Celtic's U19s were served dose or reality as free-scoring Real Madrid wiped the floor with the Parkhead stars of tomorrow. And was to be a tough introduction to life in European football for Stephen McMannus' young side as the rain lashed down at the Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie.
Los Blancos opened the scoring within five minutes through Pol Fortuny who's effort struck a defender to give Hoops stopper Tobi Oluwayemi no chance. Celtic then had a spell where they looked like they could grab an equaliser with Bruno Davidson and Ben McPherson coming close.
However they were dealt a huge double blow when Youssef doubled Madrid's lead before McPherson was shown red inside the first 23 minutes. Madrid added to their advantage with a quick-fire double only seven minutes later with Enrique Herrero side footing the ball into the net and Nico Paz pouncing on a parry from Oluwayemi to make it 4-0.
Celtic could find no answers and the one way traffic continued into the second half as the extra man looked to prove pivotal. Palacios missed a gilt-edge change at the back post when the goal was gaping but it was not long until Nico Paz grabbed his second of the match and his side's fifth with a clinical finish.
Alvaro Arbeloa's men were running riot and Nico Paz searched for his hat-trick with several close calls around the Celtic goal. But it was Palacios who grabbed the sixth after Enrique Herrero efforts crashed off the post. There were to be no further goals in the final 20 minutes with Madrid having the points wrapped up in the matchday one encounter.
Hoops fans will hope this was not a sign of things to come ahead of the highly anticipated Champions League clash for the first team on Tuesday evening. And it could be a case of what if with Celtic playing 77 minutes of the clash a man down.
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