Celtic must unleash “wonderful” star who’s replicating Sutton & Larsson

There is no place higher to be on a European night time than Celtic’s Parkhead, and European nights do not come a lot greater than this in Glasgow’s East Finish.

Following a formidable league section marketing campaign, accumulating 12 factors and remaining unbeaten at residence, the Celts have reached the Champions League knockout section for the primary time since 2012/13.

Now, in the event that they’re to go any additional, they need to overcome six-times European champions Bayern Munich, because the Hoops purpose to win a knockout stage tie in any UEFA competitors for the primary time since dumping Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup 21 years in the past.

It goes with out saying that Brendan Rodgers’ aspect are huge underdogs, however one Celtic famous person attacker particularly might definitely trigger the Bundesliga leaders issues.

Bayern Munich’s defensive vulnerability

To provide Celtic supporters some hope, Vincent Kompany’s aspect have truly misplaced all three of their Champions League fixtures performed exterior of Germany this season, narrowly crushed at Villa Park earlier than being battered 4-1 by Barcelona at Montjuïc after which, much more surprisingly, 3-0 by Feyenoord at De Kuip final month.

Die Rekordmeister additionally conceded thrice at residence to relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel the weekend earlier than final, fortunately they had been already 4-0 up on the time, however their lack of defensive solidity has come underneath some scrutiny.

Complete Soccer Evaluation describes Kompany’s “excessive defensive position” technique as “excessive threat”, including that Bayern’s centre-backs are vulnerable to “particular person errors” and will be “simply outpaced… within the footrace”.

In a separate Complete Soccer Evaluation article, it is also highlighted that “particular person errors have gotten extra frequent” for French centre-back Dayot Upamecano particularly, with errors commonest in build-up and direct 1v1 duels, particularly when “in stress conditions near his personal objective”.

Meantime, Manuel Veth of Forbes provides that opponents require “only a few good moments to capitalise on defensive errors”, that are assured to return on condition that Kim Min-jae and Upamecano would be the centre-back pairing, whereas Michael Cox of the Athletic outlines that Bayern’s aggressive “man-marking” leaves them weak to fast through-balls.

Talking on Sky Sports activities Deutschland earlier this season, legendary midfielder Lothar Matthäus, who made 410 profession appearances for the Bavarian juggernauts, profitable 13 main honours, in addition to the World Cup and the Euros, famous that “defence stays Bayern’s Achilles heel”.

So, do Celtic have simply the person to take advantage of this clear weak point?

Celtic’s most important man may cause Bayern issues

Talking on Complete Soccer Present’s weekend assessment, Graham Ruthven acknowledged that he’s “trying ahead to” seeing the “very quick” Daizen Maeda up towards Bayern’s back-line.

This comes following the shock information that the Japanese ahead could be obtainable after his two-match ban, for a pink card towards BSC Younger Boys, had been diminished to 1 following enchantment, which he is already served.

On Saturday, Maeda scored a hat-trick because the Hoops hammered Raith Rovers 5-0 within the Scottish Cup, taking his tally to 50 targets for the membership, 21 of which have come this season.

The ahead has been incomes rave opinions, with a BBC Sport report calling him “fantastic” whereas, talking on Premier Sports activities’ Scottish Soccer Social Membership, former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart believes Maeda has “stepped up a stage” in current weeks, including he has grow to be “high class”.

Through the league section, Maeda scored towards Slovan Bratislava, Borussia Dortmund and Membership Brugge, now aiming to grow to be the primary Celtic participant since Joe Craig in 1977/78 to attain 4 or extra targets in a single Champions League marketing campaign.

Based on FBref, Maeda’s targets – xG determine on this season’s Champions League is +1.8, together with his 11 pictures taken from a mean of 12.5 yards from objective, underlining that he is grow to be extra scientific.

As his objective towards Rangers highlights, Maeda is a continuing pest in behind, with Thomas Duncan of BBC Sport believing he has “seemingly limitless stamina”, whereas Josh McCafferty of the Nationwide provides that the Japanese ahead is “electrical”.

Following Kyōgo Furuhashi’s departure final month, Rodgers has a choice to make at centre-forward.

Adam Idah, who scored twice in a matter of moments towards Aston Villa on matchday eight, is the obvious central striker, however we’re advocating for Maeda to be deployed down the center, flanked by Nicolas Kühn and the returning Jota, as this could possibly be the easiest way Celtic can exploit Bayern’s weak point, which is their centre-back duo.