Trusty have formed a solid central defensive duo. At left-back, Greg Taylor has been the first choice for several years.

In goal, Kasper Schmeichel provides a great deal of experience on the pitch. The Dane replaced Joe Hart last season. Schmeichel has a knack for delivering top performances against big teams.

What could hurt Bayern more than any one player - the atmosphere. Celtic Park is known for its atmosphere, particularly on European nights. The win over Leipzig was one of the most famous nights in the club's history. Any sort of win will be a big boost for Bayern on Wednesday.