Fuming Brendan Rodgers in Celtic eruption over red card as Daizen Maeda victim of Atletico Madrid 'dark arts'

Raging Brendan Rodgers couldn't hide his anger after seeing his side reduced to 10 men after just 23 minutes in Madrid when Daizen Maeda was sent off.

Atletico were already 1-0 up in the key Champions League clash at the Metropolitano. Antione Griezmann's early deflected strike made an already difficult mission even more so, with the visitors playing catch up after just 6 minutes. Rodgers seethed at the fourth official over the call with TNT Sports stating the boss was left "absolutely fuming."

But an uphill task for Celtic became a mountain to climb. Maeda made three tackles in quick succession, but the final one on Mario Hermoso sparked a reaction from the defender's teammates as he rolled around on the ground. A yellow was deemed sufficient at first by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak. But the eye in the sky that is VAR suggested a second look, and once he made his way to the screen, the inevitable followed.

Maeda's studs were up, but Hermoso seemed to kick through him rather than anything else. However, the challenge did look worse when slowed down and the still image did Maeda no favours. That perhaps influenced Kruziak, who upgraded the yellow a red and Maeda was out of there.

Rodgers of course wouldn't want anyone sent off. But Maeda's absence may be more keenly felt. The livewire forward gets through a power of running, and has helped the Hoops deal with a numerical disadvantage before.

TNT Sports co-commentator John Hartson felt Atleti knew exactly what they were doing and provided a perfect example of the 'dark arts' Diego Simeone's side are known for. He said: "They know all the dark arts. They're streetwise. I just feel Maeda's left his foot there, but Hermoso gets the ball and his follow through Maeda