Carlo Ancelotti paid tribute to Celtic despite the apparent ease of last night’s 3-0 winning scoreline.
On the surface it looks like Real had a comfortable start to their Champions Leage campaign, winning away from home without having to hit hot gear.
The reality was very different, as Ancelotti recognised.
There could have been a first minute goal for Liel Abada, Callum McGregor struck the inside of the post. Had Celtic gone into the lead in front of 58,000 it could have been a very different night.
That might seem like a collection of ifs and buts although the manager of Real Madrid nodded in that direction about the first half that his players endured and emerged from.
Managing Madrid reports Ancelloti saying:
Celtic are a good team and we were worried because we knew what they did against Rangers. We suffered in the first half, but it’s normal to suffer here, where the atmosphere in this stadium is fantastic. I think all players like to play in this kind of atmosphere. I’m glad we put on a good football match for the fans.
Next up for Celtic in the Champions League is a very interesting tie against Shakhtar Donetsk, last night they won 4-1 away to RB Leipzig with two goals from Marian Shved!
Ancelloti has a face that looks more like Charles Laughton, in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, every time you look at it!