Sports Desk: Top of the Champions League group stage was thrown into doubt after losing to RB Leipzig last week. Real Madrid put an end to that uncertainty by beating Celtic 5-1 in the last match of the group on Wednesday.
The current European champions have won Group F with 13 points for their fourth win in six matches. Runners-up Leipzig took 12 points after beating Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0. Shakhtar finished third and secured a place in the Europa League.
Karim Benzema did not play in this match due to muscle injury. Asensio made a big contribution to keep Real under control in the first half. Real’s goal celebration started with two penalties. Luka Modric and Rodrigo scored a penalty in the 6th and 21st minutes. Asensio played a role in the build-up to both of these penalties, which resulted in a Celtic defender’s handball.
Asensio gave Real a 3-0 lead in the sixth minute after the break. He scored with a great volley from Dani Carvajal’s cross. After 10 minutes, Federico Valverde raced down the right and crossed for Vinicius Jr., before the Brazilian forward rattled the net with a shot.
Valverde added Real’s fifth goal in the 71st minute with a long-range shot. It was his fifth goal from outside the box in all competitions this season, more than any player in Europe’s big five leagues. Jota scored a consolation goal for Celtic. The goal was scored on a free kick five minutes before the end of the game.
