There was a real sense that Celtic were truly back in the big time against Real Madrid on Tuesday night
Forget the Europa League and Conference League. The Champions League has always been where they and rivals Rangers want to be, and there was no greater illustration of being amongst the big boys than the reigning European champions coming to town.
It was the draw everyone wanted. Callum McGregor said as much before the group stage was drawn and the campaign opener had all the glitz and glamour of a blockbuster premiere. The only thing missing was a result.
And it looked like Celtic might get one with the eyes of the world on them. Ange Postecoglou vowed to stick to his principles against the cream of the continent and for 45 minutes, Celtic went toe-to-toe with the Spanish and European champions. The Premiership title holders created the clearer chances before the break, and were inches from a first half lead when captain McGregor saw his strike come back off the inside of the post.
Real knew they were in a game as they sat in the away dressing room at the break. And they responded by moving through the gears following the restart, scoring three unanswered goals as they showed why they lifted this trophy last season.
It’s not often either half of the Old Firm will be afforded the type of reception Celtic got from their fans after full-time last night. When winning is everything, it spoke volumes that Postecoglou and his men were given a standing ovation despite the full-time score. The fans recognised a good display against a side that were simply good enough to rise above what the Hoops had to offer in the end.
The eyes of the world and its media were on Celtic Park and Record Sport took a look at what press from around the globe had to say.
ABC (Spain)
It’s always a sight to see (and sound to hear) when Celtic are in European action. But the circumstances meant Parkhead was on another level last night and it didn't go unnoticed.
An array of media are in the house when it comes to Champions League nights, and those in the stadium couldn't help but be impressed by the atmosphere. Ruben Canizares of ABC Spain rated the home of the Hoops as the best in the world for atmosphere after sampling the noise as Celtic returned to the top table for the first time in five years.
“Celtic Park is by far the stadium with the best atmosphere in the world,” he tweeted. “How they have celebrated playing the Champions League again five years later. You don't need to turn up the volume.”
Marca (Spain)
Real Madrid are perennially amongst the favourites to life the Champions League. But Celtic have cast doubt on their status this season after imposing themselves on the holders.
Spain’s main Madrid-leaning paper Marca acknowledged that the Premiership champions were a match for their more illustrious opponents for 45 minutes. Based on that, Carlos Carpio insists that the 14-times winners do not deserve to be included in the top three tips to lift the trophy again this season.
He wrote: “The artificial intelligences that dictate the odds in the bookmakers smiled with satisfaction at the break. His oracles regarding the favorites to win this edition of the Champions seemed, at last, correct. Real Madrid did not go beyond a goalless draw against modest Celtic in Glasgow, showing that it does not deserve to be among the top three contenders.”
El Pais (Spain)
The global Spanish paper described the 3-0 win as a “terrifying” one for Real. They were critical of Madrid’s first half display, noting that Celtic were carried by their fans before finding themselves 2-0 down but without a real reason as to why. And they referenced Ancelotti’s previously winless record at Celtic Park with a bagpipes analogy.
Jose Samano wrote: “Ancelotti is not for bagpipes. Or maybe he rewound last year's jeremiad with the Sheriff . Celtic evokes something else, so in Glasgow the same ones who fought in the final in Paris with Tchouameni for Casemiro. The bet, so headlined, did not take immediate effect. The Scottish team, on the shoulders of that fan that makes Celtic Park chatter, launched the first wave and Abada did not score by a hair. A brittle and pulseless Madrid against a Celtic at full volume. Another bite, but Abada closed like an Ursuline a sublime assist from Jota. Only before Courtois did he donate the ball to the Belgian.”
AS (Spain)
Celtic have made a habit of starting games quickly and maintaining that tempo. Just as Rangers.
You can ask Real Madrid now too and they’ll confirm it. There was nothing between the two teams for the first 45 minutes in Glasgow’s east end and if any side deserved to go in ahead at the break, it was the hosts.
That’s been acknowledged elsewhere too. Louis Grandson wrote as much is Marca, describing Celtic as a “little scary team” that Madrid had to avoid being ambushed by after the break in order to get off to a winning start.
He wrote: “Even so, it was what was expected, a little scary team with a storming start in case Madrid arrived low on heartbeat. At 26 seconds he had already shot on goal. Within a minute he had taken two corners. That bullying that has devastating effects on your bipolar league. But Madrid sporadically came out of that with the science of Kroos and Modric, specialists in detecting ambushes.”
L’Equipe (France)
Naturally, the focus in France was on Karim Benzema and his early exit. The striker seemed to aggravate a knee injury while passing the ball in the first half and had to be withdrawn.
He was well nullified by the Celtic backline in any case, and it was replacement Eden Hazard to truly put the game beyond Celtic with Madrid’s third goal
But the French publication was critical of Madrid’s first half display, noting that the hosts were unfortunate not to be rewarded for their first half display with at least a goal.
Simon Labarn wrote: “Jostled, Real Madrid showed almost nothing during these first 45 minutes except for gaping spaces, which Celtic took advantage of. Carried by their public, the Bhoys dominated the first period with a strong intensity set up against the sterile Madrid possession. Scottish attempts were close to ending in the back of the net, like McGregor's super-powerful strike at the edge of the area, following the handover from Giakoumakis, who crashed into the upright (21st ). Courtois was beaten.
“Starting from an innocuous action, Real Madrid opened the scoring against the run of play. The people of Madrid first had to get out of Celtic's stifling pressure before finding Valverde on the right wing. The Uruguayan slipped a wonderful ball to the ground for Vinicius on the other side of the box. The man who is one of the most promising players in the world, according to CIES, extinguished the public at Celtic Park before the hour mark (56th, 0-1), closely followed by Modric who widened the gap from the outside of the foot following the good work of the Belgian winger beforehand (60th, 0-2).”
Bild (Germany)
Toni Kroos’ second half display was a big factor in Madrid stepping it up to run out comfortable winner sin the end, but German tabloid Bild were praiseful of Celtic’s commitment.
In their eyes, it was only after Postecoglou;s tam tired that Real were able to take control and show Celtic the limits of what they could do against top tier opponents.
However, that was far from a foregone conclusion after 45 minutes and the way in which the Hoops went about their business wasn’t overlooked.
“Defending champion Real Madrid shows Celtic Glasgow the limits and celebrates a sovereign 3-0 win at the start of the premier class! For long stretches, the Scottish champions threw everything in the balance and kept the match open with a lot of passionate commitment. However, when Ange Postecoglou's team finally got tired, Los Blancos struck coldly in the person of Vinícius Júnior, Luka Modrić and Eden Hazard. Nevertheless, the hosts are applauded by their fans for the self-sacrificing performance.”
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