Real Madrid 5-1 Celtic: Scottish champions routed in final group game

Real Madrid defeated Celtic in the final game of the group stage to win the title and top the table.

Luka Modric and Rodrygo scored from the penalty spot as the Scottish champions were 2-0 down.

After Josip Juranovic missed a penalty for Celtic, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior, and Federico Valverde all scored for the defending champion.

Carlo Ancelotti's side turned on the style in the second half against Celtic, who finished bottom of the section with two points and no wins.

Having earned the win that guarantees top spot in the group, Real will continue their quest for a 15th European title.

• Everything you need to know about Celtic
• Reaction & as it happened

With two points from five matches, Celtic knew not a famous win would extend their stay in Europe, but their fans still traveled in hope.

They took the wind out of their sails in four minutes. In trying to block the shot, Jenz got himself in an awful twist and mishandled the ball. Modric showed his cool.

Neither Reo Hatate nor Kyogo Furuhashi could trouble Thibaut Courtois in Real's goal.

It was going to get worse for Celtic. Although not quite as clear as the Jenz incident, Rodrygo's strike struck the arm of Matt O'Riley. The penalty was converted by Rodrygo.

Vinicius missed a sitter just a minute after Real threatened to run away with it.

Daizan Maeda was able to score after Hatate robbed the ball and Celtic got up the pitch. Courtois was equal to Hatate's piledriver from the edge of the box.

There is a chance for Celtic. The surge to the bye-line was checked by a foul by Ferland Mendy. It was a third penalty in a row, but Courtois dived to his right to save the spot-kick.

Real scored their third goal six minutes into the second half. Carvajal ghosted to the bye-line and his cross teed-up Asensio to score.

After stealing ahead of Carl Starfelt, Vinicius flashed in a teasing Valverde cross before Real summoned Benzema from the bench.

The Madridistas were enjoying themselves and Valverde added to that by curling a gorgeous effort past Hart and into the net.

Jota gave the Celtic fans something to cheer about when he curled a wonderful free- kick past Courtois.

It was a lovely moment for the Portuguese winger and gave the visiting supporters something to cheer, but it was no more than a disappointment on a night when the gulf between the champion of Scotland and the champion of Europe was laid bare.

Player of the match - Federico Valverde

Ifs, buts and maybes for wasteful Celtic - analysis

Celtic's attacking style was being questioned if it would hold up against Europe's best. Two points from a possible 18 goals scored and 15 conceded would suggest not.

Many fans thought they might have had a chance of emerging from the group.

Celtic have been competitive for spells of every match and, had they taken a few more of the many chances they created, some of those games may have had a better outcome.

Maybes and ifs. Three of Celtic's opponents pointed out that they had many chances over and above the ones they took.

Many of the players have not looked out of place in the club's first group stage appearance in five years, but this team is still short of the quality they need to turn opportunities into points.

Match stats

• Real have won all three of home group stage matches in a Champions League season for the first time since 2015-16, a season in which they went on to win the competition.
• Celtic have lost their last six Champions League matches against Spanish opponents, conceding 24 goals while scoring just two in return.
• Real have finished top of their Champions League group for three consecutive seasons (2020-21 to 2022-23) for the first time since between 2013-14 and 2015-16.
• Celtic conceded two penalty goals after 20 minutes and 47 seconds against Real Madrid, the earliest a side has ever let in two penalties in a Champions League match.
• Real coach Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed his 102nd Champions League win, going level with Sir Alex Ferguson for most wins in the history of the competition by a manager.
• At the age of 37 years and 54 days, Modric became the oldest Champions League scorer since Francesco Totti in November 2014 for Roma against CSKA Moscow (38y 59d).
• Modric is the third oldest scorer for Real in the European Cup/Champions League (37 years, 54 days), behind only Ferenc Puskas in 1965 (38y 173d) and Alfredo Di Stefano in 1964 (37y 308d).

What's next?

Celtic will play their final game of the European campaign on Saturday.