Spanish champions Real Madrid have started the defence of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) title successfully following their 3-0 away win over Celtic who are back in the group stage of the competition for the first time in five seasons.

Real Madrid are the reigning European champions after they won the Champions League title last season. The Carlo Ancelotti-led side beat Premier League heavyweights Liverpool by a lone goal in the final to win the competition last season thanks to the second half strike from Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior.

Ancelotti suffered a huge setback when his star player was forced off with an injury during the first half of the Celtic game. French international Karim Benzema is the star player at Real Madrid and he had to come off as a result of the abovementioned injury.
Celtic and Real Madrid failed to score in the first half as the two teams were involved in a goalless affair as at the half-time interval.
Brazilian attacker Vinicius Junior was one of the best players in the Champions League last season and he came up with the goods for Real Madrid once again with the opening goal of the game. The Brazil international scored the first goal of the game with eleven second half minutes gone off the assist from Uruguayan star Federico Valverde. Real Madrid doubled their lead when Belgian substitute Eden Hazard teed up the ball for Luka Modric to score with the outside of his right boot. There are just four minutes between the first two Madrid goals.
Real Madrid boss Ancelotti turned to Hazard to replace the injured Benzema in the first half and he was the recipient of the final goal of the game on 70 minutes. Hazard was able to add the goal to his assist for the Modric goal.