Celtic mauled in Madrid as Atletico cash in on Daizen Maeda red card and smash rivals for SIX – 5 talking points

Ten-man Celtic were mauled in Madrid as awesome Atletico taught them a harsh lesson with a 6-0 Champions League hammering on a night of Euro misery for Brendan Rodgers and his men in the Spanish capital.

Antoine Griezmann fired in an early opener for the hosts with Daizen Maeda’s controversial red card midway through the first half leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb and Alvaro Morata, who broke Hoops hearts with the leveller in Glasgow, netted a second on the stroke of half time. The outstanding Griezmann completed his double in the second half before his replacement Samuel Lino got in on the scoring act. Morata bagged a brace and Saul made it six. It leaves Celtic still with just one point from Group E after four games.

The Spanish giants had won all six of their home games this season, underlining the mammoth challenge facing the Hoops, and the task got even bigger with just six minutes on the clock as Atleti grabbed an early lead. Rodrigo Riquelme’s cross from the left was headed out by Celtic captain Callum McGregor, but it landed straight at Griezmann and the French superstar fired a shot low across the despairing outstretched hand of Joe Hart with the ball taking the slightest deflection off Cameron Carter-Vickers on the way through.

Things went from bad to worse after that early set-back when Maeda was given his marching orders midway through the first half. The Japan star was initially shown a yellow card by referee Ivan Kruzliak for a foul on Mario Hermoso. That appeared sufficient punishment but the Slovakian was referred to VAR and on second viewing, Maeda went in late and his studs caught the defender on the shin, opted to issue a red.

Jan Oblak had to be alert to stop a Morata after his