Magic Modric shines to sink spirited Celtic
AFTER five years out of the ring Celtic had forgotten how savage, how brutal, the Champions League can be. Before their first game at this level since December 2017, Scotland’s champions dared to dream. Ange Postecoglou urged his team to play without fear and go down swinging. For close to an hour, they took him at his word.
Against the undisputed heavyweight champions of Europe, Celtic struck the woodwork and tested Thibaut Courtois but failed to land a knockout blow. Two devastating counter punches inside four minutes from Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric put Celtic on the canvas, their resistance spent.
Eden Hazard’s third 13 minutes from time couldn’t be said to flatter Carlo Ancelotti’s side exactly. In the final half-hour they were clinical in a way Celtic never were. But for the champions of Europe, the first half was an uncomfortable affair.
‘ Once the first goal went in they’ve got that quality to take control of the game,’ Postecoglou said. ‘ Up until the 60th-minute mark when they scored we were well in the game, but you learn at this level that if you don’t take your chances you’ll be punished.’
Celtic had to make a change or two to the side who ripped arch rivals Rangers to shreds in a 4-0 weekend rout. But they didn’t start this game like a team nursing any sense of self- pity. In the first half-hour they played some outstanding football.
When Portuguese winger Jota flicked the ball into the path of Liel Abada 27 seconds in, you expected the net to bulge.
But it didn’t, and Abada spurned an even better chance after 13 minutes. Jota swept a first-time pass into Abada’s path behind an absentee back line. With only Courtois to beat, the 20-year-old’s finish was tame.
The measure of Real’s discomfort came after 25 minutes when David Alaba passed the ball off the pitch with no one near him. The sight of Karim Benzema limping gingerly, unsuccesfully trying to work off an injury, added more decibels to the Celtic Park din.
At half-time you wondered if Celtic had shot their bolt. Abada left the pitch for Daizen Maeda, and the substitute had the chance to make an instant impact when a driven Josip Juranovic cross
landed at his feet when unmarked in the area. But surprised by the chance, Maeda failed to convert.
After 57 minutes, Celtic Park finally fell silent. A Real goal of brilliant simplicity came from precious little, as Federico Valverde’s beautifully weighted low ball across the face of goal picked out Vinicius arriving at the back post and the winger passed the ball into the bottom corner.
The slayer of Scotland at Euro 2020, Modric will be banned from Glasgow at this rate. Another clinical counter attack saw the little Croatian maestro curl a sublime finish home for 2-0.
The third goal felt cruel on Celtic, as Dani Carvajal laid on a simple chance for Hazard to finish.