Bayern beat Celtic on Heynckes’ Champions League return
MUNICH: Bayern Munich returned to the Champions League yesterday with a familiar face in charge and comfortably defeated Celtic 3-0. Jupp Heynckes, who retired after guiding Bayern to the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble in 2013, has the German powerhouse running smoothly again after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, fired after the side’s 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.
Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0 at Anderlecht in the other Group B game on Wednesday and leads with nine points, three ahead of second-place Bayern. Celtic has three points and Anderlecht is last after three defeats.
Bayern, which routed Freiburg 5-0 in Heynckes’ first game back at the weekend in the Bundesliga, again produced an assured performance despite a lively start from Celtic. The visiting fans celebrated their side’s early corner like it was a goal.
Thiago Alcantara thought he’d scored early on but it was ruled out as the ball was deemed to have gone out of play before Robert Lewandowski pulled it back. Celtic defender Mikael Lustig pulled Lewandowski’s jersey in the area minutes later but no penalty was given. Bayern was threatening a goal and it came in the 17th minute when Thomas Mueller fired in the rebound after Craig Gordon saved Lewandowski’s header. Kinsley Coman, given his chance due to Franck Ribery’s injury, produced a long cross for Joshua Kimmich to meet with an even better header inside the far corner from around the penalty spot around 10 minutes later for 2-0.
Mats Hummels wrapped it up with a header to Arjen Robben’s corner five minutes after the break as Bayern kept a firm grip on the game. It proved a frustrating night for Lewandowski, however, with a goal ruled out for offside. Celtic pushed forward late on. Substitute James Forrest brought a save from Sven Ulreich, before it was Scott Sinclair’s turn to have a goal ruled offside. — AP