Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Bastien’s Munchies

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·19 February 2025

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Bastien’s Munchies

SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC @ BASTIEN’S MUNCHIES…

“Most Gods throw dice, but Fate plays chess, and you don’t find out til too late that he’s been playing with two queens all along.” – Terry Pratchett

Josip Stanisic of Bayern Munich react during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 8.5/10 – Did absolutely everything he could to defy the odds. Haunted Bayern like his Da’ with one-on-one miracles, anticipation, and safer hands than Jesus as he guided his defence through the minefield. Even his last act was a great save, point-blank from a diving header that, for the split-second it stayed execution, had us thinking the hangman’s rope was a bungee. Really fancied Kasper on pens. But… Alas, the universe – she is a witch.

OneFootball Videos

Jamal Musiala R of Bayern Munich vies with Jeffrey Schlupp of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg football match between Bayern Munich and Celtic FC in Munich, Germany, February 18, 2025. Photo by /Xinhua Philippe Ruiz

SCHLUPPTHE ‘RA – 8/10 – Suffered for an initial period as he got the Greggs treatment – singled out for isolation and rinsing. But he’s a unit with some pace, as we saw Saturday, and after half an hour he’d measured up to the nimble challenge presented to him wide; and smashed it around a bit. Terrific game after that, focussed and smart defending.

Kasper Schmeichel, goalkeeper of Celtic FC, and Alistair Johnston defend during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg football match between Bayern Munich and Celtic FC in Munich, Germany, February 18, 2025. Photo by Xinhua Philippe Ruiz

WAYNE GRETZKY – 9/10 MOTM – ‘The Moose Loose In Munchen.’ Will be the title of a conceptual arts theatre troop’s next performance, after the lasting memory of AJ rocking around the Allianz with a display of some of the finest timed tackles in a Celtic shirt since Cesar himself. Used every ounce of experience, instinct and ability – and his heehaws at one point – to excel in a superior defensive display that really announced his top-level capabilities. Was great last week, topped it tonight with his ‘career all-time MVP accomplishment’ as the Yanks would frame it. And I know he’s Canadian, but that’s close enough. And they own Canada anyway… Right?

Auston Trusty of Celtic battles for possession with Josip Stanisic of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 8/10 – Yes, he’s got the necessary physique to rough it at Champions League level. Yes, he’s got the height and athleticism to be our ball-winner. But he’s also got a refined defensive brain – most impressed with his awareness and positional sense; near-perfection, which complimented CCV’s covering.

Continued on the next page…

Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team’s first goal under pressure from Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

GET CARTER – 7.5/10 – Not a foot wrong at the back. Much like Kasper. Even his last contribution was a desperate tackle that was unluckily blocked into our net. Just could not quite get his men higher at the death as they sought to pin us in for that winner; maybe a higher line would have prevented the catastrophe. But, spent his night marshalling the troops across the box, which was his major influence on the game and done superbly; kept the intensity and concentration levels high as he could before we were undone by a sort of despicable witchcraft culled from some cannibalistic crone in the ancient Bavarian forests.*

*managed to keep the head until I got to CCV. Not bad.

Callum McGregor Celtic FC – Bayern München – Celtic Glasgow / UEFA Champions League / 18.02.2025 / Allianz Arena / PHOTO Mladen Lackovic LakoPress

CALMAC – 8/10 – What a great game the metronomic marvel had; hung us in there out of possession and when we got some, bhoy, did he take control and use it well. Had them skittering around like, well, Zombies, as that first-half window of opportunity opened for us to exploit and we did everything bar score. Such a calculated, masterful balance to his energy levels. Must have had extra-time planned as the 90 ticked away; knew the moments he’d look to spring into action. Gutted for him.

Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

THE TERMINATOR – 7.5/10 – Okay haters/detractors/Playstation FIFA virgins – here’s the defining quality difference in yer Bhoy here as opposed to hustle and bustle midfield journeymen – nous. And he’s just 21. By that I mean the outrageously good off-the-ball display he put in tonight to nullify the Musiala prodigy around our box and deep midfield areas. He spent barely five yards away from him in the central areas, was on him, snuffing, rebuking, hauling around, snapping. On top of that we had composure on the ball and slick distribution. Sensational ball in for Daizen’s headed chance was his last great moment before fatigue had him dulled. But I’m pretty sure he’ll gain the engine required to elevate his potential even further.

Continued on the next page…

Reo Hatate of Celtic is challenged by Michael Olise of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

HAKUNA HATATE – 7/10 – Another grizzled display by Reo, who’s inadvertently turning into a CL holding midfielder with the defensive workrate he’s put into these big games. ‘Hell are you doing here?!’ was oft heard across the Celtic backline as the wandering Japanese popped up like the Spanish Inquisition* to assist with some timely interventions. Never quite got attacking-phase-Reo lit up, and that is a cause for regret as we’ve seen he can turn or win a game with one incisive moment of flair.

* ‘Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.’

Jota of Celtic is challenged by Michael Olise and Josip Stanisic of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

NOTEBOOK – 7.5/10 – Is toast a popular German scran? I’m not sure if their big full-back will enjoy facing his in the morning because Jota had him on it all night. Uplifting moments are the George Michael forte, and ours does it with his feet rather than his voice. A buzz of anticipation in your ears drowns the background crowd noise when the ball is on his twinkletoes, with which he conjured some thrilling incidents. What will he be like when he reaches peak-fitness?

Fastlove.

Cough… Fast, love…

I thank you.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic battles for possession with Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

LORD KATSUMOTO – 8/10 – Daizen down the middle! We know what he’s got and even sometimes, so does he. could/should have had us ahead by half-time before the moment we were waiting for arrived and the roadrunner pounced on a lazy ball to poke in Kuhn for the fairytale to take shape. Fact is, at this level, against these teams, Daizen central is a potent strategy and the best we have for unsettling them. Retain him for another season or two and a further go at this sort of approach.

Nicolas Kuehn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

TAKINTE – 7.5/10 – Das Kuhn! It looked like a frustrating evening for our German in his homeland, but the kid’s got a Bratwurst on his shoulder about the Bundesliga bums who ostracised him too soon. And after drawing a few blanks – including that early sitter – he got a break; run timed well, defender scrambling, ball at his feet which he coolly slipped past Noncer. How sweet the schadenfreude for him if we’d pulled off the impossible. Damn the fates.

Continued on the next page…

SUBS –

Alphonso Davies L of Bayern Munich vies with Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic FC during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg football match between Bayern Munich and Celtic FC in Munich, Germany, Feb. 18, 2025. Photo by /Xinhua Philippe Ruiz

YING – 6.5/10 – Yelp! Yelp! ‘Whit’s that snappy wee dug all aboot?!’ moaned their midfield. In German. Probably. Ying can put himself around! No fear, in about them, tackle, twist and tussle. Halfway round the globe to give it his all in a Celtic jersey; much like Oh. Fair play, kiddo. He’s growing on me.

DUNCAN IDAHO – 6/10 – Added hustle and muscle? Still a bit timid when it came to those indomitable opponents for my liking; then again, I’d have my players wired into them a la Sunday League ruck-about stramash every game if I could. So maybe not judge him too harshly on that…He was still holding play quite well and dropping in deep to fortify the fort. Shame that his brawn and buzz wasn’t given the extra half hour to propel us to glory.

Continued on the next page…

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, applauds prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

THE NOTAPRODDYGAL – 8.5/10 – He nearly did it. And he did, did it… We got the Daizen dagger to their heart with the madman thrust into the Centre forward role. Greggs got sin-binned and big Jeff thrown in to combat the muscly Munchens. Two sprightly, exciting wingers melted the ice as BR threw caution to the bitter teutonic winds and tried to Brodge the Bayerns. The approach was all positive in contrast to last week’s hour of caution. And he so nearly had the Gucci CL wrestling belt for pinning down one of the favourites. Just couldn’t quite get the count in before backstabbing destiny drove the Celtic Euro tour bus off a bloody cliff once more.

RefereeBenoit Bastien, FC Bayern Munich Celtic Glasgow UEFA Champions League 18 02 2025 Allianz Arena PHOTO Mladen Lackovic LakoPress

MIBBERY – 7/10 – Flaming Robert Lewandowski calling the shots again. And the niggling Bayern bias of fawning officialdom edged out our Bhoys at the last. He held that whistle in poise as Daizen dropped and a more balanced umpire might have halted play for a head-knock check or even foul. But this crew? Nah, not even the ultra-finickity VAR that’s canned Daizen for nothing fouls amounting to more than nascent campness, could muster the balls to deny Bayern that last-ditch strike. Fox hunts..

18 02 2025, Champions League, FC Bayern Muenchen vs Celtic Glasgow, Allianz Arena Muenchen, FC Bayern cheers for the equalizer while the Celtics suffer on the ground.Photo Imago

OVERALL – 9/10 – No pain no gain. Basically, a Jamesy Bavarian adventure played out before our very disbelieving eyes – rode them all the way in Munich, until thrown off right at the vinegar strokes…The anguish is always somehow worse when you’ve reached for the golden idol, got a touch, and are planning your escape with glorious swag before being cruelly huckled, rather than a straightforward kick in the nuts and told to beat it; ergo, Dortmund.

Everything went so well – defensively, offensively, and on a basic footballing level we were an excellent match for their systematic efficiency; managing some thrilling combinations and inventiveness of our own. Such a great performance. One that alters the Celtic DNA: They’ll rue the agonising outcome, the players, but they’ll have precious affirmation of their own validity at this heightened level of competition.

That’s something they were bereft of after being taken apart by Dortmund, but have rebuilt piece by piece over the course of the competition. Something, too, that the manager must have had at the back of his mind; that failure to impact in the football stratosphere; in fact, to have burned up badly time and time again. Well, that’s different now – tonight and in Atalanta foundations were laid. Look at Brugge, whom we were derided for failing to beat. Told ye then that they were a proper unit; organised, focussed, drilled – shows you what a good collective can achieve. We took it to the last kick and lost out to a block tackle that was bundled into the net; fine margins indeed.

Up to these battling Bhoys to stick together now, and keep it together and go light it up in the Champions League next season with that belief a rampant wildfire fire in their bellies. So close, no cigar. But what a fabulous ride – as the actress said to the winger…

Well done, Bhoys.

Go Away Now

Sandman

Celtic Pools – Join the Weekly Lottery and support the Celtic Academy. Why not join Celtic Pools for £1 a week with the chance to win up to £25k