MY ACCOUNT
Real Madrid secured first place in Champions League Group F with an easy 5-1 win over Celtic.
Madrid held a one-point lead over RB Leipzig heading into the final round of fixtures and just needed to match the Bundesliga side’s result against Shakhtar Donetsk to be sure of winning the group.
Leipzig were 4-0 winners against Shakhtar, but Celtic never looked likely to do the German team a favour, conceding two penalties inside 21 minutes as Luka Modric and Rodrygo converted from 12 yards.
Josip Juranovic missed a first-half spot-kick at the other end before Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde gave the scoreline a deservedly emphatic appearance for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, though Jota had the final say with a fine free-kick for the visitors.
Modric’s cool penalty put Madrid ahead in the sixth minute after Moritz Jenz’ handball and, having seen Vinicius Junior denied by a fine save by Joe Hart, the hosts doubled their lead with a second spot-kick, Rodrygo this time converting with Matt O’Riley adjudged to have handled following a VAR review.
Celtic posed a threat of their own and were given a chance to halve the deficit when Ferland Mendy brought down Liel Abada, though Thibaut Courtois denied Juranovic, as he did Lionel Messi when he last faced a Champions League penalty back in February.
Any faint hope of a Celtic fightback was put to bed six minutes into the second half when Asensio fired into the bottom-left corner.
Vinicius heaped more misery on Celtic after being teed up by Valverde, who then swept home a stylish fifth from the edge of the box.
Jota’s consolation was equally pleasing on the eye as he bent an effort beyond Courtois and into the top-left corner.
What does it mean? Tougher tests await for Los Blancos
Despite finishing first in the group, Madrid could still face a tricky last-16 tie.
Liverpool, Inter and Milan are all potential opponents in the first knockout round, while Paris Saint-Germain could yet finish second in their group. Though given their form, Madrid will fancy themselves to get a result against any opposition.
Don Carlo equals Sir Alex
This win marked Ancelotti’s 102nd in the Champions League (excluding the awarded win for Milan vs Inter in 2005), going level with Manchester United great Alex Ferguson for most victories in the history of the competition by a manager.
Old Firm rivals anything but solid
Celtic’s points total of two is their lowest in the history of the competition.
The Hoops and their Old Firm rivals Rangers, who failed to earn a single point in exiting the group stage, conceded 37 goals between them in the competition proper this season. That is a record for the most by clubs from a single city within a Champions League campaign.
Key Opta Facts
Madrid have won all of their home group stage matches in a Champions League season for the first time since 2015-16, a season in which they went on to win the competition.
Celtic have lost their last six Champions League matches against Spanish opponents, conceding 24 goals while scoring just two in return.
Madrid have ended top of their Champions League group for three consecutive seasons (2020-21 to 2022-23) for the first time since between 2013-14 and 2015-16.
Celtic conceded two penalty goals after 20 minutes and 47 seconds against Real Madrid, the earliest a side has ever let in two penalties in a Champions League match.
At the age of 37 years and 54 days, Modric became the oldest Champions League goalscorer since Francesco Totti in November 2014 for Roma against CSKA Moscow (38y 59d).
What’s next?
Madrid are not in action again until Monday, when they visit Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga. Celtic host Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
