Given Bayern Munich’s lengthy and storied history in European competition, it may come as no surprise that they have jousted with Scottish clubs over several decades. But the variation and drama attached to many of those fixtures gives cause for contemplation as the German team return to Glasgow for a Champions League playoff against Celtic.

Bayern are heavy favourites to progress, largely because of the economic tilt towards clubs of their standing in the modern era. It was not always thus, however, as a glance at the record books outlines.

Jimmy Nicholl entered a dressing room in the Olympic Stadium in 1995 with his Raith Rovers team leading Bayern 1-0 at half-time, courtesy of a Danny Lennon goal. With his squad gathered for a rousing team talk, Nicholl’s response was to burst out laughing. The mood was lightened further as the Raith contingent overheard the Bayern squad receiving a rollocking. Nicholl later recalled: “The Raith players were getting a name-check. ‘How can you be getting beaten 1-0 by blokes like Sinclair, Cameron and Dair?’ All my boys were listening for their names to get called out.”

Bayern recovered to win 2-1 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate but Raith will forever have their scoreboard moment from that shock lead. They were one of only two teams to keep Bayern to as few as four goals across two legs as the team who finished the season under the management of Franz Beckenbauer won the Uefa Cup.

Curiously, by this point Bayern had still not faced Celtic competitively and did not do so until the Champions League group stages in 2003. Celtic held Bayern to a highly creditable scoreless draw in Glasgow as part of a run that ended in the quarter‑finals of the Uefa Cup.

Celtic’s 3-0 defeat in Munich eight years ago triggered calls for Brendan Rodgers to change tactical approach. “You may have managers who do it in a different way but I have no compromise,” Rodgers retorted. “It’s how I work.” A key success of their European campaign this season has been Rodgers’s ability to transport domestic principles on to a bigger stage.

It feels as if it adds a layer of ignominy in this of all weeks to point out that Rangers and Bayern once enjoyed fierce European duels. Those at Ibrox are currently picking through the humiliation of a Scottish Cup exit after defeat against Queen’s Park. In 1999, it took a last-minute Bayern goal to snatch a Champions League point at Ibrox. Lothar Matthäus and co remained in the competition until the semi-finals.

Rangers hold a special place in the hearts of older Bavarian football fans: Bayern defeated them to claim their first European trophy, the Cup Winners’ Cup of 1967. Franz Roth’s extra-time goal secured the trophy in Nuremberg. This was a Bayern team that including Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller. For Rangers the defeat, added to the Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Berwick Rangers earlier in 1967, was regarded as influential in the later sacking of Scot Symon as manager. The sides met again in the opening round of the 1970-71 Fairs Cup, Bayern edging through 2-1 on aggregate.

Rangers were to gain sweet revenge. Their Cup Winners’ Cup triumph of 1972 included a semi‑final success against Bayern. Willie Waddell masterminded a key 2-0 Rangers win at Ibrox, rendered all the more impressive because it was delivered minus the injured John Greig. Beckenbauer – who won the 1972 Ballon d’Or, with Müller a runner-up – again played. Bayern won the first of three Bundesliga titles in a row that year. Rangers’ victory came against a side on the verge of greatness.

Eleven years later, it was Aberdeen’s turn to inflict a bloody nose on Bayern. Uli Hoeness had travelled to scout Aberdeen at Celtic Park. “Aberdeen were a lot stronger than I expected them to be,” Hoeness said, in what proved prescient sentiment. At the end of what is widely referred to as Pittodrie’s greatest night, Alex Ferguson’s team had earned a 3-2 victory in the quarter-final of the Cup Winners’ Cup, after a goalless first leg.

Words barely do the game justice. Bayern took an early lead, Aberdeen hit back through Neil Simpson, Bayern edged in front again on the hour only for Alex McLeish – via a cleverly devised free-kick – and the supersub John Hewitt to send the Dons into dreamland. Ferguson and his players were swarmed by giddy supporters at full-time. “That game was monumental to me,” Ferguson said years later. While not directly comparable, Bayern’s return to the north-east for a 2-2 draw in the Europa League in 2008 was also a rousing occasion.

Hearts’ Uefa Cup run of 1988-89 brought Bayern to Edinburgh for the first leg of the quarter-final. Hearts moved the kick-off time to accommodate German television, a scenario that triggered a fine from European football’s governing body. Hearts appealed, only for Uefa to double the punishment.

Iain Ferguson cracked home from distance as Hearts took a slender advantage to Munich. The tie was levelled by an outstanding Klaus Augenthaler strike from even longer range. Far from wilting – and in the days of away goals – Hearts twice came agonisingly close to retaking the lead before Erland Johnsen won the tie for Bayern. The Hearts players returned from their dressing room to take the acclaim of fans who had refused to leave the Olympic Stadium. If those fans were proud, there was also sadness at missing out on a semi‑final clash with Diego Maradona’s Napoli.

European football has changed beyond recognition since Bayern first sampled Scotland. The ability of Scottish clubs to compete in that environment has generally diminished. If Bayern know their history, they will not take Celtic lightly.