Bayern Munich secured a dramatic 1-1 draw against Celtic on Tuesday, with Alphonso Davies netting a stoppage-time equalizer to seal their spot in the Champions League Round of 16 with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The German side will now await the outcome of Friday’s draw to determine whether they will face Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid in the next round.
Celtic, needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat, shocked the hosts when former Bayern reserve player Nicolas Kuhn put them ahead in the 63rd minute.
The Scottish champions, seeking their first-ever victory on German soil in 16 attempts, came agonizingly close to forcing extra time with a spirited display that unsettled Bayern for much of the match.
Reflecting on the performance, Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka acknowledged the challenge they faced, “If you watched the first leg, I don’t think it was surprising. Of course, we could have made it easier for ourselves by not conceding a goal. We have played three games in six days now and it was all about getting results, which we did and we’re happy about that.”
Celtic signaled their intent early, nearly taking the lead in the 16th minute when Raphaël Guerreiro cleared Kuhn’s shot off the line.
Moments later, Daizen Maeda narrowly missed connecting with an Arne Engels cross in front of goal.
Bayern, who had played out a goalless draw against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, struggled to create chances.
Their best opportunity of the first half came on the brink of halftime when Harry Kane struck the woodwork. The England captain, still dealing with a head knock from the Leverkusen match, was substituted at the break after an underwhelming display.
Early in the second half, Goretzka found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel but failed to convert.
Celtic, however, made the breakthrough when Kuhn capitalized on two defensive lapses to slot home, handing Brendan Rodgers’ men a crucial advantage.
Bayern responded by ramping up the pressure, with Goretzka and Leroy Sané both testing Schmeichel. The Danish goalkeeper continued his heroics, denying Joshua Kimmich with another outstanding save.
As stoppage time ticked away, Bayern’s relentless attack finally paid off. Schmeichel initially blocked Goretzka’s effort, but Davies pounced on the rebound, bundling the ball over the line to break Celtic hearts and ensure the Bavarians advanced.
Rodgers lamented the cruel nature of his side’s exit, “It was just such a cruel way to not even lose the game but to go out of the competition. A real heroic performance, just unfortunate at the end.”
Despite the disappointment, the Celtic boss saw positives in their European campaign, “I think our European credibility has been restored this season, I think we built that up from last year, that’s my takeaway from this season.”
