BBC pundit shocked watching Celtic’s UEFA Champions League play-off

BBC pundit Alan Shearer has admitted he was shocked when watching Celtic’s UEFA Champions League knockout rounds play-off against Bayern Munich last Wednesday…

Celtic Park from the Sky
Celtic v Bayern Munich – 12 February 2025. Image of Celtic Park from above. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

The Celts faltered 2-1 on the night but if it were not for some misfortune, could have easily gotten a major result off the German champions in the first-leg.

Paradise was rocking

Paradise was rocking once again under the lights on a European night and the Bavarian giants rolled into town for a ding-dong on the greatest stage in football. Vincent Kompany’s team boasted a plethora of top-tier talent and with a frontline containing Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane, the Bhoys were always going to find things difficult on the night.

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Celtic and Bayern München at Celtic Park on February 12, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

However, we didn’t help ourselves either in the match through totally avoidable errors and it’s that nagging feeling of ‘what if’ that resonates once more at this level. For large parts of the match we defended admirably and kept our shape and structure solid enough, so as to keep the multi-million pound assets of the Munchen’s side relatively quiet and subdued.

It’s the fine margins

As always at this level though, it’s the fine margins and former England international Shearer couldn’t believe his eyes when he watched the highlights. Speaking to Gary Linekar and Micah Richards on The Rest is Football podcast, the Match of the Day pundit stated: “I saw the goals, I saw the highlights so I didn’t watch a lot of it. I saw Harry Kane stood in the six yard box with no-one around him from a corner, which I thought ‘What on earth?’ And he finished it off brilliantly.”

Paul Gillespie

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About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

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