Kane lifts Bayern to beat Celtic in Champions League playoffs. Milan, Atalanta and Monaco all lose

Bayern Munich looks set to survive the new Champions League playoffs round. AC Milan joined Atalanta and Monaco losing their first-leg games Wednesday.

Bayern got high-class strikes from Michael Olise and Harry Kane either side of halftime in a 2-1 win at Scottish champion Celtic. The return game is Tuesday in Munich.

"The (Celtic) fans haven’t seen many losses here, especially in Europe, so we appreciate the importance of the game and the victory,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.

Bayern had joined Real Madrid and Manchester City as Champions League title winners in the past five years who surprisingly found themselves in the playoffs because they finished outside the top eight in the new 36-team single standings format. Madrid won 3-2 in Manchester on Tuesday.

Feyenoord's goal in a rain-soaked 1-0 win over Milan came in the third minute and relied in France goalkeeper Mike Maignan spilling Igor Paixão's shot into the net. Feyenoord's Brazilian winger gave Milan new signing Kyle Walker a tough first game in the competition for the seven-time European champion.

It also was a quick winning start for Feyenoord's interim coach Pascal Bosschaart in his first game after the firing Monday of Brian Priske.

Benfica won 1-0 at Monaco with another goal from Vangélis Pavlídis, a delicate chip shot in the 48th. Monaco had Al Musrati sent off four minutes later.

Club Brugge scored with a disputed penalty kick in stoppage time to beat Atalanta 2-1. That was a meeting of teams that finished 24th and ninth, respectively, in the 36-team standings two weeks ago.

The top eight teams in those standings advanced direct to the round of 16 in March, leaving Nos. 9 to 24 to compete this month for eight more entries in playoffs over back-to-back midweeks.

Harry Kane loves scoring against Kasper Schmeichel, his longtime rival in Tottenham vs Leicester and England vs Denmark games.

Bayern star Kane's sharp volley in the 49th, when left unmarked at the back post at a corner, was his 19th career goal past Schmeichel, more than any other goalkeeper he has faced.

It was a second impressive goal conceded by Schmeichel, who was helpless against Michael Olise's rising left-footed shot in the 45th.

On a tough evening for Celtic’s all-American central defense of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty, the Scottish champion has more hope next Tuesday thanks to Japan forward Daizen Maeda cutting the deficit late on.

“At 2-1, Bayern are hanging on," Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers said. “Let’s go and have no regrets and see where it takes us. We’ve shown we can play football and be a threat.”

Benfica's Greece forward might be the most in-form striker in the Champions League. It is now six goals in the competition and five in the past three games including a hat trick against Barcelona.

The 26-year-old Pavlidis latched onto a pass from the halfway line and shrugged off defender Mohammed Salisu before neatly clipping the ball over goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki in the 48th minute.

Benfica’s win was soured by another injury for veteran winger Angel Di Maria. The 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina lasted 20 minutes as a substitute before sustaining a left hamstring injury. He pulled up near the penalty area and immediately lay on the ground.

It was Benfica’s second win in Monaco, adding to a 3-2 victory in November in the league phase.

A late light-touch clash between two Sweden teammates was decisive in Club Brugge’s 2-1 win over Atalanta.

Entering stoppage time, Atalanta defender Isak Hien was judged to have raised a hand into the face of Brugge forward Gustaf Nilsson as they chased a loose ball.

Turkish referee Umut Meler awarded a penalty and showed yellow cards to three Atalanta players, including Hien, for protesting before Nilsson won the game. He sent goalkeeper Rui Patricio the wrong way with his spot kick.

“We are now going in a direction outside of what football should be,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told broadcaster Sky Italia of the penalty decision, “but beyond the controversy we now have to accept these rules that I no longer recognize.”

Brugge had led on former Barcelona forward Ferran Jutglà‘s shot in the 15th minute and Atalanta leveled in the 41st on Mario Pašalić’s header.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Celtic's Daizen Maeda sits on the ground during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Bayern's Michael Olise, center, celebrates with team mates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

British pop icon Rod Stewart cheers the teams prior to the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Feyenoord's Antoni Milambo, right, challenges for the ball with AC Milan's Theo Hernandez during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Feyenoord and AC Milan, at the De Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Feyenoord's Quinten Timber kicks the ball next to AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Feyenoord and AC Milan, at the De Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Feyenoord's interim coach Pascal Bosschaart stands during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Feyenoord and AC Milan, at the De Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Feyenoord's Igor Paixao, center, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Feyenoord and AC Milan, at the De Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

AC Milan's goalkeeper Mike Maignan dives to save a shot during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Feyenoord and AC Milan, at the De Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Bayern's Harry Kane scores his side's second goal during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League play off first leg soccer match between Celtic Glasgow and Bayern Munich at the Celtic Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Brugge's Christos Tzolis, left, and Atalanta's Berat Djimsiti fight for the ball during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Hans Vanaken, right, reacts as the Atalanta's Marten de Roon is seen on the ground during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Hans Vanaken, center, fights for the ball with Atalanta's Raoul Bellanova, left, and Atalanta's Marten de Roon, right, during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Maxim De Cuyper reacts after missing a chances for a goal during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates after scoring against Brugge during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Ferran Jutgla celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Atalanta during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Gustaf Nilsson celebrates after scoring the second goal from penalty against Atalanta, during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

The referee shows the yellow card to the Atalanta's Isak Hien during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Gustaf Nilsson, right, scores the second goal from penalty position against Atalanta, during the Champions League playoff first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and Atalanta at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)