Bayern Munich snatched a dramatic late equalizer to break Celtic hearts in the Champions League playoff round, securing a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory. Celtic, who had delivered one of their most heroic European performances in recent memory, were denied extra time by an unfortunate goal deep into stoppage time. Alphonso Davies found the net in scrappy fashion after Cameron Carter-Vickers’ clearance rebounded off him from close range, leaving Celtic devastated just as they seemed destined for extra time.
Despite the disappointment, Celtic could take immense pride in their display, demonstrating maturity and resilience on one of the biggest stages. Bayern, motivated by the chance to contest the final in their own stadium, had an unusually disjointed evening. Vincent Kompany’s side struggled to assert dominance for much of the contest, with Celtic’s intensity and organization unsettling them throughout.
Harry Kane, who had been a doubt for the match due to a facial injury, started and made an early impact, forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a save within the opening ten minutes. The game had begun at a lively pace, with both sides creating chances. Serge Gnabry headed wide from a Michael Olise cross, while Celtic captain Callum McGregor wasted an opportunity following a strong run from midfield.
Celtic should have taken the lead midway through the first half, spurning three excellent chances in quick succession. Jota’s excellent work down the left led to a pass for Nicolas Kühn, whose effort beat Manuel Neuer but was cleared off the line by Raphaël Guerreiro. Moments later, an inviting cross from Arne Engels just eluded Daizen Maeda. The frustration continued when Dayot Upamecano’s misplaced clearance fell to Engels, who teed up Maeda, only for the Japanese forward to fire over the crossbar.
Bayern looked rattled by Celtic’s relentless pressing and composure in possession. Joshua Kimmich missed the target as the home side attempted to settle, but their play was riddled with uncharacteristic sloppiness. A glaring chance before halftime nearly handed Bayern an undeserved lead, with Kane striking the crossbar from close range after a Josip Stanišić cut-back. The Celtic supporters roared their team off at halftime, sensing an opportunity for a historic result.
Celtic resumed with the same energy in the second half, and Reo Hatate should have capitalized on a chance early on but hesitated too long, allowing Bayern to clear. The hosts responded with Schmeichel making a smart save from Leon Goretzka, but their attacks remained largely ineffective. Rodgers made a tactical switch on the hour, bringing on Adam Idah for Jota due to the latter’s fitness rather than his performance.
The moment Celtic had been threatening finally arrived. Maeda won the ball on the left and attempted to play in Kühn. Kim Min-jae’s interception was weak, allowing Kühn to regain possession, and the winger made no mistake, finishing past Neuer. The away end erupted in celebration as Bayern’s frustrations grew, prompting Kompany to introduce Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies to add urgency.
Celtic continued to defend bravely, with Maeda forcing Neuer into a save and Sané’s incisive passing causing occasional threats. Bayern grew desperate, with Goretzka heading wide and Olise’s penalty appeal waved away. Schmeichel continued to stand firm, dealing with a deflected Kimmich cross and multiple corners as Bayern pushed for an equalizer.
Then, deep into stoppage time, heartbreak struck for Celtic. A loose ball in the box fell to Carter-Vickers, but his clearance ricocheted off Davies from point-blank range and into the net. The Celtic players collapsed in disbelief, knowing they had been seconds away from taking Bayern to extra time.
Celtic’s Champions League campaign ended in the cruelest fashion, but their performance in Munich will be remembered as one of their finest European displays. Despite the agony of defeat, they had proven they could compete with Europe’s elite.
