UEFA Champions League

Group stage

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Celtic Park, Glasgow

CELTIC… 0

REAL MADRID… 3

(Viniciur Jr 57, Modric 60, Hazard 77)

A spirited and impressive Celtic fell to Real Madrid in the opening group stage match of the Champions League, as the current European champions left Glasgow with a 3-0 victory.

Two goals in three second-half minutes from Vinicius Jr and Luka Modric, then a late goal from Eden Hazard earned Real all three points in their first visit to Celtic Park in 42 years, but the result on paper fails to paint the picture of the night and Celtic’s performance within it.

For five years Celtic had waited for this moment again, the time when the Champions League anthem would barely break through the cacophony of noise that is the Celtic Park crowd.

All summer, from the moment the league title was wrapped up, the Celtic players and staff were asked about their excitement for this moment and here they were.

As they stood in line, with the reigning European champions to their left, there came that song and with it that raucous, spine-tingling blast from the stands. A confirmation that Celtic are back.

But the noise and passion were never in question. What did dominate the pre-match conversations was how this Celtic side would fair against Europe’s best. All-out Ange attack? Or more reserved?

Within 30 seconds, you had your answer. Attack was the message, and Liel Abada, fresh from his two goals in the derby on Saturday, forced Thibaut Courtois into an almighty stop low to his left, as the winger smashed a first-time effort on goal after brilliant set-up from Giorgos Giakoumakis.

As the clock hit 10 minutes, there was a recognition that Celtic were in this, putting Real Madrid under serious pressure and playing with confidence and poise when in possession.

The chances too were coming to Celtic and on 13 minutes, quick-thinking from a free-kick inside the Celtic box found Jota who played an inch-perfect cross-field ball to Abada. One-on-one with Courtois the keeper was there again, this time the ball coming right down his throat from Abada’s effort.

With each pressing run, with each opportunity, the crowd grew and the noise almost reached ground-breaking levels on 21 minutes.

Giakoumakis, proving a handful to the visitor’s centre-backs, held the ball up inside the box before laying it off for the onrushing Callum McGregor and with a lashing swipe of his left foot, Europe’s best keeper was planted, watching on as the ball cannoned off the inside of the left post.

Madrid would have their moments and on 29 minutes Celtic got their first scare, Federico Valverde taking a shot from range that hit the side netting to Joe Hart’s left.

Madrid’s tallyman is Karim Benzema, quiet in the first 30 minutes, replaced on the half-hour mark through injury. His replacement was Eden Hazard and with two minutes left to play in the first-half, the former Chelsea man showed his quality, spraying a ball over the top to Vinicius Jr.

Having watched one shot hit the side netting, Hart was needed and big time with the Brazilian international bearing down on goal and there he was when called upon, standing strong to keep Madrid out.

When the whistle blew for half-time, Celtic Park rose in appreciation of a performance of the highest quality, but it was a roar that also echoed a belief that something could be possible here.

Celtic fall to defeat to Real Madrid despite spirited display