GLASGOW -- Jupp Heynckes hailed the contribution from Javi Martinez as Bayern Munich reached the Champions League knockout stages for the 10th consecutive season, seeing off a brave challenge from Celtic 2-1 in Glasgow.
France international Kingsley Coman put the German champions ahead midway through the first half, rounding keeper Craig Gordon but with a suspicion of handball.
Roared on by their passionate home following at Celtic Park, the home side gave as good as they got and it was no surprise when Callum McGregor restored parity for the Bhoys on 74 minutes. However, the two sides were only level for three minutes as Martinez rose powerfully to head home a Coman cross for the match-winning goal -- his first-ever Champions League tally in 38 appearances.
The Spain international incurred a nasty head wound in a clash with Celtic defender Nir Bitton competing for the ball in the air.
Heynckes, in his fourth spell as Bayern boss, prefers to use Martinez as a defensive midfielder, having predominantly been employed in central defence by predecessors Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.
The 72-year-old made Martinez the club's record signing at €40 million when he joined from Atletico Bilbao in 2012.
"Javi Martinez has previously often played as a central defender, but I have a rather different opinion," Heynckes said at the postmatch news conference
"Since he's been playing in midfield we have improved our stability and the quality of our whole defensive work. In addition to this, he is very dangerous from set pieces and the marvellous way he scored the excellent winning goal -- not many players can do that.
"We knew it would be a tough game. You have to bear in mind over the past few weeks, there's been a change in coach, training has taken on a different shape, and we have lot of difficult games recently.
"I have to pay my team a compliment for competing well and that we won after being pulled back to 1-1."
Bayern's win in Glasgow was their 250th in European competition and cements second place in the group behind Paris Saint-Germain, who they meet next month in Munich hoping to avenge a 3-0 defeat.
Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal was visibly unimpressed after his substitution just before the hour mark, throwing his arms up in frustration approaching the bench.
However, Heynckes sympathised for the player he also coached at Leverkusen: "I do have a great deal of understanding for a player that is substituted in the 59th minute because I was a professional too. I can understand his reaction and why he was not happy.
"However, I have to view the whole game and I thought we needed to make a change. He is a very good player but everyone has to accept these decisions, Arturo included."
Heynckes also revealed that Robert Lewandowski was making good progress from a hamstring injury he suffered at the weekend.
With Bayern facing Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Lewandowski, 29, was not risked in Scotland, choosing to work on his recovery in Munich.
"Lewandowski trained well today and was in no pain," he said. "It looks like he can start on Saturday."