Started Just The Way Ended ♔🔝
Celtic were in prime form ahead of the challenge against the reigning Champions League holders. The Bhoys hammered Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Saturday with a 4-0 victory, which followed a 4-1 triumph over Ross County and a 9-0 battering of Dundee United. The challenge took a massive leap for Ange Postecoglou's men.
👋 Hi boss!#UCL | #CelticRealMadrid | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/aRA8qcmRM7
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 6, 2022
Celtic made two changes to their side that started the 4-0 win over Rangers. Carl Starfelt missed out for the home side due to injury and was replaced by Jenz in the backline. Kyogo was not quite fit enough to take his place in the line-up after suffering a shoulder issue against the Gers. Giakoumakis led the line alongside Jota and Abada.
CELTIC XI (4-3-3): Joe Hart; Josip Juranovic, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Moritz Jenz, Greg Taylor; Matt O'Riley, Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate; Liel Abada, Georgios Giakoumakis, Jota.
SUBS: Kyogo Furuhashi, Sead Haksabanovic, Aaron Mooy, David Turnbull, James McCarthy, Alexander Bernabei, Scott Bain, Benjamin Siegrist, Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh.
We're Glasgow Celtic 🍀#UCL | #CelticRealMadrid | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/izxc1XB2H6
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 6, 2022
Real Madrid enjoyed the perfect start to their LaLiga campaign with four wins on the bounce, including their 2-1 victory over Real Betis at the weekend. Carlo Ancelotti's men now turned their attention back to the Champions League, where they were poised to embark on another quest to win the crown for a record 15th time. Los Blancos wanted to set the tone from the off in defense of their title.
🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔
Madrid made two changes to their side from their win over Betis at the weekend. Camavinga and Rodrygo had to settle on the bench as Kroos and Valverde were restored to the ranks.
REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos; Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.
SUBS: Nacho Fernandez, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Eduardo Camavinga, Andriy Lunin, Lucas Vazquez, Dani Ceballos, Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger, Mariano Diaz, Luis Lopez.
📋✅ Our starting XI 🆚 @CelticFC! #UCL pic.twitter.com/eji7kZiWYP
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 6, 2022
Celtic have lost eight of their last 10 Champions League matches versus Spanish opposition (W2). Unfortunately, they stretched the run today.
💫 THE @CHAMPIONSLEAGUE IS BACK! 💫 pic.twitter.com/NqpOAnX4ut
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 6, 2022
Celtic started the game with great intensity and were being spurred on by the home fans in Celtic Park. The pressing from Celtic were extremely impressive in the opening 20 minutes. They're not giving the visitors an inch. Madrid were rocking under pressure from Celtic at the back. There were no easy passes out there for the visitors. Modric and Kroos struggled to get a grip on possession in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, Benzema flexed his knee after taking a knock and did not look comfortable. He was forced off. Hazard entered the action to replace the Frenchman.
🔄 30' | 0-0 | Substitution: @hazardeden10 ↔ @Benzema #UCL pic.twitter.com/zvxwwypNtX
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 6, 2022
It's goalless at the break. Celtic played exceptionally well in the opening 30 minutes with great intensity. However, once they began to tire, Madrid started to grow into the contest with several chances. Both teams had chances in the first half, but neither could break the deadlock. Callum McGregor came inches away from putting The Bhoys ahead as he saw his left-footed drive strike the post. After a quiet half, Vinicius was denied by a fine save from Joe Hart from a one-on-one opportunity.
📸#UCL | #CelticRealMadrid | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/IHzMxT1FFk
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 6, 2022
Madrid were trying to build a rhythm to put the home side under pressure, but the Bhoys were defending well and looked lively on the counter. Then, out of nowhere, once again, Valverde happened. Valverde brilliantly collected down the right flank and produced a great run before supplying a pinpoint cross for the run of Vinicius. The forward took on the shot first-time and placed his effort past Hart into the bottom-right corner. A sublime team goal. 1-0 MADRID!
⚡ MARAVILHOSO! ⚡#UCL pic.twitter.com/vKsAM7dFKT
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 6, 2022
Real Madrid have now scored in their last seven Champions League games.
Celtic played well in the contest but were exposed on the counter by the visitors. Madrid were clinical over the last six minutes to take control. Mendy led a counter forward and was wiped out by two hooped shirts, but the loose ball made it to Hazard. The Belgian ran into the box before offloading to Modric in space. The veteran cut back and beat Taylor, then Jenz to open up room for a shot on his right foot that has too much power for Hart to keep out. 2-0 Los Blancos!!!!!
🌀 BRB, watching this @lukamodric10 magic over and over... 🌀#UCL pic.twitter.com/am8K5qF9rZ
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 6, 2022
Madrid were in control of the game and could see this out with effective management of the tempo and clock. To seal the deal HAZARD SCORED FROM CLOSE RANGE!!!! 3-0 MADRID!!! Hazard tapped in from six yards out. Kroos started the move with a looping cross to Carvajal at the back post. The Spaniard controlled his delivery out of the air first-time and steered it to Hazard unmarked in the middle. Hazard couldn't miss, and he slotted his effort into an empty net.
🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔
Celtic are back in action against Livingston in their next Scottish Premiership outing on Saturday at home. Real Madrid returns to LaLiga action on Sunday at home to Mallorca.
HIGHLIGHTS
Madridistas need to worry a little as their captain left the pitch injured, but they can take a chill pill the way Hazard demonstrated his quality. It was never a doubt as the form is temporary and class is permanent. And there is Hazard, who never dropped either of them. It was only the injuries that stopped him. Hopefully, finally, he can perform his magic every week in the royal white.
🤍 @lukamodric10 🤍
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 7, 2022
💯 @ChampionsLeague matches as a madridista... and counting!#RealFootball | #UCL pic.twitter.com/2fZ7y9S5A9
An excellent way to remember the 100th UCL appearance as a Los Merengues for Luka Modric with a sublime goal and a victory. 🍷 Of course, he did it in style.
Excellent reaction from Real Madrid after Karim Benzema's injury
Vinicius turned to the future to play instead of his maker to try to compensate for the absence of Benzema, which was a great idea from Ancelotti
I was more impressed with Hazard. He changed the game. They were defending tight but Hazard confused them even the last goal he scored, he told carvajal to make that run so kroos can deliver. This is what I call a playmaker who influences the game rather than just dribbling. In his presence everyone shines.
And the boy Vinicius is not slowing down, he is just improving everyday.
Well as expected from Real Madrid they put up a good show away from home, Celtic did their best but could not break Madrid's defence.