Carlo Ancelotti praised Real Madrid’s resilience to ship a second-half “masterclass” in profitable 3-0 at Celtic to start out their Champions League defence after a tough first 45 minutes in which they misplaced Karim Benzema to damage.
The Frenchman limped off with a knee drawback after Celtic captain Callum McGregor had struck the submit with the greatest effort of the first interval.
In Benzema’s absence, Vincius Junior stepped as much as open the floodgates with an aesthetic end 11 minutes into the second half.
Luka Modric’s nonchalant end shortly doubled the defending champions’ lead earlier than Eden Hazard struck to proceed a 100% begin to the season for Ancelotti’s males.
“Here you suffer,” mentioned Ancelotti, who had not received in his three earlier visits to Celtic Park as AC Milan supervisor. “Against this crew, in this ambiance, particularly in the first half we suffered.
Real Madrid: Come again in the second half
“In the second half we played very, very well. I am very satisfied. Games don’t always go as you want, but this team knows how to suffer in the bad moments. The second half was a masterclass.”
Celtic had begun the evening with an ideal report this season, together with a 4-0 demolition of native rivals and Europa League finalists Rangers on Saturday.
But in their first Champions League group match for 5 years, Ange Postecoglou’s males got a harsh lesson of the must take their probabilities in the step as much as the highest stage in European soccer.
“Up until the 60 minute mark we were well in the game but you get punished at this level if you don’t take their chances,” mentioned Postecoglou.
“We had the chances. What we learned today, we already knew that we have to be clinical in both boxes.”
The return of the Champions League anthem was met by a guttural roar of 60,000 packed into Parkhead and the residence followers almost had a aim to have fun inside the first minute when Liel Abada’s strike was deflected simply broad.
Postecoglou promised to remain true to his attacking philosophy in opposition to the European champions and the Australian stayed true to his phrase.
Abada ought to have carried out higher when he shot tamely into the arms of Thibaut Courtois and McGregor’s fierce effort got here crashing again off the submit as the hosts had the higher of the opening 20 minutes.
Benzema damage ‘not serious’
Ancelotti began with 10 of the 11 that started final season’s Champions League remaining success over Liverpool, with 80-million-euro ($84 million) signing Aurelien Tchouameni changing the departed Casemiro.
But Los Blancos have been pressured right into a change after half an hour when Benzema hobbled off with a knee damage to get replaced by Hazard.
“It seems nothing worrying but we have to wait for the test tomorrow,” added Ancelotti on Benzema’s damage. “On the first evaluation it doesn’t seem anything serious.”
Madrid’s superior high quality nonetheless slowly started to point out with Modric and Toni Kroos taking management of midfield as the ferocity of Celtic’s urgent slowed.
Only a superb save from Joe Hart prevented Vinicius opening the scoring earlier than the break after the Brazilian broke the offside lure to gallop clear in behind the Celtic defence.
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Celtic had yet another huge likelihood to strike first blood when half-time substitute Daizen Maeda turned Josip Juranovic’s cross weakly into the arms of Courtois.
Postecoglou wheeled away in frustration with the sense his facet might sick afford to waste such alternatives and so it proved.
Vinicius was lethal when given a second likelihood up in opposition to Hart as he steered Federico Valverde’s cross into the backside nook.
Celtic have been barely capable of catch their breath earlier than conceding once more as Modric wriggled free inside the space and had simply an excessive amount of on his end to beat Hart’s proper hand.
Hazard then grabbed his first aim since January to spherical off a 33-pass transfer as the Belgian tapped residence Dani Carvajal’s pinpoint cross.
© Agence France-Presse
