In a thrilling display of resilience and drama, Bayern Munich narrowly triumphed over Celtic in a Champions League play-off, thanks to a last-minute goal from Alphonso Davies, securing a spot in the round of 16. The game took place in Germany and saw Celtic put in a commendable performance, coming agonizingly close to taking the match into extra time.
Celtic, despite being heavy underdogs, showcased an admirable attacking mentality, creating several key chances in the first half. Their captain, Callum McGregor, missed a golden opportunity early on, and Nicolas Kühn saw his effort cleared off the line by Bayern’s Raphaël Guerreiro. As the game progressed, it became clear that Celtic’s missed chances could cost them, particularly when Bayern’s Harry Kane struck the woodwork, almost giving his side an advantage.
Celtic took a surprise lead in the match when Kühn, benefiting from a defensive blunder by Bayern’s Kim Min-Jae, scored the first goal. This marked a significant achievement, as Kühn became the first German to score against Bayern in Champions League knockout stages since Lukas Podolski in 2014.
However, Bayern’s persistence paid off in the dying moments of the match. Schmeichel, the Celtic goalkeeper, could not hold onto a close-range header from Leon Goretzka, allowing Davies to pounce and find the net for the equalizer at 93:12. This goal made history as the latest equalizing goal in normal time in a Champions League match on record.
Despite Bayern’s strong possession throughout the game, they struggled to capitalize on it without their leading striker on the field. This performance underlined concerns regarding their ability to convert opportunities into goals, as they have registered the most errors leading to opposition shots in this Champions League season.
As Bayern Munich moves forward, they will face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid in the knockout stage, while Celtic will look to build on their promising performance as they regroup for future competitions. The game highlighted both teams’ determination and skill, promising an exciting remainder of the Champions League season.
For further insights and analyses, fans can explore the Opta match centre, which provides in-depth statistics and expected goals data from the game.