Real Madrid confirms its European leadership with a placid win
The whites do not fail and go through as first after easily beating a poor Celtic, who never had real options
MADRID, 2 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Wednesday, Real Madrid certified its leadership in Group F with a placid win (5-1) against Celtic Glasgow on the last day of the group stage of the Champions League, without trouble or serious scares, with goals from Modric, Rodrygo -both from penalties-, Asensio, Vinicius and Valverde, in a serious victory that put the Croatian’s first goal on track in the opening minutes of the duel.
The meringues did not fail and will be in the draw next Monday, November 7 (12:00 p.m.) as group winners. Faced with the ‘cinderella’ of the group and in a Santiago Bernabéu with less influx of white fans than usual -3,000 Scottish fans did attend-, Carlo Ancelotti’s men were up to the task and forgot the pothole in performance they had in the two previous games .
Modric’s speedy goal from eleven meters, followed by another from Rodrygo’s penalty were the perfect antidote to destroy the Scots’ electric surge. Asensio, very participative, also had his prize and took advantage of the starting role against the substitution of Benzema, who jumped onto the pitch in the second half. Courtois was once again the protagonist, saving a penalty with 2-0 on the scoreboard.
The Scots did not seem to suffer from stage fright, as in the second minute they had a dangerous first approach, pressing Courtois, who was somewhat compromised. With the lines close together and insistent pressure, they enjoyed a first rush. But his initial effort was knocked down by a penalty at the hands of Jenz in minute 5, after a shot by Valverde.
The French Frappart, the first woman to referee Real Madrid, did not hesitate and pointed to the penalty spot. With Benzema on the bench, Modric was in charge of making it 1-0 in the 6th minute. The goal gave the whites the necessary security and calm, from then on they were much more comfortable, alternating long possessions with the famous low block. However, Japan’s Furuhashi had a clear opportunity in a quick transition down the left, but he couldn’t finish it off.
Approaching the 20th minute, after a beautiful combination on the right, Modric served a ball to Asensio, who assisted Vinicius, but he did not finish the occasion. In that same move, there was another action with the hands as protagonists, although Frappart did not see it in the first instance. After stopping the game and checking the VAR, the referee signaled the maximum penalty, which in this case was launched by Rodrygo. The Brazilian, very active and successful in the first half, did not fail and made it 2-0.
Approaching the 20th minute, after a beautiful combination on the right, Modric served a ball to Asensio, who assisted Vinicius, but he did not finish the occasion. In that same move, there was another action with the hands as protagonists, although Frappart did not see it in the first instance. After stopping the game and checking the VAR, the referee signaled the maximum penalty, which in this case was launched by Rodrygo. The Brazilian, one of the best in the first half, did not fail and made it 2-0.
The Scots, more affected by the second goal, tested Courtois on two occasions, in two white mistakes that annoyed Ancelotti. And Celtic could also approach from eleven meters, due to a Mendy tackle inside the area on Abada, but Juranovic found the Belgian wall, who saved his team again with a great dive.
Already in the second half, the script did not change even a comma and Real Madrid began without a doubt attacking the goal defended by Joe Hart. Without time for a fan to take a seat, Asensio finished off a move led by Carvajal from the right with a powerful low shot. This 3-0 sealed a placid match for the Whites, with no rush or fright.
Real Madrid put the cruising speed, already with hardly any obstacles on the part of Celtic, powerless. And the 4-0 came ten minutes later, in minute 61, again on the right and again the fashionable connection in the merengue team. Valverde put a tense ball into the small area and the ’20’ finally made up for several previous mistakes, with his tenth goal this season.
With more than enough income, Ancelotti decided to move the bench to start giving rest. Thus, Benzema returned to play after three injured games, in addition to other less usual ones such as Ceballos, Nacho and Vallejo. But far from relaxing, the changes gave freshness and spirit to the Whites, who continued with the roll and got the little hand after 71 minutes. Valverde joined the goalscoring party with a shot placed from the corner of the area on the right that It entered skimming the stick.
With the game already dying and with a little less tension, Jota, who had come out in the second half, scored the goal of honor for Celtic, thus giving joy to their noisy fans and closing their European participation this year.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 5 – CELTIC, 1 (2-0, at halftime).
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal (Lucas Vázquez, min.64), Militao (Vallejo, min.73), Alaba (Nacho, min.67), Mendy; Kroos, Modric (Ceballos, min. 67), Valverde; Asensio, Rodrygo and Vinicius Júnior (Benzema, min.64).
CELTIC: Hart; Juranovic, Starfield, Jenz, Taylor; O’Riley, Mooy (Turnbull, min.64); Never (Jota, 64 mins), Hatate (Abildgaard, 82 mins), Maeda (Haksabanovic, 64 mins); Furuhashi (Giakoumakis, min.64).
1-0, minute 6: Modric, from a penalty.
2-0, minuto 21: Rodrygo, penalty.
3-0, minute 51: Asensio.
4-0, minute 61: Vinicius.
5-0, minute 71: Valverde.
5-1, minute 84: Something.
–REFEREE: Stephanie Frappart (FRA). She admonished O’Riley (min.20) and Furuhashi (min.48), by Celtic.
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
