Real Madrid ensured that they would finish top of Group F in the Champions League courtesy of a 5-1 success over Celtic at Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
The reigning European champions entered the match knowing that they would need to overcome the Scottish giants in order to be certain of finishing above RB Leipzig at the summit.
As it transpired, Real Madrid did need to triumph on Wednesday, with Leipzig moving onto 12 points courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, but Carlo Ancelotti's side have won the section with 13 points.
Los Blancos were awarded a penalty in the fifth minute of the contest when Moritz Jenz handed inside the box, and Luka Modric stepped forward to convert past Joe Hart for 1-0.
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Celtic had a brilliant chance to level in the 14th minute when Daizen Maeda found Kyogo Furuhashi with a brilliant low cross, but the forward could only turn the ball wide of the post.
Federico Valverde fired one wide of the target down the other end in the 16th minute, before Hart had to get down well to keep out an effort from Vinicius Junior after smart work from Marco Asensio.
The referee was sent to the monitor to look at another potential penalty in the 20th minute for a Matt O'Riley handball, and Stephanie Frappart pointed to the spot after a second look; Rodrygo stepped up this time to convert, with Real Madrid leading 2-0 inside 21 minutes at Bernabeu.
Vinicius should have made it three shortly after, but he fired over from inside the box after brilliant work from Rodrygo down the right.
Furuhashi and Reo Hatate both forced Courtois into smart saves in the period that followed, before Celtic were awarded a penalty of their own when Ferland Mendy brought down Liel Abada, but Josip Juranovic saw his effort saved by the diving Courtois.
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Real Madrid had their third early in the second period when Asensio expertly found the back of the net with a controlled finish after a deflected cross from Dani Carvajal.
Three then became four in the 61st minute when Vinicius turned a low Valverde cross into the back of the net from close range.
Karim Benzema made his return from injury off the bench just past the hour, while Lucas Vazquez, Dani Ceballos and Nacho were also introduced with the match won.
Real Madrid made it 5-0 in the 71st minute when Valverde swept one into the far corner from outside the Celtic box.
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The Celtic fans did have something to cheer late on, though, when Jota, who was lively off the bench, picked out the top corner with a brilliant free kick from distance.
Benzema came close to getting his name on the scoresheet in the final moments, but the Frenchman saw his goal-bound effort blocked on the goal-line.
Ancelotti's side have won the group, with Leipzig qualifying for the last-16 stage of the competition in second, while Shakhtar have claimed the Europa League spot, leaving Celtic bottom on two points.
Matt Law
