Celtic’s dazzling display in Munich on Tuesday night left Europe in awe, and one of their standout performers has earned a well-deserved spot in UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Week.
Despite Nicolas Kühn finding the net against his old club Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, it wasn’t the German winger who caught UEFA’s eye for the honor. Instead, another Celtic star stole the spotlight with an exceptional showing against Vincent Kompany’s squad.
That player, unsurprisingly, was Kasper Schmeichel, who claimed the Player of the Match award after making nine crucial saves. Bayern Munich registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.5, underscoring just how much Schmeichel exceeded expectations to keep his team in the fight.
The Danish goalkeeper’s inclusion in the Team of the Week comes as no shock. Since arriving at Celtic in the summer, he’s been a near-flawless presence between the posts, especially in the Champions League, where he’s delivered performances echoing Fraser Forster’s knack for bailing Celtic out in pivotal moments.
Kasper Schmeichel indirectly hits back at talkSPORT Adrian Durham’s criticism:
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Adrian Durham, a pundit infamous for stirring the pot in football circles, appears to have taken aim at Schmeichel with little justification.
Whilst Durham said he didn’t want to seem critical he still pointed the finger at Schmeichel who saved Celtic on numerous occasions in the Allianz Arena.
Moments after the final whistle, Durham, hosting the broadcast, suggested Schmeichel was at fault for Bayern’s equalizer, claiming the Celtic keeper should have directed his save to the left.
Kasper Schmeichel’s Celtic stats vs Bayern Munich silences talkSPORT critic:
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Boasting an 8.1 rating from Fotmob, Schmeichel was undeniably Celtic’s top performer. His stats from the night paint a clear picture of a goalkeeper whose brilliance held Bayern at bay until the very end.
Saves: 9
Accurate passes: 34/44 (77%)
Accurate long balls: 10/19 (53%)
Diving save: 3
Saves inside box: 4
Recoveries: 10
With his legendary father, Peter Schmeichel, watching from the stands, Kasper honored the family name. Peter is hailed as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history, and Kasper’s world-class talent shines through—a remarkable achievement given the weight of expectations he’s carried as a goalkeeper in his father’s shadow.
While the Team of the Week nod is a personal triumph for Schmeichel, he’d have traded it for a spot in the last 16. Reflecting on Celtic’s heartbreaking exit, the Dane took to social media to call the result “cruel.”