Real Madrid began their Champions League defense with a 3-0 victory at Celtic after a difficult first half in which they lost Karim Benzema to injury. Carlo Ancelotti lauded his team’s resiliency for delivering a “masterclass” in the second half.
The Frenchman walked off with a knee injury after Celtic captain Callum McGregor’s finest shot of the first half hit the post.
In the absence of Benzema, Vincius Junior opened the floodgates 11 minutes into the second half with a beautiful finish.
Luka Modric’s casual finish increased the defending champions’ lead before Eden Hazard scored to continue Ancelotti’s squad’s perfect start to the season.
Ancelotti, who had not won in his three previous visits to Celtic Park as AC Milan’s manager, stated, “Here you suffer.” “We struggled against this team in this environment, particularly in the first half.
Real Madrid: Make a second-half comeback
“During the second half, we performed exceptionally well. I am quite pleased. Games do not always go as planned, but this team understands how to endure adversity. The second half was outstanding.”
Celtic began the evening with a perfect record for the season, including a 4-0 victory over rivals and Europa League finalists Rangers on Saturday.
However, in their first Champions League group match in five years, Ange Postecoglou’s players were shown the importance of seizing opportunities at the top level of European football.
“Up until the 60-minute mark, we were in control of the game, but at this level you are penalized if you fail to capitalize on your opportunities,” said Postecoglou.
“We had opportunities. We already knew what we learnt today, which is that we must be clinical in both boxes.
The return of the Champions League anthem was greeted by a raucous scream from the crowd of 60,000 at Parkhead, and the home fans nearly had something to cheer about within the first minute when Liel Abada’s shot was diverted just wide.
Postecoglou pledged to stick to his offensive philosophy against the European champions, and he kept his word.
Abada could have done better when he shot tamely into the arms of Thibaut Courtois, and McGregor’s ferocious strike rebounded off the post as the hosts dominated the first 20 minutes.
Benzema’s injury is deemed “not serious.”
Ancelotti fielded ten of the eleven players who started last season’s Champions League final victory over Liverpool, with the exception of Casemiro, who was replaced by new acquisition Aurelien Tchouameni.
However, Los Blancos were forced to make a substitution after thirty minutes as Benzema limped off with a knee injury and was replaced by Hazard.
Ancelotti remarked on Benzema’s injury, “It doesn’t appear to be anything serious, but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow for a test.” On initial inspection, it does not appear to be anything major.
Modric and Toni Kroos took control of the midfield as Celtic’s pushing halted, allowing Madrid’s greater quality to gradually become apparent.
The only thing that kept Vinicius from scoring before halftime was a brilliant save by Joe Hart when the Brazilian evaded the offside trap and raced beyond the Celtic defense.
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Daizen Maeda, who came on at halftime to replace Josip Juranovic, missed a golden opportunity for Celtic to take the lead when he headed Josip Juranovic’s cross into the arms of Courtois.
Postecoglou rolled away in exasperation, realizing that his team could not afford to squander such opportunities, and so it transpired.
Federico Valverde’s cross was redirected into the bottom corner by Vinicius after he was given a second opportunity against Hart.
Modric wriggled free inside the penalty box and finished with just enough force to beat Hart’s right hand. Celtic were hardly able to collect their breath before conceding again.
Hazard then scored his first goal since January by tapping in Dani Carvajal’s precise cross to cap a 33-pass sequence.
© Agence France-Presse