Harry Kane was heading in the right direction as Bayern Munich beat Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow within the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Wednesday, whereas there have been additionally wins for Benfica, Feyenoord and Club Brugge. Bayern are hoping to go all the way in which to this season’s ultimate, which will likely be performed at their very own Allianz Arena in Munich on May 31. They threatened to run riot towards the Scottish champions at Celtic Park as they dominated the primary half and took the lead simply earlier than the interval because of an excellent Michael Olise strike.
Bayern’s second objective got here simply 4 minutes after half-time, with the unmarked Kane scoring with a cushioned end on the again submit following a nook.
It was Kane’s seventh objective on this season’s Champions League, and his twenty ninth in 29 video games in all competitions.
However, the Bundesliga leaders took their foot off the pedal after that, permitting Celtic — who had a first-minute Nicolas Kuehn objective disallowed for offside — to return again into the sport.
Brendan Rodgers’ staff pulled one again as Daizen Maeda scored following a nook with 11 minutes left, however they might not discover an equaliser.
“It’s cliche to say, nevertheless it’s the primary half of the sport. Overall, it is a actually nice outcome,” mentioned Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, in response to the BBC.
Celtic’s first residence defeat since December 2023 leaves them going through an enormous process to attempt to flip the tie round in Germany subsequent Tuesday, with the winners going by means of to face both Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid within the final 16.
“It’s solely a one objective distinction. It’s a giant problem, we all know that nevertheless it’s nonetheless a chance,” insisted Rodgers.
Controversy in Bruges
Elsewhere, Vangelis Pavlidis scored the one objective as Benfica received 1-0 away to Monaco, as the house facet had been compelled to play a lot of the second half with 10 males.
Benfica had received 3-2 in Monaco within the league section in November and so they got here out on high once more on the Stade Louis II because of a Pavlidis strike simply after half-time.
It was the Greek worldwide’s sixth objective in his staff’s final 5 Champions League outings, a run which features a hat-trick within the dramatic 5-4 loss to Barcelona final month.
Monaco had Libyan midfielder Moatasem Al-Musrati despatched off within the 52nd minute, when the current signing from Besiktas gestured to the referee calling for a yellow card after his teammate Breel Embolo had been fouled, solely to be handed a second warning himself.
Benfica will hope to complete off the tie in subsequent week’s return, with the winners going through both Liverpool or Barcelona within the final 16.
In Rotterdam, Feyenoord shook off the sacking of coach Brian Priske on Monday to beat seven-time European champions AC Milan 1-0 and achieve the higher hand to take to San Siro for the return.
The Dutch facet had been helped by a clanger from Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who allowed Igor Paixao’s speculative third-minute shot to ricochet off his physique and into the online.
That was the one objective of a match performed in driving rain at De Kuip.
“These evenings are why we do that,” mentioned Feyenoord captain Quinten Timber.
“De Kuip was on it once more. We had been on it. On to subsequent week,” he added, with Inter Milan or Arsenal awaiting the winner within the subsequent spherical.
Earlier, Club Brugge beat final season’s Europa League winners Atalanta 2-1 in Belgium because of a controversial stoppage-time penalty.
Ferran Jutgla gave the Belgian facet a Fifteenth-minute lead as Atalanta had been punished for sloppy play on the again, however Mario Pasalic headed in an equaliser for the guests earlier than the break.
That appeared to be that till the hosts had been awarded a penalty on the dying when substitute Gustaf Nilsson went down after being caught within the face by the outstretched arm of Atalanta defender Isak Hien.
The contact seemed to be unintentional and never severe, however the referee caught by his determination after reviewing the photographs, and Swedish ahead Nilsson swept within the penalty.
“I’ve solely simply seen the footage and I reckon that should you ask 100 individuals if that was a penalty all 100 would say no. It’s very unusual,” complained Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere.
Whoever wins that tie will face Aston Villa or Lille subsequent.
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