Bayern Munich secured a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 after a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer from Alphonso Davies, sealing a 1-1 draw against Celtic and a 3-2 aggregate win. Celtic had led from the 63rd minute after Nicolas Kuehn capitalized on a defensive error, putting the Scottish side on the brink of a historic victory in Germany. Despite Bayern dominating possession, they struggled to break Celtic’s defense, with Harry Kane hitting the crossbar before being substituted at halftime due to an injury.
With time running out, Bayern launched a relentless attack, but Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel made crucial saves to deny Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, and Leroy Sane. Just when it seemed like Celtic would force extra time, Michael Olise delivered a pinpoint cross, met by Goretzka, whose header was blocked by Schmeichel. However, Davies was quick to react, tapping in the rebound to rescue Bayern from a potential upset and extend their unbeaten home run in European competitions to 21 matches.
Despite progressing to the next round, Bayern’s performance raised concerns, especially in attack, with Serge Gnabry’s poor finishing and Kane’s injury adding to their worries. Coach Vincent Kompany praised Davies for stepping up in a crucial moment, highlighting his resilience after recovering from injury. As Bayern prepares for the Champions League knockout stage, they will need to sharpen their attack to compete against stronger opponents like Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid.
