Bayern Munich narrowly advanced to the Champions League round of 16 after a dramatic 94th-minute goal by Alphonso Davies secured a draw against Celtic, who came close to an upset. Despite Celtic's early dominance, Bayern's persistence paid off, maintaining their streak of reaching the knockout stages for 17 consecutive seasons.
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League playoff, Bayern Munich narrowly escaped elimination with a last-minute equalizer against Celtic. The match, held at the Allianz Arena, saw Bayern advance to the round of 16 despite a strong performance by the underdog Scottish team. This victory marked Bayern's continued dominance in the Champions League, having reached the knockout stages for 17 consecutive seasons.
Celtic entered the Allianz Arena with a one-goal deficit from the first leg, but they quickly made their presence felt. The Scottish champions created several promising opportunities early in the match, with Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kühn coming close to scoring. Despite their efforts, Celtic failed to capitalize on these chances, a mistake that would haunt them later in the game. Bayern, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm, with Harry Kane nearly scoring before being sidelined due to injury [1].
As the match progressed, Bayern Munich began to assert their dominance, though they struggled to break through Celtic's defense. The turning point came when Alphonso Davies scored a dramatic equalizer in the 94th minute, securing Bayern's place in the next round. This goal was not only crucial for the match but also set a record for the latest equalizing goal in normal time in the Champions League since 2003-04. Despite Celtic's valiant effort, they were unable to hold on, resulting in their exit from the competition [1].
For fans wanting to catch the action live, multiple streaming options were available. In the United States, Paramount+ provided exclusive coverage of the Champions League matches, while viewers in the UK could watch via Amazon Prime Video. Canadian fans had access through DAZN, and Australian viewers could tune in via Stan Sport. Additionally, VPN services were recommended for those traveling or facing regional restrictions, ensuring fans worldwide could enjoy the match [3] [4].
Bayern Munich's narrow escape against Celtic in the Champions League playoff highlights the unpredictable nature of football. Despite Celtic's commendable performance, Bayern's experience and resilience saw them through to the next round. As the competition progresses, Bayern will face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid, continuing their pursuit of Champions League glory.
"Celtic were huge underdogs but created the better chances and came within seconds of taking the game to extra-time." - Analyst