Bayern Munich Advances After Late Equalizer Against Celtic

Bayern Munich managed to secure a late equalizer through Alphonso Davies, resulting in a 1:1 (0:0) draw against Celtic Glasgow in the Champions League. This goal was invaluable for the German football club, worth more than the eleven million euros received for advancing to the knockout stage.

A potential elimination from the group stage would have thrown the club into disarray. Captain Manuel Neuer reflected the team’s emotions, describing the feeling as one of „relief.“ However, it is clear that the current form of Bayern under coach Vincent Kompany may not be sufficient against teams like Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid.

The UEFA draw in Nyon on Friday at 12:00 PM will outline Bayern’s path to the final on May 31 in Munich. However, the immediate focus is on the next knockout round in early March.

Eberl Prefers Atlético Over Leverkusen

Max Eberl expressed a preference for facing Atlético Madrid over Bayer Leverkusen, calling a potential rematch with Xabi Alonso’s team unsettling. „When you say European football, you want to play internationally,“ he stated when asked about his preferred opponents.

After avoiding extra time against Celtic, who took the lead through Nicolas Kühn in the 63rd minute, Bayern sought to explain their recent experiences.

Kimmich and Davies Reflect on the Match

National player Joshua Kimmich dismissed the notion of luck being a factor in their late draw against the Scottish champions. „This is football. Regardless of how, we won and advanced,“ said Davies after scoring. The Canadian, returning from injury, noted that the goal was instinctive, as he simply directed the ball into the net.

Sporting director Max Eberl praised Davies, stating, „He is a player who can make a difference. Phonzy is back, he scores the goal, and he is brimming with confidence after signing a new contract.“ However, he acknowledged that the team had put themselves in a difficult position, emphasizing the intensity of their recent schedule.

Challenges Ahead for Bayern

Bayern remains in the Champions League, but the goal of winning the title at home now seems distant, especially with eight points separating them from leaders Leverkusen in the Bundesliga after a goalless draw. Eberl critically assessed their current state, stating, „It’s not like we’re sitting here saying: Hey, we are in top form, everything is fantastic. It’s a bit harder right now.“

Kimmich pointed out that despite recent struggles, the team showed resilience after falling behind. He recalled previous instances of undisciplined performances, such as their quarterfinal exit against Villarreal in 2022.

Despite the challenges, including a drop in performance under three different coaches, Kimmich noted the need for improvement. Bayern has not experienced a dominant victory in some time. Key players like Jamal Musiala are struggling to find form, and the team lacks the consistency seen in past stars like Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry.

Injury Concerns for Key Player

Compounding their issues, Bayern is concerned about Harry Kane, who had to leave the match due to calf problems after hitting the crossbar. Neuer noted that losing their best striker was not ideal. While Kane reassured everyone that he was fine, Eberl indicated that further examinations would be necessary, as Kane was unable to sprint properly during the match.