The Champions League play-offs delivered an exciting night of football, with thrilling encounters that had fans on the edge of their seats. Bayern Munich secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Celtic, while Feyenoord capitalized on an error from AC Milan’s goalkeeper to claim a crucial 1-0 advantage.
Bayern Munich Edge Past Celtic in Glasgow
Bayern Munich took a step closer to their dream of playing the final at their home ground, the Allianz Arena, with a 2-1 win over Celtic in the first leg of the play-offs. Right from the start, the Bundesliga giants showcased their attacking intent, dominating possession and keeping the Scottish champions on the back foot.
The breakthrough came just before halftime when Michael Olise unleashed a stunning strike to put Bayern ahead. The goal silenced the Celtic Park crowd, who had been passionately backing their team. The visitors doubled their lead four minutes into the second half, with Harry Kane calmly slotting in a cushioned finish at the back post following a well-worked corner routine.
This marked Kane’s seventh goal in this Champions League campaign and his 29th goal in 29 games across all competitions. However, Bayern’s intensity dropped after the second goal, allowing Celtic to mount a comeback. A disallowed goal in the opening minute had already frustrated Celtic, but they finally found the net through Daizen Maeda’s close-range finish in the 79th minute. Despite a late surge, Brendan Rodgers’ men could not find an equalizer.
Bayern’s coach, Vincent Kompany, remained positive after the match, emphasizing that his team had done the job in the first half of the tie. On the other hand, Rodgers saw a glimmer of hope, stating that with just a one-goal deficit, Celtic still had a chance to turn things around in the second leg.
Feyenoord Take Advantage of AC Milan’s Costly Mistake
A night to forget for AC Milan’s goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, turned into a night to remember for Feyenoord. The Dutch club secured a 1-0 win in the first leg after Maignan made a disastrous error just three minutes into the game.
Igor Paixao’s speculative shot should have been a routine save, but Maignan misjudged the bounce, allowing the ball to deflect off his body and roll into the net. It was a shocking moment for the seven-time European champions, who now face an uphill battle in the return leg at San Siro.
Despite the wet and difficult conditions at De Kuip, Feyenoord showed great resilience, keeping Milan’s attacking threats at bay. Captain Quinten Timber praised the team’s efforts, expressing confidence heading into the second leg.
Benfica Secure Narrow Win Against Monaco
Elsewhere, Benfica edged out Monaco 1-0 in a tightly contested match. Vangelis Pavlidis scored the only goal of the game just after halftime, continuing his impressive goal-scoring form in the competition. Monaco’s night worsened when Moatasem Al-Musrati received a second yellow card for an unnecessary gesture towards the referee, leaving his team with 10 men for most of the second half.
With a crucial away goal in their pocket, Benfica will look to seal their place in the next round when they host Monaco in the return leg.
Controversy in Bruges as Club Brugge Stun Atalanta
Club Brugge pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory over Atalanta, thanks to a highly debated stoppage-time penalty. Ferran Jutgla put the Belgian side ahead early in the game, but Atalanta responded before halftime through Mario Pasalic’s header. Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, a controversial moment unfolded.
Swedish forward Gustaf Nilsson was awarded a penalty after being struck in the face by Atalanta defender Isak Hien’s outstretched arm. While the contact appeared unintentional, the referee stood by his decision after a VAR review, allowing Nilsson to convert from the spot.
Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere was visibly frustrated, arguing that if 100 people watched the replay, all 100 would say it wasn’t a penalty. His disappointment summed up the mood in the Atalanta camp as they now face the challenge of overturning the deficit in the second leg.
Looking Ahead to the Second Legs
With the first legs done and dusted, all eyes will be on next week’s return fixtures. Bayern Munich will look to finish the job at home, while Celtic will hope for a miraculous turnaround. AC Milan will be desperate to recover from their goalkeeping blunder, but Feyenoord’s strong defensive display in the first leg suggests they won’t make it easy.
Benfica, Club Brugge, and Feyenoord have all secured first-leg advantages, but nothing is guaranteed in the Champions League. With thrilling contests set to unfold, fans can expect another round of high-intensity action as the road to the knockout stages heats up.