What Luka Modric thinks about Celtic's level as Real Madrid icon sets them a Champions League challenge

Losing 3-0 at home in your first Champions League game would normally dent your confidence.

But not when the defeat comes at the hands of Europe’s best. Not when you’ve gone toe-to-toe with Real Madrid for an hour before eventually succumbing to some world superstars. And not when one of them, Luka Modric, leaves your ground full of praise for the performance. That’s why Celtic full-back – and his Croatia team-mate – Josip Juranovic isn’t scared of anyone in the competition.

It’s why, when he returns to Warsaw on Wednesday night to play Shakhtar Donetsk in the Hoops’ second Group F clash, he won’t just settle for a point. Juranovic wants all three to get Ange Postecoglou ’s side back in contention to qualify for the knock-out phase. Donetsk hammered RB Leipzig in their opening fixture last week – so it won’t be easy. But after competing with Carlo Ancelotti’s current champions, the 27-year-old full-back fears no-one. Especially after being handed compliments by pal Modric in the aftermath. The little magician stamped his class all over Parkhead on Tuesday night before telling Juranovic about Celtic’s quality.

That’s why he’s convinced that Postecoglou’s men can take something off the Ukrainians. He said: “I spoke with Luka after the game on Tuesday. He told me that the crowd was amazing and that we played very well, especially in the first half. He said we need to continue to play like that.

“What can I say? He’s captain of my national team, a really good person – and you saw in the game that he’s a really good player too. We had our chances against them but we didn’t score and, of course, it’s Real Madrid. When you don’t take your chances against them, they’ll get one and score immediately.

“But if we take that