Monday 30 October 2017 19:32, UK
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers will take some comfort from the absence of two "world class" Bayern Munich players ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League clash.
Germany World Cup winner Thomas Muller, who scored in the 3-0 Group B win against the Hoops earlier in the month, was already out before the German champions confirmed that Robert Lewandowski had not travelled to Glasgow with his team-mates.
The Poland striker picked up a thigh injury after scoring in the 2-0 Bundesliga win over RB Leipzig at the weekend, leaving Bayern light in the central striker's role - although they have included Under-19 forward Manuel Wintzheimer in their squad.
Juan Bernat, Manuel Neuer, and Franck Ribery also remain on the sidelines through injury but Rodgers believes Bayern will have more than enough quality in their squad to prove tough opposition.
He said: "Of course it is two players who have been world class consistently for a number of years.
"Lewandowski is one of the world's best strikers with his movement, his speed and the quality, and he has been consistently doing that for few years.
"And Muller is a player who I have always loved in terms of wherever he has played, whether a striker, or on the right, or as he did against us, an advanced midfield player.
"He is a very gifted player and his will and desire to play well is always there.
"So those two players, of course, will be a miss for them but they have some very good players behind that to come in like James Rodriguez, who came in and scored in one of the last few games.
"They are a talented team, they have been put together to win this competition so we know the magnitude of the test but it is one that we will relish."
Rodgers responded to Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge's assessment of Lewandowski's omission.
"If we had played against Real Madrid, he might have gone," Rummenigge said on the Polish superstar.
He acknowledged that the Hoops have work to do before they can be bracketed alongside the likes of the Spanish giants
"Listen, we respect that they are a very good side," Rodgers said.
"All we can do is control what we can, so whatever Bayern Munich's intentions are I have the utmost respect for them and their team."
Dedryck Boyata, meanwhile, insists Celtic have nothing to lose.
Boyata, 26, believes the lack of expectation on the Scottish champions could play into the hosts' hands.
"We have to try to play our game and not be afraid because let's be honest, we have nothing to lose and we have everything to show," said the Belgium stopper.
"We are playing against one of the biggest teams in Europe, against players who have played in the World Cup final.
"It is a big opportunity to show what we can do against them."
