Bayern Munich’s narrow escape against Celtic on Tuesday night left the Allianz Arena buzzing with relief rather than jubilation. Both teams entered the match knowing one goal could turn the entire tie on its head. By the 93rd minute, that knife-edge scenario became a reality.
Celtic arrived in Munich on a mission to overturn the 2-1 deficit, and for long stretches, they looked like they just might pull it off. Their midfield pressed relentlessly. Their defense, marshaled by Cameron Carter-Vickers, refused to break.
Fans in green and white had reason to hope when Nicolas Kuhn picked off a loose pass from Kim Min-jae, then slid a low finish beyond Manuel Neuer. The Allianz fell silent, and a few hardcore Celtic supporters were already preparing for extra time.
A Dramatic Conclusion at the Allianz Arena
Still, Bayern always seems to find a way at home. Leroy Sane’s shot whizzed past the post late in the second half. Leon Goretzka also came close with a header that trickled agonizingly wide. Kasper Schmeichel, in Celtic’s goal, turned in a performance worthy of headlines as he batted away chance after chance. For the Scottish visitors, every passing minute felt like a step closer to an astonishing upset.
Then came Alphonso Davies, stepping off the bench and onto the scoresheet in the most decisive fashion. In the dying seconds, Leon Goretzka rose for a point-blank header that Schmeichel managed to parry. The rebound, though, fell right into Davies’ path. One short poke later, the ball was in the net and Celtic’s hopes were crushed. Drama.
Bayern’s bench erupted as Vincent Kompany felt major relief. With the final whistle came a wave of relief in red and white. Celtic’s players dropped to their knees, their traveling fans stunned by the cruel finish. It was a bitter end for a team that believed they had done enough to force at least 30 more minutes.
Bayern advanced to the Champions League last 16 at Celtic’s expense, but the final scoreline doesn’t tell the full story. Their visitors matched them stride for stride and, for a few glorious minutes, were on the verge of something special. In the end, one timely intervention was all it took to push Kompany’s side forward.
