The group B Champions League opener between Celtic and Paris Saints Germain was a delight to watch for purist but a nightmare for Celtic players and their fans. A humiliating 5-0 thumping at their home ground is one they will love to forget quickly.
This was a match of the upper class or elite versus the low earners. PSG big money signings were all on parade and showed everyone what they have got.
This was Neymar and Mbappe’s first appearance for the club in the Champions league but Neymar had faced Celtic while at Barcelona which he had a good record to show for it. Their attacking trident of Mbappe, Cavani and Neymar all were on the score sheet.
This was Celtic worst European home defeat conceding 5 goals at Parkhead. This was a game PSG wanted to show the world they are capable of winning the champions league.
World most expensive player, Neymar was the first to hit the net after just 19 minutes of action before he assisted Mbappe to score the second and Cavani added the third just before the half time break from the penalty spot. Celtic had no hiding place last night as this was a team that was of no match for them.
The home fans try as much as possible to show support for their team but it was just beyond their reach. Brendan Rodgers was hapless as watch his team chasing shadows for majority of the first half. The half time break came as a savior for Celtic and helped them regroup before the second half.
The second half was a bit better or better put, PSG pedaled down as they were running the shows of the night. This didn’t stop them from adding two more goals as an own goal from Mikael Lustig and a second of the night from Cavani completed the riot.
Celtic do have their fair share of half chances in the game from a Leigh Griffiths’ free-kick and a low drive from Scott Sinclair tested PSG’s goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Griffiths also got another chance after Kieran Tierney crossed a ball to him in the early part of second half only for him to miss the ball when he failed to time his pace.
Celtic next game in Europe now is against Anderlecht in Belgium.