Bayern edge past Celtic in dramatic Champions League clash

MUNICH: Bayern Munich clinched a spot in the Champions League last 16 after Alphonso Davies scored a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser, securing a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate victory over Celtic in a tense knockout clash on Tuesday.

Bayern will face either their fellow German rivals Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in the last 16.

Celtic had led 1-0 since the 63rd minute, and the Scottish side had been on the verge of taking the German giants to extra time and pulling off their first-ever win in Germany.

But with Harry Kane off injured and time running out, Davies stepped up as Bayern’s saviour, tapping in after Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel had kept out Leon Goretzka’s header.

Bayern went into this game 2-1 up from last week’s first leg at Celtic Park and seeking to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

Bayern dominated possession in the first half, but Celtic were more dangerous with at least three clear-cut chances to score before the break.

Former Bayern Munich second-team player Nicolas Kühn beat Manuel Neuer, but Raphael Guerreiro cleared off the line.

Moments later, Alistair Johnston flashed a dangerous ball across the Bayern goal. With Neuer stranded, the ball flew just beyond Daizen Maeda.

Then Maeda missed a golden opportunity to put Celtic ahead. When Dayot Upamecano was forced into a stray pass, Kühn led the surge forward and fed Maeda, who blazed over with Kühn and Jota in support.

Bayern dominated the ball on a freezing night but suffered from a lack of quality in attack.

Serge Gnabry was wasteful, while Kane sometimes cut an isolated figure, starved of service.

The England captain’s best chance saw him rattling the bar with a snapshot after Josip Stanišić picked him out from the right.

That would be Kane’s final action. The striker was withdrawn at half-time, feeling the effects of an injury picked up against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Bayern upped the pressure after the break and fashioned a clear chance when Goretzka went clean through. Schmeichel, however, made a crucial stop to keep Celtic in the game.

Soon after, Celtic were in front. Maeda seized on a loose pass by Josip Stanišić and helped it on toward Kühn. Min-jae Kim reached the ball first but could not clear, and Kühn was able to take a touch and find the bottom corner.

It was a goal that shocked the Allianz Arena and threatened Bayern’s record of 20 European home games unbeaten. Celtic were delivering on coach Brendan Rodgers’ pre-match battle cry to show bravery.

Bayern sought an equaliser, but Vincent Kompany’s side were reduced to long-range shots, with Schmeichel pulling off saves from Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and substitute Leroy Sané.

Celtic were moments away from inflicting Bayern’s first defeat by a Scottish team and taking the tie into extra-time, but the game had a sting in the tail. Olise delivered a pinpoint cross that was met by Goretzka.

Schmeichel saved, but Davies scrambled the rebound home off his shin to send Bayern through to the last 16.