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

There’s no place better to be on a European night than Celtic’s Parkhead, and European nights don’t come much bigger than this in Glasgow’s East End.

Following an impressive league phase campaign, accumulating 12 points and remaining unbeaten at home, the Celts have reached the Champions League knockout phase for the first time since 2012/13.

Now, if they’re to go any further, they must overcome six-times European champions Bayern Munich, as the Hoops aim to win a knockout stage tie in any UEFA competition for the first time since dumping Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup 21 years ago.

It goes without saying that Brendan Rodgers’ side are massive underdogs, but one Celtic superstar attacker in particular could certainly cause the Bundesliga leaders problems.

Bayern Munich’s defensive vulnerability

To give Celtic supporters some hope, Vincent Kompany’s side have actually lost all three of their Champions League fixtures played outside of Germany this season, narrowly beaten at Villa Park before being battered 4-1 by Barcelona at Montjuïc and then, far more surprisingly, 3-0 by Feyenoord at De Kuip last month.

Die Rekordmeister also conceded three times at home to relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel the weekend before last, luckily they were already 4-0 up at the time, but their lack of defensive solidity has come under some scrutiny.

Total Football Analysis describes Kompany’s “high defensive line” strategy as “high risk”, adding that Bayern’s centre-backs are prone to “individual mistakes” and can be “easily outpaced… in the footrace”.

In a separate Total Football Analysis article, it’s also highlighted that “individual mistakes are becoming more frequent” for French centre-back Dayot Upamecano in particular, with errors most common in build-up and direct 1v1 duels, especially when “in pressure situations close to his own goal”.

Meantime, Manuel Veth of Forbes adds that opponents require “just a few good moments to capitalise on defensive errors”, which are guaranteed to come given that Kim Min-jae and Upamecano will be the centre-back pairing, while Michael Cox of the Athletic outlines that Bayern’s aggressive “man-marking” leaves them vulnerable to quick through-balls.

Speaking on Sky Sports Deutschland earlier this season, legendary midfielder Lothar Matthäus, who made 410 career appearances for the Bavarian juggernauts, winning 13 major honours, as well as the World Cup and the Euros, noted that “defence remains Bayern’s Achilles heel”.

So, do Celtic have just the man to exploit this clear weakness?

Celtic’s main man can cause Bayern problems

Speaking on Total Soccer Show’s weekend review, Graham Ruthven stated that he is “looking forward to” seeing the “very fast” Daizen Maeda up against Bayern’s back-line.

This comes following the surprise news that the Japanese forward would be available after his two-match ban, for a red card against BSC Young Boys, had been reduced to one following appeal, which he’s already served.

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

The forward has been earning rave reviews, with a BBC Sport report calling him “wonderful” while, speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club, former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart believes Maeda has “stepped up a level” in recent weeks, adding he has become “top class”.

During the league phase, Maeda scored against Slovan Bratislava, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge, now aiming to become the first Celtic player since Joe Craig in 1977/78 to score four or more goals in a single Champions League campaign.

According to FBref, Maeda’s goals – xG figure in this season’s Champions League is +1.8, with his 11 shots taken from an average of 12.5 yards from goal, underlining that he’s become more clinical.

As his goal against Rangers highlights, Maeda is a constant pest in behind, with Thomas Duncan of BBC Sport believing he has “seemingly unlimited stamina”, while Josh McCafferty of the National adds that the Japanese forward is “electric”.

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

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