CELTIC went toe to toe with the current European Champions and were unlucky not to be ahead before the break. In the second half, the bhoys could have gone ahead again early on when the ball bounced off Daizen Maeda in front of goal.
In the end, Real took a hold of the tie and exploited spaces the Hoops left when on the attack themselves. The first goal took the air out of the room, and the second one came shortly after, killing the game completely.
Real’s third goal was classy, there sharp passing and patience culminating in a fantastic finish from the Spaniard’s.
This wasn’t a game where Celtic’s backs were against the wall for 90 minutes; they competed, they had chances. Ultimately, the bhoys weren’t clinical and Real Madrid were. It’s tough at this level!
A fantastic picture emerged after the game of captain Callum McGregor getting his players together on the park and giving them words of encouragement. Something we saw last season when Celtic got off to a slow start under Postecoglou domestically.
Callum rallying the troops while the fans inside the stadium clapped them off the pitch will give the players a boost, even if they are still disappointed the way the game panned out.
Callum McGregor is a fantastic leader and he did us proud .
