Atlético Madrid Thrash Celtic 6-0 in Champions League Group Stage

In a commanding display of prowess, Atletico Madrid secured a resounding 6-0 victory against a beleaguered Celtic side, who were reduced to ten men during the Champions League clash on Tuesday. Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata emerged as the heroes for Diego Simeone's squad, each scoring twice to propel Atletico to the top of their group.

The evening started with Atletico taking an early lead courtesy of Griezmann's goal, as they initially grappled with Celtic's resilient play. However, the tide dramatically turned when Celtic's Daizen Maeda received a red card for a high foot challenge midway through the first half. This setback allowed Morata to extend Atletico's lead before halftime.

In the second half, Atletico unleashed a relentless onslaught, with both Griezmann and Morata finding the net once again. Samuel Lino and Saul Niguez also made their mark on the scoresheet. With this emphatic victory, Atletico now stands atop their group with eight points, leaving Lazio in second place with one point less, and former group leaders Feyenoord trailing by two points. Meanwhile, Celtic languishes at the bottom of the group with just one point.

Diego Simeone expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance, noting their unwavering pursuit of excellence. He particularly lauded the resurgence of Antoine Griezmann, who has proven himself as one of Atletico's best-ever players during his current spell with the club.

Griezmann, who controversially left Atletico for Barcelona in 2019 but later returned, has been in stellar form, impressing Simeone and earning the coach's confidence. The victory marked Atletico's strong bounce-back from a recent defeat to La Liga minnows Las Palmas and extended their remarkable record of 16 consecutive home victories across all competitions.

The match began with Griezmann's early goal in the sixth minute, aided by a deflection off Cameron Carter-Vickers. However, Celtic's Luis Palma displayed moments of brilliance on the opposing end as his team dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes. The turning point came when Celtic's Maeda was sent off for a high foot challenge on Mario Hermoso. Despite an initial yellow card, VAR intervention led to Maeda's dismissal, becoming Celtic's third red card in the competition.

Subsequently, the game was decidedly one-sided in favor of Atletico, with Jan Oblak making an acrobatic save to deny an accidental Morata miskick. Morata himself doubled Atletico's lead just before halftime, expertly heading the ball into the net after a well-executed team move involving Griezmann and Jose Gimenez.

As the French forward Griezmann received a standing ovation upon his early substitution, Samuel Lino added a sublime fourth goal, and Atletico's fifth arrived through Morata's powerful strike from the edge of the box. Saul Niguez concluded the scoring with a close-range finish, sealing Atletico's comprehensive triumph.

Antoine Griezmann, who played in an attacking midfield role against Celtic, expressed his willingness to adapt to various positions as per the coach's instructions, highlighting his dedication to the club's success.