Group B analysis: Bayern, Paris, Anderlecht, Celtic
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Article summary
All four sides in Group B have reached at least the last four in this competition, but two names loom largest – especially for Carlo Ancelotti.
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Who's in Group B?
Bayern München (GER)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 2
• How they qualified: first in German Bundesliga
• Previous group stage campaigns: 20 (last appearance: 2016/17)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
• Best European Cup performance: winners x 5 (1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/56, 2000/01, 2012/13)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 6
• How they qualified: second in Ligue 1
• Previous group stage campaigns: 9 (last appearance: 2016/17)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (1994/95)
Anderlecht (BEL)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 32
• How they qualified: first in Belgian First League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 11 (last appearance: 2014/15)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League third qualifying round/UEFA Europa League quarter-finals
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (1981/82, 1985/86)
Celtic (SCO)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 48
• How they qualified: first in Scottish Premier League, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 9 (last appearance: 2016/17)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: winners x 1 (1966/67)
Matchday one fixtures (Tuesday 12 September)
Bayern München v Anderlecht
Celtic v Paris Saint-Germain
Key facts
• Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of Paris between December 2011 and summer 2013, winning the Ligue 1 title in 2012/13.
• Paris have won four of their six games against Bayern, including all three in Paris.
• Anderlecht won their last meeting with Bayern, recording a 2-1 away victory in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup round of 16 second leg – unfortunately for the Belgian club, they had lost the home game 5-0, ending their four-match unbeaten home record against Bayern. Anderlecht did win the 1976 UEFA Super Cup at Bayern's expense, turning round a 2-1 away defeat with a 4-1 second-leg victory in Brussels.
• Bayern met Celtic in the 2003/04 group stage, winning 2-1 at home before a 0-0 draw in Glasgow.
• Anderlecht were also in that 2003/04 group, beating Celtic 1-0 at home but losing 3-1 away. The Belgian club picked up one point from their two games with Bayern (1-1 home, 0-1 away) and finished fourth in the group, level with third-placed Celtic on seven points. Bayern were second to Lyon.
• Paris' sole major European trophy featured a two-legged win against Celtic, the French club coming out on top 4-0 on aggregate in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round (1-0 home, 3-0 away).