UCL: Alphonso Davies saves the day and prevents a slap in Kompany's face

Bayern, in a struggle no one expected, managed to salvage a draw against Celtic in the final minute of stoppage time and avoid humiliation in the Champions League playoff for the Round of 16.

Celtic did not come to the Allianz Arena just to participate in the match against Bayern.

The first real chance of the game came in front of their goal in the 4th minute when, after a cross from Olise, Gnabry headed the ball at the far post, but it went out for a goal kick.

Three minutes later, the visitors responded. Olise made a mistake during Bayern’s buildup, allowing Callum McGregor to react quickly and find himself in a good position on the left side. He took a shot, but the ball went over the home team’s goal.

LIVE BLOG UCL playoffs: AC Milan are out! Celtic hold Bayern back, Atalanta destroyed by Brugge!

In the 16th minute, the Scots had their best chance of the half when Nicolas Kuhn found himself one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, managed to beat the German goalkeeper, but Rafa Guerreiro cleared the ball off the goal line.

Just two minutes later, Bayern’s defense was caught napping again. Upamecano misjudged a situation and passed the ball straight to an opponent. With two teammates alongside him, Daizen Maeda chose to go for goal himself instead of passing. He tried to catch Neuer off guard, but his shot went wide, frustrating Brendan Rodgers on the sidelines.

That moment seemed to wake Bayern up. In the 22nd minute, Harry Kane took a strong shot from the edge of the box, but Kasper Schmeichel made a great save.

After that, the game quieted down until the 38th minute when Josip Stanisic showed individual brilliance, dribbling past two defenders before laying the ball off to Kimmich, who sent his shot wide.

Just as it seemed the first half would end without any more drama, Harry Kane lifted the Bayern fans to their feet. Receiving a precise ball from the right, the English striker fired a shot from the penalty spot, but he mishit it, sending the ball off the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

It was as if the energy from the end of the first half carried over into the start of the second.

In the 47th minute, Bayern created a huge chance when Leon Goretzka found himself one-on-one with Kasper Schmeichel, but the Danish goalkeeper made a fantastic save.

With this momentum, it seemed like Vincent Kompany’s team would soon find the decisive goal to secure their place in the next round. However, in the 63rd minute, everything changed. After a pass from Maeda and a disastrous reaction from Kim, the ball fell to Kuhn—the same player who had beaten Neuer in the first half, only to be denied by Guerreiro. This time, there was no last-ditch clearance, and Celtic found an equalizer through a player who once came up through Bayern’s own academy.

The Scottish side showed no fear and continued attacking. In the 70th minute, Maeda had a good chance with a header, but Neuer calmly collected the ball.

That was the wake-up call for Bayern, who launched an all-out assault. First, in the 76th minute, Leroy Sane fired a shot wide. Three minutes later, Kimmich tested Schmeichel, but the Danish keeper showed brilliant reflexes to keep the ball out.

In the 87th minute, Josip Stanisic had a great opportunity when he connected with a corner, but his header was off target.

As everyone prepared for extra time, Alphonso Davies stepped up. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Sane delivered a perfect cross, Goretzka headed the ball on target, Schmeichel made a great save, but Davies was quickest to react—sending the Allianz Arena into an eruption of joy.

With this dramatic victory, Bayern secured their place in the Champions League Round of 16, where they will face either Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid. The draw is set for Friday.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

Return leg

Tuesday

Milan - Feyenoord 1-1 (0-1)

/Gimenez 1 - Carranza 73/

Feyenoord win 2-1 on agg

Atalanta - Club Brugge 1-3 (0-3)

/Talbi 3, 27, Jutgla 45+3 - Lookman 46/

Brugge win 5-2 on agg

Bayern - Celtic 1-1 (0-0)

/Kuhn 63 - Davies 90+4/

Bayern win 3-2 on agg

Benfica - Monaco 3-3 (1-1)

/Akturkoglu 22, Pavlidis 76 pen, Kokcu 84 - Minamino 32, Ben Seghir 51, Ilenikhena 81/

Benfica win 4-3 on agg

Wednesday

20.45: (1.95) Dortmund (3.50) Sporting (3.90)

23.00: (1.18) PSG (7.25) Brest (15.0)

23.00: (2.30) PSV (3.45) Juventus (3.05)

23.00: (1.85) Real Madrid (3.80) Man.City (4.00)

***odds are subject to change***