Real Madrid confirmed top spot in Group F with a convincing 5-1 thrashing of Celtic at the Santiago Bernabeu courtesy of a fine performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Though Celtic began the game with plenty of energy, the hosts took the lead after just five minutes with their first attack of the game, as Moritz Jenz handled inside the box and Los Blancos captain Luka Modric made no mistake from the spot.
And the European Champions doubled their lead after 20 minutes via the same route, with Matt O’Riley perhaps harshly having deemed to handle the ball inside the box and Rodrygo converting the second spot-kick.
Celtic were handed a chance to get back into the tie with a spot kick of their own, but Thibaut Courtois sprang to right to keep out Juranovic’s effort from 12 yards, preserving his side’s two-goal advantage heading into the break.
Any hope of a fightback after halftime was extinguished just five minutes in, when Marco Asensio volleyed in from the edge of the box, before Vinicius Jr flicked home a fourth from a cross on the hour mark.
Changes aplenty came from both sides, but the goals continued to flow, as Federico Valverde fired home from outside the box to make it 5-0, before Celtic substitute Jota curled home a fine free-kick to hand his side a consolation goal.
The result means that Real Madrid could now face one of Liverpool, Club Brugges, Eintracht Frankfurt and Inter Milan, all of whom were confirmed runners up in their groups last night.
Player ratings
Real Madrid
GK: Thibaut Courtois - 8
Made plenty of saves, including a penalty, but all were saves that you would expect him to make with the majority straight at him. A strong performance nonetheless though he will feel he could have done better for the Celtic goal.
RB: Dani Carvajal - 7
A strong performance from the right back in both directions, looking competent in defence and dangerous in attack.
CB: Eder Militao - 6
The Brazilian looked solid (one theatrical fall aside) against a largely toothless Celtic.
CB: David Alaba - 6
Didn’t have a great deal to do but dealt with what he had well,
LB: Ferland Mendy - 5
Good for the most part but the weakest link in the Madrid defence and handed Celtic a lifeline when he
CM: Federico Valverde - 9
A goal and an assist for the most in-form midfielder in the world capped an all-round top performance from the Uruguayan.
CM: Toni Kroos - 7
Tidy but struggled a bit against the athleticism of the Celtic midfield.
CM: Luca Modric - 8
Glided through the game as usual, and Madrid’s captain on the night was very tidy in possession.
RW: Rodrygo - 8
Tidy on the ball and took Real Madrid’s second penalty well along with creating two chances for his teammates.
ST: Vinicius Jr - 7
Electric but wasteful in the first half. Should probably have done better with one chance but redeemed himself when he found the net for their fourth goal.
LW: Marco Asensio - 7
A surprise inclusion in the starting XI, the Spaniard looked dangerous and grabbed a goal for his troubles with a tidy half volley.
Substitutes
Dani Ceballos - 6
Came on and wasn’t particularly noticed.
Karim Benzema - 6
Fluffed one shot but other than that had very little service.
Nacho Fernandez - 6
Was solid upon coming on.
Lucas Vazquez - 5
Gave away the free kick for Jota’s goal but did nothing else of note.
Jesus Vallejo - 6
Didn’t really put a foot wrong in his new look defensive partnership with Fernandez.
Celtic
GK: Joe Hart - 5
A tough night for Hart who could maybe have done better in the lead up to the first penalty but was otherwise largely a passenger.
RB: Josip Juranovic - 4
Missed a glorious opportunity when his penalty was saved at 2-0. Had an otherwise largely torrid night against Asensio and Rodrygo.
CB: Carl Starfelt - 5
Looked well out of his depth at this level against Real Madrid’s regular counterattacks.
CB: Moritz Jenz - 5
He produced a bizarre handball to concede a penalty after just five minutes. His night didn’t get any better afterwards.
LB: Greg Taylor - 4
Battled hard but struggled against the combined efforts of Asensio and Carvajal. Could not get forward whatsoever.
CDM: Aaron Mooy - 5
Solid but unspectacular in the first half. His performance level dropped off massively in the second and he was substituted after 64 minutes.
CDM: Reo Hatate - 5
Full of running but lacked the final touch and ultimately found himself faced with too much quality.
RM: Liel Abada - 5
The Israli youngster had a tough night but showed glimpses of his talent in an otherwise quiet display.
CAM: Matt O’Riley - 5
Picked up an early booking and looked off the pace for the Scottish side at the Bernabeu.
LM: Daizen Maeda - 5
Worked hard in the press but lacked the quality and composure when it really mattered.
ST: Kyogo Furuhashi - 4
Largely starved of service, and gave the hosts little to worry about.
Substitutes
Jota - 8
Added some industry to Celtic’s attack and looked the most likely to make anything happen. Won and netted a wonderful free-kick in the final minutes.
Sead Haksabanovic - 5
Didn’t give the Real Madrid defenders anything to worry about when he came on.
David Turnbull - 5
Went by unnoticed.
Georgios Giakomakis - 5
Didn’t really do anything to alter the game, though it was already a foregone conclusion.
Oliver Abdilgaard - N/A
Was only on for the final ten minutes.
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