Celtic’s Champions League campaign came to a heartbreaking end as Bayern Munich scored in the 94th minute to secure a dramatic 3-2 aggregate victory in Germany.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Parkhead, Celtic stunned Bayern when Nicolas Kuhn capitalized on Kim Min-jae’s defensive error to put Brendan Rodgers’ side ahead just after the hour mark.
Celtic had earlier missed several golden chances—Kuhn, Callum McGregor, and Daizen Maeda (twice) all going close—while Bayern’s Harry Kane struck the crossbar before being substituted at halftime.
After the break, Celtic continued to fight, with Maeda surging forward and setting up Kuhn, who calmly slotted past Manuel Neuer.
Bayern, shocked into action, pushed desperately for an equalizer. Leon Goretzka headed wide, Joshua Kimmich tested Kasper Schmeichel, and Leroy Sane drilled a shot just past the post.
As Celtic fought to hold on, they found themselves pinned in their own half. With extra time looming, Bayern found a way through in the final seconds.
Michael Olise’s cross found Goretzka, whose header was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel. However, the ball fell loose in front of goal, and despite Cameron Carter-Vickers’ desperate clearance attempt, Alphonso Davies bundled it over the line to break Celtic hearts.
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 to 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.
