Scottish giants Celtic and German powerhouse Bayern Munich are two teams with a rich history of success on both domestic and European fronts.
Celtic FC, under the legendary leadership of Jock Stein, made history by winning the European Cup in 1967. They secured a remarkable victory over Inter Milan in Lisbon, becoming the first British team to claim the esteemed trophy. Although their European success occurred decades ago, Celtic continues to be a regular presence in the UEFA Champions League.
The Glaswegian club have achieved remarkable success in Scotland, winning the Scottish Premiership on more than 50 occasions.
With 33 league titles to their name, Bayern Munich have dominated the Bundesliga too. Plus, their legacy in the European Cup is truly remarkable. They claimed three consecutive titles during the early 1970s, defeating Atletico Madrid, Leeds United, and Saint-Etienne in memorable finals.
The Bayern Munich fans had to wait almost three decades to win their next European Cup, beating Valencia in the 2001 final. They added two more trophies in 2013 and 2020 to take their tally to six. Bayern Munich's European journey includes many iconic moments and, of course, the unforgettable 1999 final loss to Manchester United in Barcelona.
Celtic vs Bayern Munich Head to Head
Celtic do not have a great record against Bayern Munich in European football. Their first meeting came in the 2003/04 Champions League group stage. The Bavarians drew 0-0 in Glasgow and a late Roy McKaay double secured a 2-1 comeback win for Bayern in Munich.
Their next meetings came in the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League group stage. Bayern comfortably won 3-0 in Munich thanks to goals from Thomas Muller, Joshua Kimmich, and Mats Hummels. Celtic were beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich on home soil, sending them crashing out of the competition.
Celtic vs Bayern Munich Connections
There aren’t many players who have represented both Bayern Munich and Celtic. The most noteworthy footballer to grace both clubs is Scottish international forward Alan McInally.
McInally donned the Celtic jersey for three seasons, from 1984 to 1987. During his stay, he scored 22 goals and his contributions were significant to help secure domestic glory. Subsequently, he embarked on a journey to Aston Villa before making a transfer to Bayern Munich in 1989. During his stint with the Bavarian giants, he racked up 59 appearances and 16 goals. McInally's prowess played a vital role in Bayern Munich's Bundesliga victory in the 1989/90 season.
Another player to have featured for both clubs is Dutch defender Edson Braafheid. While on the books at Bayern Munich, Braafheid requested a loan move in order to secure a spot in the Dutch squad for the 2010 World Cup. He joined Celtic on loan in February 2010 until the end of the season. The young defender never broke into the Bayern first team but did come on as a substitute in the 2010 World Cup final.
