Rio Ferdinand has said Parkhead is an unbelievable place to play football and will leave a mark on the Real Madrid players who haven't experienced it before
Carlo Ancelotti took his Champions League holders to Celtic on match day one as they ran out 3-0 winners in Glasgow's east end. The home side had a real go at their superstar opponents with Callum McGregor crashing an effort off the post while Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada both missed big chances with the score level.
Real showed their class in the second half and hit a quick-fire double through Vinicus JR and Luka Modric before Eden Hazard added a third for the La Liga giants. It was a tough lesson in you must take your chances when in the ascendancy for the Hoops, but the supporters backed their team throughout the whole evening to create that special atmosphere players past and present rave about.
READ MORE: Green Brigade hand Celtic Champions League welcome to remember as Real Madrid met by wall of colour
Sign up to Glasgow Live newsletter for more headlines straight to your inbox
Michael Owen said in the build-up it was the best he experienced as a player and that view has been shared by Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves - who praised the 'amazing' football Postecoglou has his side playing.
Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: "I don't care who you are. Playing against the champions it is always going to a be a difficult game. Real Madrid have the experience, the stardust and quality.
"They understand how to win on the road. so it was always going to be a uphill task for Celtic.
"But for those fans up there - having played up there myself in Champions League football. I actually got beat on one occasion - it is an unbelievable place to go and play football.
"I am sure any of the Real Madrid players who haven't played there before would have left there thinking 'this isn't a bad atmosphere to play in'."
Hargreaves backed up Rio's opinion by adding: "It was the same for me. Ange Postecoglou has his guys playing amazing football and they have a go. Even against Real Madrid, they are going to have a go.
"The problem is against a team like Real, the firepower they have. They get production from all these different places."
READ NEXT:
- Ange Postecoglou praises Celtic fans as he delivers 'special club' verdict after Real Madrid test
- Michael Owen and the Celtic Park element that left him 'absolutely frightened' during rare visit
- Three things we learned from Celtic vs Real Madrid as holders teach big stage lesson in opener
- Celtic player ratings v Real Madrid as two Hoops stars shine amid Los Blancos European masterclass
- Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in Celtic Park praise as he predicts Euro struggle for visitors