Bayern Munich Escapes While AC Milan Goes Down
The second leg of today's Champions League matchups brought more exciting endings. Everyone had their eyes on AC Milan versus Feyenoord and Bayern Munich versus Celtic, and these games did not disappoint. Both had exciting comebacks with late-game drama, keeping the audience on the edge of our seats. Here, we will break down both games and what transpired this Tuesday.
In the early matchup, AC Milan faced off against Feyenoord in Milan. The Dutch club had their youngest-ever starting eleven in a Champions League match, with an average age of 23. This match was going to prove difficult, and after just 36 seconds, Santiago Gimenez headed one into the back of the net against his former club. Making it 1-1 early and being at home, AC Milan looked to capitalize but could not take advantage in the first half. Then, in the 51st minute, AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez was shown a second yellow card for simulation, giving Feyenoord hope. They were able to take full advantage as substitute Julian Carranza headed one home, giving the Dutch side the lead on aggregate. Feyenoord kept Milan out and advanced to the next round after winning 2-1 on aggregate. This surprised many, but Feyenoord will not care as they look to complete another upset in the next round against either Arsenal or Inter Milan.
The second most exciting matchup on Tuesday was Bayern Munich vs. Celtic. Bayern had won the previous matchup 2-1, so all they had to do was tie at home. This looked difficult early on, as Celtic had several chances to tie the game but could not capitalize. Bayern began to pile on the pressure as the second half began, but Celtic gained control. Against the run of play, Nicolas-Gerrit Kuhn scored after a series of defensive mistakes by the Bayern defense. Extra time looked certain, as neither team was able to score, but then, with only a few seconds left, Alphonso Davies was able to pounce on a blocked header and give Bayern Munich the goal they desperately needed. Bayern advanced with their latest equalizer in a Champions League match, excluding extra time. Bayern has reached the Champions League in the last 16 seasons in each of the past 17 seasons, but after this unconvincing victory, it will be interesting to see how far they can go.
