Defending champions Real Madrid start their UEFA Champions League campaign with a win against Celtic.
In Benzema’s absence, Vinicius Junior stepped up to win it for Los Blanco’s.
Luka Modric’s clever finish doubled the defending champions’ lead before Eden Hazard struck to continue a 100 percent start to the season for Ancelotti’s men.
“Here you suffer, Against this team, in this atmosphere, especially in the first half we suffered.
“In the second half we played very, very well. I am very satisfied. Games don’t always go as you want, but this team knows how to suffer in the bad moments. The second half was a masterclass.”
Carlo Ancelotti
Celtic had begun the night with a perfect record this season, including a 4-0 demolition of local rivals and Europa League finalists Rangers on Saturday.
But in their first Champions League group match for five years, Ange Postecoglou’s men were given a harsh lesson of the need to take their chances in the step up to the highest level in European football.
“Up until the 60 minute mark, we were well in the game, but you get punished at this level if you don’t take your chances,” said Postecoglou.
“We had the chances.” What we learned today, we already knew that we had to be clinical in both boxes. “
The Australian promised to stay true to his attacking philosophy against the European champions, and Postecoglou promised to stay true to his word.
Abada should have done better when he kicked the ball straight into the hands of Thibaut Courtois.
Benzema is out of the Champions League for 3 weeks.
Ancelotti started with an almost same squad who faced Liverpool in the last season’s Champions League Final, the only change was new signing Aurelian Tchouameni replacing the departed Casemiro.
But Los Blanco’s were forced into a change after half an hour when Benzema hobbled off with a knee injury to be replaced by Hazard.
“It seems nothing worrying but we have to wait for the test tomorrow,” added Ancelotti on Benzema’s injury. “
On the first evaluation it doesn’t seem anything serious.”
Madrid’s superior quality still slowly began to show with Modric and Toni Kroos taking control of midfield as the ferocity of Celtic’s pressing slowed.
Only a fine save from Joe Hart prevented Vinicius opening the scoring before the break after the Brazilian broke the offside trap to gallop clear in behind the Celtic defence.
Vinicius was deadly when given a second chance up against Hart as he steered Federico Valverde’s cross into the bottom corner.
Celtic were barely able to catch their breath before conceding again as Modric wriggled free inside the area and had just too much on his finish to beat Hart’s right hand.
Hazard then grabbed his first goal since January to round off a 33-pass move as the Belgian tapped home Dani Carvajal’s pinpoint cross.
