In a nail-biting finish, Bayern Munich clinched their place in the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to a stunning 94th-minute strike by Alphonso Davies on Tuesday. The final score of 1-1 on the night led to a 3-2 aggregate victory, setting Bayern up to face either Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid.
The match was intense, with Celtic holding a 1-0 lead since the 63rd minute. The Scottish side was on the brink of sending the German giants into extra time, aiming for their first-ever win in Germany. However, with key player Harry Kane off injured and time slipping away, Davies emerged as Bayern's hero. His decisive tap-in came after Celtic's keeper, Kasper Schmeichel, had previously denied Leon Goretzka with a crucial save.
Davies shared his excitement post-match, saying, \"We had the ball on the edge of the box, so I just went into the box and didn't think too much, just put a foot out and it went in. This is football. The scoreline is what it is. The most important thing is that we advanced.\" His perseverance paid off, especially after missing three of Bayern's four previous Champions League games.
Coach Vincent Kompany praised Davies' dedication, stating, \"It's impressive, he worked hard with the rehab team and medical team. We've immediately seen what he offers for the team.\"
Elsewhere in the competition, AC Milan faced elimination after a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord, who advanced with a 2-1 aggregate win. Club Brugge made history as the first Belgian side to win a knockout tie in the Champions League era, defeating Atalanta 5-2 on aggregate. Benfica also advanced after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Monaco, setting up an exciting last 16 draw scheduled for Friday.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
