Sweet Caroline: Wonderful Weir sets up a Real beating for Celtic

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Real Madrid 4 Celtic 0

Scotland international Caroline Weir helped Real Madrid put Celtic to the sword as Elena Sadiku’s side suffered a crushing Champions League defeat in Spain.

Weir opened the scoring with a wonder goal after seven minutes, with Hoops boss Sadiku finding some solace in the fact that Madrid didn’t get their second until the 72nd minute.

In truth, it was a very minor consolation for Celtic, who are finding their first appearance in Europe’s elite tournament a chastening experience.

The hosts cranked it up in the second period, with two of their goals coming as the Parkhead side were out on their feet.

Insisting the result flattered Madrid, Sadiku said: ‘I was proud of how we defended in the first half. We frustrated them. We created chances in the second half and they could have changed the game. 

Caroline Weir has only just returned from injury and opened the scoring inside seven minutes

The Scotland international arced a perfect shot from outside the box to put the hosts ahead

Weir savours the moment in the immediate aftermath of scoring against her countrywomen

'We need to execute them. How we attacked and how calm we were, that shows what I want from this team.

‘No one thought we would be here. It is about enjoying it.

‘It should not have been 4-0 — 2-0 would have been more acceptable.

‘The third goal is a mistake and we can fix that. The fourth goal is an easy penalty. That isn’t given in Scotland. I am proud, we kept going and, until the 70th minute, we competed with a team of Real Madrid’s quality.’

Midfielder Weir set the tone with an early screamer for Madrid, rocketing a 20-yard effort into the back of the net.

To their credit, Celtic were resilient in the face of almost incessant pressure across the opening 45 minutes.

On a night when the Spanish side peppered their goal with 29 shots, the visitors did well to survive until half-time without suffering further damage. Los Blancos hit the woodwork with a shot which deflected off Amy Gallacher.

Caicedo is hailed after scoring the fourth, much to the annoyance of Celtic keeper Daugherty

Celtic somehow held out until the 72nd minute when striker Signe Bruun made it 2-0, heading home Eva Navarro’s cross to finish off a fine team move.

Caroline Moller made it three ten minutes from time when she saw Celtic goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty off her line and chipped her.

The rout was complete three minutes later as Linda Caicedo converted from the penalty spot after she was fouled in the box by substitute Shannon McGregor.

That’s now two successive defeats for Celtic in the tournament, after they lost to Twente in their opener. They have gone four games without a win across all competitions.

Last Sunday’s SWPL defeat to Hearts showed the complexities of coping with a two-pronged challenge across domestic and European competition. 

They will now have to rally themselves for Spartans at home on Sunday.

‘We need to be better,’ admitted Sadiku. ‘We had three chances. It is something we need to work on and be better with. 

But the amount of games we are playing and the quality we are facing, we can only learn from it.

Sadiku sais she was proud of how her team managed to frustrate such illustrious opponents

‘The girls were confident, they were brave, and they played football as I know they can.’

Real Madrid are poor relations in this tournament compared to the likes of Barcelona and Lyon. That Sadiku’s side made it to the break just a goal down was thanks to resolute defending and some profligate Madrid finishing.

When Celtic occasionally emerged from their own half, they were tentative and weak, with Emma Lawton letting Madrid off the hook with one slack pass. 

She almost made amends with an effort that hit the side-netting before Murphy Agnew sent one over the bar. A lack of composure in front of goal was always going to be costly for Sadiku’s team.