However, the Bundesliga leaders took their foot off the pedal after that, allowing Celtic — who had a first-minute Nicolas Kuehn goal disallowed for offside — to come back into the game.
Brendan Rodgers’ team pulled one back as Daizen Maeda scored following a corner with 11 minutes left, but they could not find an equaliser.
“It’s cliche to say, but it’s the first half of the game. Overall, it’s a really great result,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, according to the BBC.
Celtic’s first home defeat since December 2023 leaves them facing a huge task to try to turn the tie around in Germany next Tuesday, with the winners going through to face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid in the last 16.
“It’s only a one goal difference. It’s a big challenge, we know that but it’s still a possibility,” insisted Rodgers.
Controversy in Bruges
Elsewhere, Vangelis Pavlidis scored the only goal as Benfica won 1-0 away to Monaco, as the home side were forced to play much of the second half with 10 men.
Benfica had won 3-2 in Monaco in the league phase in November and they came out on top again at the Stade Louis II thanks to a Pavlidis strike just after half-time.
It was the Greek international’s sixth goal in his team’s last five Champions League outings, a run which includes a hat-trick in the dramatic 5-4 loss to Barcelona last month.
Monaco had Libyan midfielder Moatasem Al-Musrati sent off in the 52nd minute, when the recent signing from Besiktas gestured to the referee calling for a yellow card after his teammate Breel Embolo had been fouled, only to be handed a second caution himself.
