Celtic vs Bayern Munich. UEFA Champions League Group B.
Celtic ParkAttendance58,269.
Wednesday 1 November 2017 08:21, UK
Celtic's Champions League hopes are over for another year after goals from Kingsley Coman and Javi Martinez gave Bayern Munich a 2-1 victory in Glasgow.
A first-half defensive mix-up between goalkeeper Craig Gordon and central pair Dedryck Boyata and Nir Bitton gifted the Bundesliga team their opener.
Callum McGregor briefly gave the home side hope as their persistence paid off and he drew them level with 16 minutes left - but Martinez struck just three minutes later to secure an away win.
The result means Brendan Rodgers' team can only match second-placed Bayern's points total of nine in Group B.
With a poorer head-to-head record, however, their elimination has been confirmed and their focus now shifts to securing third place and a spot in the Europa League after Christmas instead.
There was a typically frenetic atmosphere as the teams got underway and Celtic almost got off to the perfect start.
James Forrest - in for the injured Patrick Roberts - found Stuart Armstrong but he seemed surprised to receive the ball after Rafinha failed to clear and the midfielder skewed wide.
Moussa Dembele, making his first Champions League start of the season, had a go soon after as good feet took him clear of Jerome Boateng but his finish didn't match his endeavour.
With Arturo Vidal playing raking passes for fun, Bayern gradually came into the game and Coman, deputising for the injured Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, became more prominent.
Yet when he put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, it was as a result of Celtic switching off rather than the Frenchman carving them open.
Away 'keeper Sven Ulreich played a long ball which his opposite number Gordon felt compelled to collect as he charged out of his penalty area to deal with it.
Coman reacted quicker, however, getting away from Boyata, Bitton and Mikael Lustig to cut inside and pick his spot with Gordon stranded.
With that, Bayern grew in confidence at first before Celtic mustered a response, with Dembele almost poking Armstrong's teasing ball in and the former Fulham player also heading wide.
The hosts went close too after the break, with Armstrong drawing a good save from Ulreich, who then held a Bitton free kick at the second attempt.
The longer play went on, the more frustration set in for Celtic - with Bayern looking increasingly comfortable when they came forward.
James Rodriguez missed two good opportunities - the second when Gordon got down to save with his feet - and it seemed that might be crucial as Celtic finally equalised.
Unsurprisingly, the excellent Forrest was the architect, first spotting McGregor in space then lifting a cute chip beyond Rafinha for him to finish low under Ulreich.
Parity was restored for less than three minutes, however, as David Alaba lifted in for Martinez to head the winner soon after.
Anderlecht's 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain means the Europa League is all Celtic can hope for now - but they are at least in a good position to drop into that competition with two games left.
Brendan Rodgers: "The disappointment in the changing room afterwards lends us to think of how we played and our performance level.
"The level of composure and quality we played with tonight meant I was very proud of the team and we caused them lots of problems. Overall we looked like a proper team and one that is developing at this level. We are disappointed to have lost but there are so many positives from the game."
Jupp Heynckes: "Celtic played an amazing game. The fans were a super support and it was a wonderful experience for us here."
Celtic have won just one of their last 13 Champions League matches (W1, D3, L9), conceding 36 goals in the process.
Celtic are without a victory in their last six home Champions League games (W0, D1, L5).
Bayern have never lost to Scottish opposition in six Champions League (W4, D2, L0).
No goalkeeper assisted a goal in the four seasons of Champions League football between 2013/14 and 2016/17 but Sven Ulreich became the second to do it in 2017/18 after Thibaut Courtois for Chelsea on MD1.
Kingsley Coman has had a hand in two goals in his last two Champions League starts for Bayern Munich, having previously gone 13 matches without registering a single goal or assist.
Javi Martinez netted his first goal in the Champions League in what was his 38th appearance in the competition for Bayern.
The winger was drafted in as a replacement for Patrick Roberts after he was hurt at the weekend and he had a terrific game. The winger set a marker early with a great ball for Stuart Armstrong which the midfielder should have done better with and he was at the heart of everything positive Celtic did.
It was perhaps to be expected that Forrest would craft the opening which got Rodgers' team back into the game and the vision he showed was matched by his measured chip for McGregor to equalise. Forrest is a player who, like many wingers, suffers from inconsistency on occasions - but this was one time he was unfortunate not to win.
Celtic travel to sixth-placed St Johnstone as they continue their defence of the Scottish Premiership on Saturday. Bayern have the small matter of a trip to face their closest challengers in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, on the same day.
