Alphonso Davies shattered Celtic’s hopes with a 94th-minute goal, sealing Bayern Munich’s 3-2 triumph

Celtic stood on the brink of glory, moments from extra time before Alphonso Davies of Bayern Munich delivered a heartbreak last-minute winner. The Scottish giants fought bravely to stay in contention, only to see their Champions League dreams crushed in devastating fashion.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Brendan Rodgers’ men arrived at the Allianz Arena knowing they needed a moment of brilliance to tip the scales in their favour. They found it on the hour mark. Bayern’s defensive linchpin, Kim Min-Jae, made a catastrophic blunder, hesitating as Daizen Maeda surged forward. The Japanese winger slid the ball to Nicolas Kühn, who ghosted past Manuel Neuer and slotted home. Suddenly, Celtic had their lifeline.

The travelling support roared. Could this be their night? Could they defy the odds and send a European giant tumbling? For a while, it seemed possible. Celtic had weathered Bayern’s early storm. Harry Kane rattled the crossbar before being withdrawn at half-time, and Leon Goretzka squandered a golden chance. Meanwhile, the Scottish side had their own opportunities, with Maeda, Callum McGregor, and Kühn all coming agonisingly close.

But as the clock ticked down, a sense of inevitability hung over the stadium. Bayern, like a wounded predator, smelled blood. They threw everything forward. Leroy Sané drilled an effort just wide, Joshua Kimmich forced a stunning save from Kasper Schmeichel, and Celtic retreated, suffocating under relentless pressure.

Then came the fatal blow. Deep into stoppage time, Michael Olise floated a teasing cross into the box. Goretzka met it, powering a header toward goal. Schmeichel, heroic all evening, produced a stunning reflex save, but the ball spilt loose. Cameron Carter-Vickers lunged desperately, but before he could clear, Alphonso Davies pounced, bundling it over the line. Bayern players erupted in celebration, while Celtic players collapsed in despair.

The final whistle followed seconds later. Celtic had fought like warriors, but in the cold, ruthless world of elite football, spirit alone is never enough. Bayern’s clinical precision and refusal to accept defeat had carried them through. Rodgers’ side, so close to a historic triumph, were left nursing a heartbreak that will linger for years.

As Munich revelled in their last-minute escape, Celtic departed knowing they had come within inches of rewriting history. For 93 minutes, they had Bayern on the ropes. But in stoppage time, dreams turned to dust. And in the brutal theatre of the Champions League, there is no mercy for those who dare to believe.