UCL defending champions kickstart campaign in style

UCL defending champions kickstart campaign in style

Sulaimon Jamiu

 

The reigning European champions set out in defence of their title in solid fashion with a convincing win at Celtic Park, Glasgow. 

 

The three points were all sewn up in a fantastic second half by the team, led by the majestic Toni Kroos, who was named Player of the Match. 

 

Goals by Vini Jr., Modrić and Hazard clinched all three points for Real Madrid against Celtic, following a superb second-half display in Glasgow, handing the team six wins on the bounce.

 

The first real chance of the night fell to Celtic following a swift counter-attack which saw Abada race through one-on-one against Courtois, but the goalkeeper came out on top with 13 minutes gone. 

 

Eight minutes later, McGregor saw his left-footed strike from the edge of the box crash back off the upright as the hosts enjoyed a positive spell, compounded when Hazard came on for Benzema, who was unable to continue beyond the half-hour mark due to a knee problem. 

 

From then until the interval, it was all about the visiting team, as two chances to break the deadlock presented themselves in quick succession.

 

Fede Valverde played in an inviting cross from the right and Vini Jr. applied the perfect first-time finish as the Brazilian extended his purple patch to four goals in as many games.

 

The visitors doubled their lead just four minutes later, as Hazard set off on a solo run and drove up to the 18-yard box, before teeing up Modrić and the Croatian did the rest in his 100th outing in madridista colours as he came inside a defender, before stroking the ball home with the outside of his right boot.

 

However, there was still time for the Galaticos to further extend their advantage, with Kroos spraying the ball out to Dani Carvajal, whose first-time pass to Hazard left the Belgian with the simplest of tap-ins. 

 

The madridistas could have even made it four when a chance fell to Rodrygo with 90 minutes on the clock, but the Brazilian let fly from the edge of the area, but to see his effort whistled narrowly past the upright. 

 

The reigning champions come away from Glasgow with maximum points after opening the defence of their crown in emphatic fashion.

 

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