Celtic’s Nicolas Gerrit Kuhn celebrates scoring their first purpose in Champions League conflict in opposition to Bayern Munich at Allianz Area in Munich, Germany on February 18, 2025. — Reuters
MUNICH: Bayern Munich clinched a spot within the Champions League final 16 after Alphonso Davies scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser, securing a 1-1 draw on the night time and a 3-2 combination victory over Celtic in a tense knockout conflict on Tuesday.
Bayern will face both their fellow German rivals Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish giants Atletico Madrid within the final 16.
Celtic had led 1-0 because the 63rd minute, and the Scottish facet had been on the verge of taking the German giants to additional time and pulling off their first-ever win in Germany.
However with Harry Kane off injured and time operating out, Davies stepped up as Bayern’s saviour, tapping in after Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel had stored out Leon Goretzka’s header.
Bayern went into this sport 2-1 up from final week’s first leg at Celtic Park and searching for to stretch their unbeaten run to seven video games in all competitions.
Bayern dominated possession within the first half, however Celtic have been extra harmful with a minimum of three clear-cut possibilities to attain earlier than the break.
Former Bayern Munich second-team participant Nicolas Kühn beat Manuel Neuer, however Raphael Guerreiro cleared off the road.
Moments later, Alistair Johnston flashed a harmful ball throughout the Bayern purpose. With Neuer stranded, the ball flew simply past Daizen Maeda.
Then Maeda missed a golden alternative to place Celtic forward. When Dayot Upamecano was pressured right into a stray move, Kühn led the surge ahead and fed Maeda, who blazed over with Kühn and Jota in assist.
Bayern dominated the ball on a freezing night time however suffered from a scarcity of high quality in assault.
Serge Gnabry was wasteful, whereas Kane generally lower an remoted determine, starved of service.
The England captain’s greatest probability noticed him rattling the bar with a snapshot after Josip Stanišić picked him out from the fitting.
That might be Kane’s last motion. The striker was withdrawn at half-time, feeling the results of an damage picked up in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Bayern upped the strain after the break and original a transparent probability when Goretzka went clear via. Schmeichel, nonetheless, made an important cease to maintain Celtic within the sport.
Quickly after, Celtic have been in entrance. Maeda seized on a free move by Josip Stanišić and helped it on towards Kühn. Min-jae Kim reached the ball first however couldn’t clear, and Kühn was capable of take a contact and discover the underside nook.
It was a purpose that shocked the Allianz Area and threatened Bayern’s file of 20 European dwelling video games unbeaten. Celtic have been delivering on coach Brendan Rodgers’ pre-match battle cry to indicate bravery.
Bayern sought an equaliser, however Vincent Kompany’s facet have been lowered to long-range pictures, with Schmeichel pulling off saves from Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and substitute Leroy Sané.
Celtic have been moments away from inflicting Bayern’s first defeat by a Scottish crew and taking the tie into extra-time, however the sport had a sting within the tail. Olise delivered a pinpoint cross that was met by Goretzka.
Schmeichel saved, however Davies scrambled the rebound dwelling off his shin to ship Bayern via to the final 16.
