Celtic’s Champions League adventure came to a halt in gut-wrenching fashion as Bayern Munich struck in the 94th minute to deny them a stunning victory in Germany and snatch a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Trailing 2-1 after the first leg of the play-off round at Parkhead, Celtic led when Nicolas Kuhn capitalised on Kim Min-jae’s error to give Brendan Rodgers’ side a shock lead just after the hour.
That was after a first half in which Celtic passed up four fine opportunities to score – Kuhn, Callum McGregor, and Daizen Maeda, twice, all going close – while England captain Harry Kane hit the bar before he was substituted at half-time.
Celtic would not be denied after the break, though, when Maeda burst forward and funnelled the ball to Kuhn, who took advantage of Kim’s hesitancy to slip past Manuel Neuer.
Bayern, stunned into action, pushed for a leveller. Leon Goretzka nodded wide; Joshua Kimmich forced Kasper Schmeichel into a fine save; and Leroy Sane drilled a shot just past the post.
Celtic were on the back foot, unable to get out of their own half and counter Vincent Kompany’s side, and eventually – with extra time within sight – they cracked to concede with the last kick of the game.
Michael Olise’s cross was met by Goretzka, whose header was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel. The ball dropped in front of the empty goal, and Cameron Carter-Vickers’ attempts to clear were thwarted by Alphonso Davies, who bundled over the line.
Celtic fight to the brink of history
Football is so often a cruel game, and it was hard not to feel for the Celtic players who lay dejectedly on the turf as their Bayern counterparts ran to the corner celebrating, and no doubt breathing a huge sigh of relief.
All the fight and resolve that they had shown for almost 180 minutes had been sapped from them by the scrappiest, ugliest of goals.
The Scottish champions hustled and harried, and stood up when tested. Schmeichel added more saves to his highlights reel, while his defence headed, blocked and cleared almost everything that came at them.
There were chances. McGregor blazed over in the first half when he should have hit the target. Kuhn had one cleared off the line before his cross to the back post missed Maeda by a matter of inches.
They forced another opportunity when Dayot Upamecano sliced a pass. Kuhn played in Maeda with Neuer off his line, but the Japanese forward chipped wide.
There is a German saying – coming close is also missing it. It feels harsh to be critical given the monumental effort Celtic produced, but they needed to be more clinical.
They were less than a minute from extra time, and who knows what would have happened then? Perhaps more cruelty and dejection. Perhaps immortality among the Celtic annals for years to come.
Although they return to Glasgow beaten, they return with pride.
This looks like a different team from the one battered in Dortmund just a few months ago. They’ve matured considerably and look like growing even further.
Bayern pass tougher inspection than expected
Although Celtic have been flying domestically and did well in the Champions League group stage, Bayern would have been happy with the draw.
After two gruelling encounters, they will just be happy to have made it through unscathed after an almighty scare.
They did pin Celtic back at times, and you don’t take 23 shots – with 10 on target – without putting your opponents on the ropes.
But the longer it went, the more doubts started to grow as to whether the Bundesliga leaders had an answer. Ultimately, they did.
The Celtic goal rocked them. They were forced into near-fatal errors, and more mistakes than they have made in any Champions League game this season.
Their weaknesses were exposed, but having pulled through Kompany can now gird his loins. He knows where he needs to improve and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this team go all the way to the final.
Match stats
- Bayern have reached the Champions League last 16 in each of the last 17 seasons and in each of their last 21 appearances in the competition.
- They remain unbeaten against Scottish opposition at home in major European competition (P11 W7 D4). Celtic have failed to win any of their 16 away games against German opposition (D4 L12 – including East Germany).
- Kuhn became the first German to score against Bayern Munich in the Champions League since Mergim Berisha for Red Bull Salzburg in November 2020. He is the first to do so in the knockout stages since Lukas Podolski for Arsenal in March 2014 (last 16).
- Bayern have made more errors leading to opposition shots than any other team in the Champions League this season (13 – 5 in the build-up to goals conceded).
- Celtic (28y 40d) named their oldest starting XI for a Champions League game since a 1-0 win against Manchester United at Celtic Park in November 2006 (28y 272d).
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
- President Commissions 36.5 Million Dollars Hospital In The Tain District
- You Will Not Go Free For Killing An Hard Working MP – Akufo-Addo To MP’s Killer
- I Will Lead You To Victory – Ato Forson Assures NDC Supporters
Visit Our Social Media for More
About Author
