Free-spending Paris Saint-Germain demonstrated their prowess with a 5-0 thumping of Celtic in their Champions League opener at Parkhead.
The world's most expensive frontline did the damage in the first-half as Brazilian star Neymar opened the scoring in the 19th minute before 18-year-old French sensation Kylian Mbappe added a second in the 34th minute with Edinson Cavani scoring with a penalty before the break.
A fan from among the home supporters revealed his frustration when he came on to the pitch to aim a fresh-air kick at Mbappe before being escorted away by stewards and there was more distress after the break.
Brendan Rodgers' side performed better in the second-half but in the latter stages Celtic defender Mikael Lustig put through his own goal before Cavani grabbed his second with a clever header to hand the home side their record home defeat in Europe.
It was always going to be a tough task for Celtic who had striker Leigh Griffith back after recovering from a calf problem and 18-year-old Anthony Ralston tasked with taking on Neymar as regular full-back Lustig was moved into central defence.
The French side broke the world transfer record when they signed Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona in the summer for £200.6million and Mbappe joined on a season-long loan from Monaco, with an option to make the deal permanent for £166million, and they were both instrumental in a fine PSG performance.
Ralston was warned by Italian referee Daniele Orsato for his second foul on Neymar just before Cavani had the ball in the net from a Layvin Kurzawa cross only to be ruled offside.
Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon made a decent save from Cavani's long-range strike before the visitors went ahead.
The home fans claimed for a foul on Hoops attacker Scott Sinclair by Dani Alves before PSG regained possession and Adrien Rabiot slipped Neymar in behind Ralston and he raced into the box and lifted it over the onrushing Gordon with assurance.
Minutes later Griffiths came close to levelling with a 25-yard free-kick that was tipped over the bar by Alphonse Areola, the keeper taking the resultant corner with ease.
The slick-moving French side were in control, however, and their second goal came from a deep cross from the right by Thiago Motta which was headed down by Neymar and although Cavani missed his kick from eight yards, Mbappe was on hand to fire the ball high into the net.
Five minutes from the interval Jozo Simunovic conceded a needless penalty and picked up a booking for a tug at Cavani as he attempted to reach a cross from Kurzawa and the Uruguayan picked himself up and slammed in the spot kick for number three.
Moments later, there was a hold-up as a fan ran on and appeared to aim a kick at Mbappe before he was hustled off by stewards, an incident sure to land the Glasgow club in more trouble with UEFA.
Sinclair had a shot saved by Areloa before the first-half but Celtic looked down and out.
Tom Rogic replaced Stuart Armstrong for the start of the second half and the Scottish champions tried to rally, backed by their supporters.
Ralston was booked for a foul on Motta and as the home side enjoyed a measure of possession Areola again denied Sinclair from close range after the Hoops forward had skipped past Marquinhos.
Julian Draxler came on for Rabiot and Celtic's French striker Odsonne Edouard replaced Griffiths but Neymar had three more attempts on goal, one over the bar, one saved by Gordon and the next sent past the post before the Brazilian was booked for simulation in the 76th minute.
There was more woe to come for the outclassed home side.
In the 83rd minute Draxler's cut-back was inadvertently knocked into his own net by Lustig before Cavani headed in number five from a Kurzawa cross to compound a miserable night for Celtic, whose fans applauded in recognition of a fine away team at the final whistle.
Follow all of the live action as it happened below with Fraser Wilson and Graeme Young of the Daily Record.
That's all folks
We’ll leave you with our action reel of the highlights in just 90 seconds. If you can bear to look at it again.
An outright ‘schooling’ for Celtic tonight. PSG proving exactly why they are second favourites to go on and lift the trophy next May.
It’s Anderlecht up next for Brendan Rodgers’ side and if they are to achieve their aim of European football after Christmas then THAT is an acid test.
Good night and thanks for joining us!
Celtic players rated
Chris Sutton never held back with his appraisal of the Hoops tonight but what about Record Sport’s Gordon Parks and his man-by-man ratings?
Parksie came in for a storm of criticism over his thoughts on Patrick Roberts’ decision to return for a second spell on loan at Celtic. So what did he make of the winger this evening? And the rest of the Hoops team...
Sutton: Celtic were EMBARRASSING
Strong words from ex-Celtic striker and Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton after that 5-0 trouncing.
He has slaughtered the performance as “embarrassing” and has also had a pop at the Hoops’ summer signing policy.
Rodgers: We were not aggressive enough
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers admits his side weren’t at the races in the first half. Speaking after the 5-0 thrashing tonight he said:
We were too passive. Not aggressive enough for some reason.
At this level you have to make the ball work and you have to have the belief. For some reason in the opening period of the game we didn’t really believe that. The physicality wasn’t what it should have been.
We were much better in the second half in terms of that aggression and had a couple of wee chances.
But you have to applaud their quality.
Tonight we were playing against a real world class opponent. It’s always easy to play at 3-0. But I want a team to start like that at 0-0.
If we can do that I’m sure we can achieve our objective to have European football after Christmas.
Draxler: We can still improve
Ominous words from PSG ace Julian Draxler after that 5-0 thrashing. He said:
First of all it was important for the group stage to get three points.
The teams know we are good but this was only a start.
We have brought in a couple of good players and they are always very fast to know each other - and we know we can improve.
Now the game is finished we are looking for the next game against Bayern Munich.
More bad news heading Celtic's way
Celtic are set for another severe UEFA hammering after a moronic fan charged onto the pitch and aimed a kick at Paris St Germain ace Kylian Mbappe during the first half this evening.
The Parkhead club will be in the dock after the incident which tarnished the image of the club across the globe.
Police and stewards quickly hauled the invader from the field and he faced the fury of the fans in the stands as he was led away.
UEFA delegate Zoran Cvrk from Croatia will certainly report the incident and the Parkhead club can expect a punishment from European football’s governing body.
5 Talking Points from Parkhead ...
... other than the five goals. Record Sport’s Gordon Parks has filed his thoughts on a painful night for the Hoops. But what did we learn?
Brown: That wasn't us in first half
Celtic skipper Scott Brown has spoken of his disappointment at his side’s performance. Or lack of in the first half. He said:
First half we were disappointing but second half we were positive and tried to put them on the back foot
But because we were playing high up the park we got caught and they scored two good goals.
The second half we managed to keep possession more but the first half just wasn’t us.
We are disappointed with the result but they are a great team. This team will bounce back though.
Tonight's other UCL results
Sutton: Celts schooled
Full time
A painful night for Celtic as they suffer their heaviest ever home defeat in European competition.
Neymar refuses Anthony Ralston’s handshake at the end following their ‘confrontation’ midway through the second half.
The young Hoops defender has been ‘dinghied’ by the world’s most expensive footballer. But he’s learned a far more important lesson through that 90 minutes.
The Scottish champions were schooled by their French guests to be honest. But PSG were never going to be the target in this group.
That is Anderlecht for third plae and the Belgians have also got off to a torrid start - losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich.
PSG showing why they're among favourites
They say there’s huge pressure on this megabucks team PSG have assembled. Pressure to go all the way and lift the Champions League for the first time.
Well they’re not feeling the heat going by this free-flowing performance. They’ve dominated from the first whistle and look to be enjoying the expectation on their shoulders.
A footballing lesson dished out to Celtic. Into the last of three minutes of added on time now.
Bayern lead 3-0
Carlo Ancelotti’s side add another. They are cruising to victory
Torture for Celtic
The huge gulf between these two becoming more an more evident by the minute.
Again though PSG score a goal of sublime quality. Cavani’s header like the cutest cut on a snooker table as he gets an almost impossible angle on the ball from his diving header beyond the far post to divert it back across Craig Gordon and into the top corner.
Goal PSG 5-0
Cavani (85)
Tin lid on absolute miserable night for Hoops
Forget those special Euro nights in these parts. This has just got as miserable as the sodden September weather.
Mikael Lustog a little unfortunate as he diverts Julian DRaxler’s driven low cross from the right into his own net.
It’s curtains for Celtic.
Goal PSG 4-0
Lustig og (82)
Rodgers and out
Penny for them Brendan...
Neymar booked
Neymar goes in the referee’s book for a dive - and it brings the biggest cheer of the night from the home support.
Quite simply they don’t like the Brazilian in these parts. And I don’t think he cares.
However his playacting deserved the yellow there as he crumpled like a pack of cards under no pressure at all from Ralston who has a good old laugh in the PSG man’s face. Neymar responds with the three-nil sign ala Trezeguet-Caldwell in Paris.
Just one winner there then.
Neymar IS human afterall
A sitter, by Neymar standards at least, goes abegging for the Brazilian.
Motta plays in the superstar from the left and as he stares down Craig Gordon’s throat Neymar can only skew his effort well wide of his left hand post.
Should have been 4-0. 71 minutes gone.
Here comes Odsonne
67 minutes gone and as the Celtic support do their lights tribute to the Lisbon Lions as Brendan Rodgers moves to make his second switch of the night.
It’s Odsonne Edouard who comes on for Leigh Griffiths.
That’s Odsonne Edouard the PSG player coming on to face his parent club.
It’s a strange one but no stranger than seeing Patrick Roberts face Manchester City last season - and he scored on that occasion.
Meanwhile, Anthony Ralston has just taken one square in the chest to stop Kylian Mbappe.
Better from Sinclair
Scott Sinclair shows PSG a flash of what he’s capable of as he drives down the left flank and cuts in off the touchline.
There’s a chance for the striker to go down as Marquinhos comes across to block him but Sinlcair wriggles past him before trying to beat Areola from an angle.
The keeper stands big to clock for a corner which is easily cleared.
Bayern 2 Anderlecht 0
Bayern double their lead at the Allianz Arena thanks to Thiago.
It looks like a comfortable win on the opening night for the Bundesliga big spenders
PSG slow the tempo
The French side are still in control of this one though. They’re toying with Celtic in the Hoops’ own back yard and you can almost feel Scott Brown’s blood pressure boiling from the sidelines.
Good news for Celtic is that Adrian Rabiot is coming off. The bad news is Julian Draxler is coming on in his place.
Oh well...
Brilliant run from Ralston
That’s more like it!
Ralston pinches the ball off of Neymar inside his own half before bursting forward - Kieran Tierney style - all the way into the PSG box. Just as it looks like he might get a shot away he is closed down by Silva and Areola.
Positive stuff from the teenage full back although moments later he goes in the referee’s book for a late challenge on Motta with the blood clearly still pumping through his veins.
Record breaker
Early chance for Griffiths
And the Celtic frontman doesn’t appear to realise the space and time he has as he gets on the end of a deep Kieran Tierney cross.
Griffiths tries to knock the ball back for the onrushing Rogic but his cushioned header is easily mopped up.
Griffiths had the chance to get a header in on goal there.
Back underway
One change for Celtic - Tom Rogic has come on for Stuart Armstrong who struggled to make an impact as the Hoops were over run in the first half.
Big 45 minutes for Celtic - can they put up a fight and get the Parkhead crowd back on their feet?
View from the Twitterati
Catch 2 for Hoops
Celtic are defending so deep - which is understandable against the strength of PSG - yet they have still shipped three goals in the opening 45 minutes. And it could be more.
A big decision facing Brendan Rodgers. But the Hoops simply have to get further up the pitch.
On the occasions Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts have got the ball more often than not they’ve had no support and ended up running into trouble.
There’s nothing to lose for the Scottish champions now. Well other than a barrel load of goals. But they have to be brave.