European champions Real Madrid made mild work of Celtic with a 5-1 win to progress to the Champions League final 16 as Group F winners on Wednesday.
Madrid rapidly assumed a dominant lead with Luka Modric and Rodrygo netting first-half penalties, each given for handballs, whereas Josip Juranovic missed one for the bottom-of-the-group Scots.
Marco Asensio netted the third early within the second half on what proved a stroll for the file 14-time winners, Vinicius Junior turned residence the fourth from Fede Valverde’s cross and the Uruguayan smashed in a fifth himself.
The complete victory over Ange Postecoglou’s aspect, who pulled one again with a formidable Jota free-kick, left them a degree above second-place Leipzig, with the German aspect beating Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0.
Celtic supplied Madrid not one, however two, serving to palms, and so they had been grateful to get again to successful methods after struggling their first defeat of the season in all competitions in opposition to Leipzig final week, after which drawing with Girona in La Liga.
“A game like this with a lot of goals, getting back to winning ways, that was the most important thing, to finish top of the group. It was a great day,” Rodrygo instructed Movistar.
“(The knock-outs) will be hard again, it will be difficult, there are no easy teams left, they can all make life hard for us, whoever we get.”
Carlo Ancelotti earned the 103rd Champions League win of his administration profession, overtaking former Manchester United coach Alex Ferguson because the all-time file holder.
“The game was good from the start, we were focused, we didn’t want problems, we wanted to finish (the group) with good feelings and we did it,” Ancelotti instructed a press convention.
The Italian was in a position to carry Karim Benzema again into the matchday squad, though the Ballon d’Or winner began on the bench earlier than a second-half cameo.
Ancelotti was happy that his different attacking gamers have responded with objectives within the absence of Benzema at occasions this season, with 5 completely different gamers on the scoresheet in opposition to Celtic.
“The fact we have not had Karim gave everyone more responsibilities, and they are making good on those responsibilities,” added Ancelotti.
“The players have more confidence, bigger roles, above all Valverde.”
Madrid rapidly took the lead, when Moritz Jenz dealt with whereas making an attempt to cease the rampaging Valverde within the field and Modric despatched Joe Hart the unsuitable method from the penalty spot.
Stephanie Frappart turned the primary girl to referee Madrid within the Champions League and she or he had a busy evening on the Santiago Bernabeu, with the three first-half penalty awards.
The hosts ought to have doubled their lead when Hart denied Vinicius from shut vary after Valverde teed him up, nearly identically to the purpose they constructed in opposition to Girona on Sunday.
However moments later that they had a second penalty for one more handball on a Rodrygo shot, and the Brazilian dispatched it coolly.
– Racking up the objectives –
Vinicius ought to have put the sport to mattress however fired over the bar after a positive dribble by his Brazilian compatriot Rodrygo, whereas Thibaut Courtois stayed alert on the different finish to beat away a Kyogo Furuhashi drive.
Celtic had the prospect to pull themselves again into the sport earlier than the break however Courtois parried Juranovic’s spot-kick after Ferland Mendy tripped Liel Abada.
Madrid punished them early within the second half with the third purpose, with Asensio ending properly from simply inside the world after good work by Dani Carvajal to set him up, earlier than Vinicius clinically dispatched Valverde’s cross for the fourth.
Ancelotti introduced on Benzema for the ultimate third of the sport, and when Modric was given a relaxation shortly after, the French ahead took the captain’s armband.
Valverde slammed Madrid’s fifth residence from vary, his eighth purpose of the season, inching nearer to the 10-goal goal Ancelotti set him.
“Many people around me were right, I had to take advantage of the shot I have,” Valverde instructed Movistar.
“They joke that one day I am going to burst the ball.”
However Celtic and Jota claimed purpose of the evening with the Portuguese winger’s free-kick screaming previous Courtois and into the highest nook on the demise.
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