UCL heartache in Germany for heroic Hoops | OneFootball

UEFA Champions LeagueTuesday, February 18, 2025Allianz Arena, Munich

BAYERN MUNICH…1(Davies 90 +4)

CELTIC…1(Kuhn 63)

Bayern Munich win 3-2 on aggregate

Celtic have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Bayern Munich in the cruellest possible way, as an equaliser in the last minute of added time saw the German side progress 3-2 on aggregate.

It was a heartbreaking end to the game for Celtic, who had put so much into the contest and were leading thanks to a Nicolas Kuhn goal and heading towards extra-time before Alphonso Davies bundled the ball over the line for a last-gasp equaliser.

There was a warning shot from Bayern within the first five minutes, as Michael Olise sent a ball to the back post where Serge Gnabry was in space, but his header drifted wide of target.

In the seventh minute, Brendan Rodgers' side burst in to life and had their first chance of the night.

Callum McGregor raced away from the Bayern defence and found himself charging towards goal with the ball at his feet, but his shot from inside the box sailed over the bar.

The Bhoys continued to grow in to the game and in the 15th minute, there created two great chances to take the lead.

The first fell to Nicolas Kühn after a brilliant piece of skill from Jota, but the German winger’s effort was cleared off the line. Almost immediately, Arne Engels flashed a ball across the face of goal, but there was just too much weight on the cross and Daizen Maeda was unable to make contact on the ball for what would have been a certain goal.

The Celtic faithful in the Allianz Arena and around the world were surely in a shared state of disbelief that Celtic weren’t in front and it wasn’t long before another huge chance fell the way of the Bhoys. This time Maeda’s strike from 18 yards out had Manuel Neuer beaten, but the ball went just over the bar and the chance was gone.

Kasper Schmeichel was called in to action just after the 20-minute mark as he produced an excellent save from a Harry Kane strike which took a big deflection on its route towards goal.

With just shy of 40 minutes gone, the home side had a huge chance when Harry Kane cut the ball back to Joshua Kimmich who was lurking on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot went wide of the target and the Germany captain will probably feel that he could have done better with the effort.

There was another let-off for the Celts just before the break when Harry Kane rattled the crossbar with an effort from just inside the box.

At the beginning of the second half, Bayern found themselves with a golden opportunity to take the lead when a through ball from midfield split the Celtic defence and left Goretzka one on one against Kasper Schmeichel, but the Celtic No. 1 produced a wonderful save to keep the match level.

Celtic kept Bayern at bay and kept themselves in the match by defending resolutely, and, with 63 minutes gone, they got their reward.

Daizen Maeda used his pace to nip in ahead of Kim and feed the ball to Nicolas Kuhn, who tore in to the box and slotted his shot in to the bottom left corner, sending the Celtic supporters wild.

And just before the 70-minute mark, there was a chance for Celtic to go 2-0 up when Arne Engels whipped a cross deep to the back post for Daizen Maeda, whose header was saved by Neuer.

Bayern continued to create chances of their own, but the Celts defended as a unit and kept them at bay, whilst between the sticks Kasper Schmiechel produced some outstanding saves.

However, with the game heading towards extra-time, it was to end in the most heartbreaking manner imaginable for Celtic when Alphonso Davies equalised with almost the last touch of the game.

The goal levelled the score on the night and put Bayern Munich through 3-2 on aggregate.

It was a performance to be proud of for Brendan Rodgers' side who had come so close to a historic result in Germany.