Celtic exited the Champions League in heartbreaking fashion, missing out on a place in Friday’s last-16 draw despite earning widespread praise for their performance. A stoppage-time goal saw Bayern Munich snatch a 1-1 draw on the night, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory and setting up a potential clash with Bayer Leverkusen or Atletico Madrid.
Despite Bayern advancing, their display raised doubts about their ability to reach the final in their own stadium. Brendan Rodgers’ side, on the other hand, won admiration for their brave and disciplined showing in Bavaria. Even Bayern boss Vincent Kompany admitted his side were fortunate, both in their performance and in the manner of their late winner.
Former players and pundits were unanimous in their praise for Celtic. Owen Hargreaves highlighted their impressive start and attacking intent, noting how they pushed Bayern much harder than in the first leg. Alan Shearer sympathized with Celtic, acknowledging their heartbreak and commending their efforts, while also pointing out Bayern’s ability to find a way to win even when underperforming.
Chris Sutton was particularly vocal about Bayern’s luck, calling them “jammy” and describing the defeat as a bitter blow for Celtic, though he emphasized how far they have come. Clarence Seedorf echoed these sentiments, crediting Celtic for their defensive discipline and control, while recognizing that tension and inexperience played a role in the late goal.
Ultimately, while Celtic were left devastated, their performance was hailed as one of their best in European competition, proving they can compete with top teams on the biggest stage.
