Real Madrid sent out a Champions League statement of intent on Wednesday night with a devastating 5-1 victory at home to Celtic.
The defending European champions – who have won the continent’s premier club competition a record 14 times – eased to a comfortable win despite not including star striker Karim Benzema in their starting line-up. They had far too much for the visiting Scottish champions in the Spanish capital.
Two penalties in the opening quarter of the game effectively ended it as a meaningful contest, as the visitors were punished for twice handling the ball in their own penalty area. Luka Modric converted the first spot-kick before handing penalty duties over to Rodrgyo Goes, who also made no mistake from 18 yards.
Ange Postecoglou’s side were given an unlikely route back into the game before the break as Real Madrid defender clumsily felled an attacker inside his own penalty area, but Josip Juranovic saw his penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois.
While the first half was dominated by penalties, the stages after the break were dominated by Madrid’s free-flowing attacking quality which proved to be far too much for Celtic’s defence – who shipped three goals in the space of 20 minutes.
Marco Asensio netted a superb third goal for Carlo Ancelotti’s team before Vinicius Junior got in on the scoring act just after the hour mark from a Fede Valverde assist. The Uruguayan midfielder then turned from provider into scorer as he added a superb fifth.
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Celtic did have one moment to savour in the game as substitute Jota scored a superb free-kick to beat Courtois and ensure that the defending European champions did not keep a clean sheet. However, Madrid finish as group winners and will be formidable opponents for any side in the knockout stages.
Elsewhere in the group, RB Leipzig secured second spot with a thumping four-goal victory in Poland over Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian side – unable to play in their home country due to the ongoing Russian invasion – were firmly second best throughout and had needed to win to go through to the Round of 16.
Christopher Nkunku’s early goal put the Bundesliga side in front and they blew Donetsk away in the second half as Andre Silva and Dominik Szoboszlai both scored before an own goal from the home side’s defender Valerii Bondar.
