Real Madrid show their class to sink Celtic battlers in Champions League opener

Celtic were taught a harsh lesson by a clinical Real Madrid side on their Champions League return as two goals in four second-half minutes sent the holders on their way to a 3-0 victory in Glasgow.

Liel Abada, twice, and substitute Daizen Maeda squandered excellent chances and Callum McGregor struck the post before goals from Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric proved pivotal.

Ange Postecoglou had vowed his Celtic side would test their intensive attacking style against the European champions and they showed they could pose problems against a starting line-up that featured 10 of the players that began last season’s final against Liverpool.

But their inability to take their chances while on top came back to bite them and Eden Hazard gave the Spaniards a cushion that was cruel on the hosts.

A banner in the Celtic standing area declared they were ‘back with a bang’ and the hosts had a great opportunity to take the lead inside 30 seconds of their first Champions League group game in five years. The ball fell for Abada inside the box but Thibaut Courtois pushed the Israel international’s shot wide at full stretch.

Vinicius was breaking well down the left for Real and Cameron Carter-Vickers blocked Modric’s shot but Celtic continued to press and Abada soon spurned an even better opportunity.

Jota’s first-time pass sent his fellow winger clear after Celtic took a quick free-kick on the edge of their box, but Abada shot straight at the goalkeeper.

The Scottish champions kept up the pressure. Courtois parried Reo Hatate’s powerful volley before McGregor’s first-time strike shook the frame of the goal but bounced to safety off the inside of the post.

Federico Valverde fired one close from 20 yards at the other end just before injury