Bayern Munich faced Celtic FC on February 18, 2025, in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff. The match, held at the Allianz Arena, ended in a gripping 1-1 draw, allowing Bayern to advance with an aggregate score of 2-1. The hosts had entered the game on the back of confidence following their narrow win over Celtic at Parkhead just six days prior. Yet, as it turned out, the night would be far from straightforward.
From the outset, spellbinding atmospheres filled the stands as Bayern's fans rallied behind their team, echoing chants of ‘Europapokal’. The early stages saw Bayern attempting to impose their game, with Serge Gnabry presented with a chance to open the scoring. His header, though, was thwarted by Celtic's defender Alistair Johnston, maintaining parity as the match unfolded.
Despite having the lion's share of possession, it was Celtic who created the clearer opportunities, leaving Bayern's supporters nervous. Callum McGregor squandered one of the best chances of the first half, firing over the bar. Shortly afterwards, former Bayern player Nicolas Kühn had another close encounter, as his effort was heroically cleared off the line by Raphaël Guerreiro. Daizen Maeda was similarly frustrated by the lack of finishing touch, missing another significant opportunity.
The pivotal moment came shortly before halftime when Harry Kane, who had been Bayern's primary threat, rattled the crossbar with a curling attempt. Shortly after, injury forced him off the pitch, leaving Kingsley Coman to fill the void as Bayern went back to the locker room at 0-0.
Upon resuming, Bayern felt the pressure mount, struggling to find their rhythm against Celtic’s expertly executed pressing. It was not until the 63rd minute when disaster struck for Bayern. A chaotic error from Kim Min-Jae allowed Nicolas Kühn to find the back of the net, putting Celtic 1-0 up on the night and leveling the aggregate score 1-1. The atmosphere swelled as Celtic's supporters dared to hope for a historic moment—their first victory over Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich, faced with adversity, could not afford to rest on their laurels. The Bavarians surged forward, desperately seeking to regain the lead and stave off the threat of extra time. Their efforts were evident with increased intensity as Leon Goretzka’s header required Kasper Schmeichel to make one of several impressive saves.
Chances continued to arise but to no avail—until the most dramatic moment of all. With the match clock approaching 90 minutes, and after relentless pressure from Bayern, Goretzka's effort was saved yet again, but it fell kindly to Alphonso Davies, who tucked the ball over the line during the fourth minute of stoppage time. The Eden of Bayern erupted, as this late-game twist let them escape defeat and secure their place among the last 16 of the competition.
Oddly enough, Bayern seemed almost apologetic for their wonderful and yet underwhelming performance, where they somehow flattered to deceive. Over the full match, they registered more errors leading to opposition shots than any team has this season—13 errors encountered during the tournament. Yet, it is this resilience and undying spirit, the hallmark of Bayern’s illustrious history, which has led them to progress to this stage for the 21st time, matching only Real Madrid's tally.
With their position secured, Bayern Munich now waits with bated breath for the draw to see who awaits them next. This includes the possibility of facing fellow Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, who recently performed commendably, or Atlético Madrid, who continue to be formidable opponents on the international stage. Whatever awaits, one thing is for sure: Bayern will need to dig deep and build on this spirit if they aim for glory within the tournament this season.