Daizen Maeda was sent off as Celtic crashed to a 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid to all but end their Champions League hopes.
Celtic knew a result against the LaLiga side was vital to leave them with a chance of progressing in the competition before Christmas, but Antoine Griezmann’s early opener left them with a mountain to climb.
Their night continued to go downhill when Daizen Maeda was sent off following a VAR check for a challenge on Mario Hermoso before Alvaro Morata doubled the lead before the break.
Griezmann and Morata both scored again in the second half, either side of Samuel Lino’s stunning strike just minutes after he came off the bench. Saul Niguez added a sixth late on.
Atletico remain unbeaten and sit top of Group E while the Hoops are bottom with just one point from four games.
A miserable night in Madrid
It was painful viewing for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers picked the same team that played the bulk of the 2-2 draw with Atletico two weeks ago. That meant Paulo Bernardo came in for David Turnbull, who had scored in each of Celtic’s last two league games.
Griezmann started in midfield and opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Celtic twice put themselves under pressure.
Joe Hart sliced a punch clear under no pressure following a corner and Callum McGregor headed a poor clearance straight to Griezmann.
The Frenchman shot from 20 yards and a deflection off Cameron Carter-Vickers took the ball out of Hart’s reach and into the bottom corner.
Palma forced a save with what would prove Celtic’s only effort on goal as they tried to respond and McGregor soon saved his side by blocking from Rodrigo Riquelme following a counter-attack.
The red card soon followed. Maeda left a foot dangling as he went in for a 50-50 challenge with Mario Hermoso, who rolled around on the floor after being caught on the shin as he followed through.
Celtic’s Daizen Maeda was sent off after a VAR check
Atletico boss Diego Simeone and six or seven of his backroom staff raced off the bench after the incident, sparking an angry reaction from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers when the referee was called to his monitor.
Rodgers was booked for dissent as Simeone dragged one of his colleagues back from confronting the Celtic boss.
Although Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak saved brilliantly from Morata’s sliced clearance, the rest of the game was an exercise in defending for Celtic.
Griezmann, twice, and Nahuel Molina threatened before the France international’s diagonal ball exposed Celtic in first-half stoppage time. Jose Maria Gimenez headed across goal for Morata to slide in and convert from close range.
Alvaro Morata doubled Atletico’s lead
The onslaught continued, even before the interval, when Hart saved from Angel Correa.
Rodgers brought on Oh Hyeon-gyu for Palma at half-time as he maintained his 4-3-2 formation throughout.
Griezmann continued to threaten on regular occasions and Gimenez headed off the bar before the Frenchman netted with a scissors kick on the hour mark after meeting Alistair Johnston’s headed clearance.
Substitute Lino took a step inside Johnston and curled in a brilliant fourth six minutes later.
Correa hit a post before Morata took a touch on the edge of the box and lashed a shot into the roof of the net in the 76th minute.
Celtic finished the game with a midfield of Turnbull, Odin Thiago Holm and Tomoki Iwata and they lost a scrappy goal in the 84th minute when Niguez finished from close range.
Their heaviest European defeat had come in Spain under Rodgers seven years ago and Atletico could not emulate that 7-0 victory amid further pressure.
Rodgers: Red card undeserved
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on TNT:
“I thought we made a good start, we looked confident and were ready to fight in the game.
“I’m really, really disappointed with the sending off. When you see the images that the referee has seen, it wasn’t representative of the actual challenge. For us to lose a man for that, it was going to be really difficult.
“I don’t want to go on about the officials. You have to accept decisions. It feels more like a computer game, the constant looking at the screens.
“It’s a still with his foot up [shown to the referee on the monitor], which straight away plants the seed for the referee. From there, his influence is to send him off.
“It’s four games in and we haven’t taken the points that we felt that we deserved. Tonight, when we go down to 10 men their quality and experience really showed up in the game.
“I feel for the players because we were undeserving of the red card.”
Mulgrew: Celtic need to restore some pride
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Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew gives his assessment of their Champions League campaign after a 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew on Soccer Special:
“It was such a disappointing night for Celtic.
“The sending off really did have an impact on the game. Celtic were 1-0 down and the red card killed it off as a contest.
“You can argue it wasn’t a sending off but I think it probably was because he goes in with his studs raised.
“After that, it is a matter of damage limitation. From that moment, they spent the whole game inside their own half and when you are player against this quality of player – Griezmann, Llorente, Morata and Saul – it really is difficult. It was chance after chance for Atletico.
“It was a difficult night but the Celtic players cannot get too down about it. They have to brush themselves down and move on. They need to realise the sending off had a huge impact on the game.
“They need to try and get a Champions league win. It is a difficult group they are in.
“It’s a humbling in Madrid. Celtic are now really up against it now in that battle to get third in the group. They need two wins but I probably think it is time to focus on domestic football and the league campaign.
“They are going well in the league and have a cup to win. That will be their main focus now.
“However, if they do need to try and finish the Champions League campaign as strongly as they can to leave with a bit of pride.”
Celtic’s remaining Champions League fixtures
November 28: Lazio (A) – kick-off 5.45pm
December 13: Feyenoord (H) – kick-off 8pm
What’s next?
Sunday 12th November 2:15pm
Kick off 2:30pm
Celtic return to Scottish Premiership action on Sunday when they host Aberdeen, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 2.30pm).
Up next for Atletico Madrid is a home match against Villarreal in LaLiga on Sunday (kick-off 8pm).