Alphonso Davies’ dramatic late equalizer against Celtic in the Champions League play-off round has sent Bayern Munich through to the next stage.
Featured on Ahotor FM’s Champions League night coverage, the match ended in a 1-1 draw ant the Allianz Arena, allowing Bayern to progress with a 3-2 aggregate victory.
This result dashed Celtic’s hopes of advancing in the tournament, despite their commendable performance throughout the match.
Celtic entered the second leg trailing 2-1 from the first match at Parkhead in Glasgow last week.
They showcased resilience and determination, aiming to overturn the deficit. Early in the game, Celtic squandered multiple opportunities to score, with key players like Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda failing to convert promising chances.
The first half saw Celtic create more openings than Bayern, who struggled to find their rhythm until Harry Kane hit the crossbar just before halftime.
The turning point came in the 63rd minute when Nicolas Kuhn capitalized on a defensive error by Bayern’s Kim Min-jae. Kuhn seized the moment to score, giving Celtic an unexpected lead and leveling the aggregate score at 2-2.
This goal marked a significant achievement for Kuhn, who became the first German player to score against Bayern in the Champions League knockout stages since Lukas Podolski in 2014.
Despite Celtic’s lead, Bayern Munich remained persistent in their attack. They dominated possession but struggled to break through Celtic’s resolute defense.
As the match approached its conclusion, it appeared that Celtic might hold on for a crucial away goal that would take them into extra time.
However, in a heartbreaking twist of fate for Celtic fans, Alphonso Davies scored a last-minute equalizer in stoppage time.
Following a chaotic sequence where Kasper Schmeichel parried a header from Leon Goretzka, Davies was quick to react and bundled the ball into the net.
This late goal not only secured Bayern’s place in the round of 16 but also highlighted their ability to capitalize on moments of fortune—often referred to as “Bayern Dusel,” or “Bayern luck”—even when they are not at their best.
Celtic’s journey in this year’s Champions League came to an abrupt end, but their performance against one of Europe’s elite teams was commendable.
They demonstrated skill and tenacity, creating numerous chances and holding their own against Bayern for most of the match. However, football can be cruel; despite their valiant efforts, they fell short at the final hurdle.
Bayern Munich will carry this hard-fought victory into the next round, but questions remain about their form upfront as they prepare for tougher challenges ahead.
