Jupp Heynckes carried on where he left off in the Champions League as Bayern Munich eased to a 3-0 win over Celtic on Wednesday.
The German champions dominated from start to finish at the Allianz Arena to shore up second spot, three points behind Group B leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich struck in a one-sided first half before Mats Hummels added a third in Heynckes’ first European match in charge since guiding Bayern to glory in this competition five seasons ago.
Arjen Robben, who netted the winner in that dramatic 2012-13 final defeat of Borussia Dortmund, twice came close to adding a fourth, but was ultimately frustrated in his attempts to mark his 100th Champions League appearance with a goal.
While they were unable to add to their tally, Bayern did receive another boost as Arturo Vidal came off the bench late on after recovering from a calf complaint.
With the horror 3-0 defeat at PSG – the result which cost Carlo Ancelotti his job – now firmly behind them, Heynckes will be confident of once again leading the Bavarian giants to the knockout stages.
It was looking ominous for Celtic from the outset, and Bayern appeared to have taken a sixth-minute lead through Thiago Alcantara, but Robert Lewandowski’s cut-back was adjudged to have already gone out of play.
The hosts then had claims for a penalty waved away with Mikael Lustig’s tug on Lewandowski going unpunished, before David Alaba blasted over the crossbar from Kingsley Coman’s clever pass.
It was only a matter of time until the opener arrived, and the pressure eventually told in the 17th minute, Muller firing home from point-blank range after Craig Gordon impressively kept out Lewandowski’s initial header.
Bayern doubled their lead midway through the half when an unmarked Kimmich headed Coman’s left-sided delivery across a helpless Gordon.
The visitors’ respite lasted less than six minutes after the interval as Hummels climbed above Scott Brown to nod Robben’s corner inside the far post.
Robben almost struck from a Kimmich corner on the hour, but the milestone man saw his header hooked off the line by Kieran Tierney.
Celtic did provide a rare threat to Sven Ulreich’s goal when Tierney shaved the outset of the upright with a fierce attempt from long range, but there was little to cheer for the Hoops’ sizeable away support.
Robben and Lewandowski both drew sharp saves from Gordon, while Brendan Rodgers’ side posed more questions at the other end in the final 20 minutes.
Brown struck the woodwork in the closing stages, before Scotland keeper Gordon brilliantly denied Lewandowski as Bayern eased to victory.
In other Champions League results:
A horrible error from Benfica’s young record-breaking goalkeeper Mile Svilar gifted Manchester United a 1-0 win at the Estadio da Luz as Jose Mourinho’s men made it three victories from three in Group A.
Eden Hazard scored his first goals of the season to rescue Chelsea as Antonio Conte’s men were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by Roma in the Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe became the Champions League’s highest-scoring teenager, and Edinson Cavani netted in a seventh consecutive European match as Paris Saint-Germain’s procession towards the knockout stages continued with a 4-0 defeat of Anderlecht.
Taulant Xhaka’s stunning solo strike set the tone for Basel to claim their first victory in ten Champions League away fixtures in style as they saw off CSKA Moscow 2-0.
Mario Mandzukic scored a late header to hand Juventus a precious 2-1 win over Sporting CP in a hard-fought Champions League clash at the Allianz Stadium.
Lionel Messi brought up 100 goals in European club competitions as Barcelona made light of Gerard Pique’s red card to cruise to a 3-1 Champions League Group D win over Olympiacos.
Atletico Madrid’s Champions League hopes were severely dented as they struggled to a poor 0-0 draw away to 10-man Qarabag.
