Michael Owen has led the praise of Celtic's performance despite the Hoops falling to a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in their long-awaited return to the Champions League group stage.
A spirited first-half showing at a packed Parkhead had everyone off their seat with the scoreline level at the break. However Madrid's class shone through in the end with second-half goals from Vinicius Jr, Luca Modric and Eden Hazard securing the three points for the current holders on match day one.
Ange Postecoglou will have a lot of positives to take out the game and with Shakhtar Donetsk and RB Leipzig to come fans will feel a replication of this performance will see them into a healthy European run. And the likes of Michael Stewart, Chris Sutton and James McFadden were all on hand to analyse what was deemed as a step in the right direction for the Scottish Premiership champions on a frenzied night in Glasgow's east end.
Here's what the pundits had to say on the final whistle.
Chris Sutton
"They know they are a club heading in the right direction, but tonight hasn't been their night."
Gordon Strachan
"The first 30 minutes they were fantastic, but I'm afraid when you are playing against a world class team you only get a couple of chances. To get these upsets you have to take these chances, and it becomes a different ball game. It got to half-time and Real Madrid said 'this is a good side we need to up our game', and they did."
Michael Owen
"In the end it was exhibition stuff from them. How to quieten a crowd, how to kill a game and score goals. It was exhibition stuff from Modric. But I think Celtic can walk off the pitch with their heads held high. I've seen something there which would suggest to me they can beat most sides in this competition. Ok, Real Madrid are the European champions but that is a very, very good Celtic team."
Andy Walker
"After the hour, Real Madrid just went up a gear and it's goals of absolute quality. That may seem really harsh on Celtic, because they have had some great chances, but it's that end product that sets Real Madrid above the rest. I don't think Celtic will be unhappy with their own performance. They could have easily on another night they could have scored, but in they have been well beaten by the European champions."
James McFadden
"Celtic created good chances, particularly in the first half. The crowd have stayed behind to show support for the team and the job the manager has done. This club is going in the right direction."
Michael Stewart
"The incredible thing here is the fine margins. That game could have been a 1-0 to Celtic. Equally that could have ended up a 5-0 to Real Madrid and that just goes to show you. I think all those permutations of what we thought might happen, you've got to take your opportunities and chances."
Packie Bonner
"They were unfortunate that they didn't get that first goal. If they had scored in the first half I think it might have been a slightly different outcome to the game. Maybe they would have went on and still scored two or three goals but I think it could've gave Celtic a real foothold in this game to try and get a win or at least a draw. When you don't score that first goal and don't take your chances when you are up against a quality team like that it's going to be a real difficult night."
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