Edinson Cavani scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 5-0 victory over Celtic in their opening Champions League fixture of the season.
The Uruguayan striker rounded off the scoring late on with an audacious header, having earlier netted from the penalty spot in the first half.
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe also found a way through for a dominant PSG side, while Mikael Lustig put into his own net on a night to forget for the hosts.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League group-stage clash between Celtic and Paris Saint-Germain at Parkhead. PSG exited the competition in embarrassing circumstances last season, throwing away a four-goal first-leg lead against Barcelona, but they have been heavily tipped to go all the way this time around after spending big during the summer.
Simply getting out of the group will be a challenge in itself for the Bhoys, meanwhile, as they have once again been dealt a difficult hand. As well as taking on PSG, they also face a much-fancied Bayern Munich side and Belgian champions Anderlecht, although it is worth remembering that third place does at least offer the safety net of Europa League football post-Christmas.
CELTIC TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gordon; Ralston, Lustig, Simunovic, Tierney; Brown, Ntcham; Roberts, Armstrong, Sinclair; Griffiths
SUBS: De Vries, Bitton, Ajer, McGregor, Rogic, Edouard, Forrest
A couple of big talking points when looking at the Celtic team news, with Leigh Griffiths starting at one end and youngster Anthony Ralston at the other. Starting with Griffiths, the Scotland international was initially a major doubt for tonight's game after picking up a knock in the Tartan Army's win over Malta last week, which forced him to sit out the 4-1 victory against Hamilton at the weekend.
Griffiths is deemed fit enough to start, though, meaning that Odsonne Edouard - on loan at Parkhead from PSG for the duration of the campaign - drops down to the bench. Strangely enough, the youngster is eligible to feature against the Parisians and he will fancy his chances of netting after getting off the mark at New Douglas Park last time out. Stuart Armstrong, Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts are the men tasked with supplying Griffiths.
The second of those talking points is the inclusion of Ralston at right-back after impressing in his last two starts. Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic and Kieran Tierney complete the back four, and there is no denying that it is going to be a very busy evening four those four players up against PSG's star-studded frontline. Scott Brown, fresh on the back of agreeing a new two-year deal, will link up with Olivier Ntcham to protect the backline.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Areola; Alves, Silva, Marquinhos, Kurzawa; Motta, Verratti, Rabiot; Neymar, Mbappe, Cavani
SUBS: Trapp, Meunier, Kimpembe, Yuri Berchiche, Lo Celso, Lucas, Draxler
In terms of the visitors, Unai Emery is obviously keen to send out a message because he has gone with Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar up top in a 4-3-3 formation. Forget MSN and BBC - this is arguably the finest of forward partnerships this competition has seen, with all three players already making a big impact in UEFA's showpiece event over the past few years.
Emery has very much picked his strongest-possible XI, as Marco Verratti returns to the fold following his domestic ban to link up with Thiago Motta and Adrien Rabiot in the middle. Julian Draxler is the unlucky player to miss out following the experimentation with a 4-2-3-1 at the weekend, which will likely be the case for most games in Europe this term. Argentina international duo Angel di Maria and Javier Pastore both miss out through injury, meanwhile.
The back four is also packed with quality, including the addition of summer signing Dani Alves, who rejected a switch from Juventus to Manchester City to instead join the French Revolution. That said, it is very much in attack that this PSG side truly comes to life, with a truly staggering £366m spent to bring in both Neymar and Mbappe, the latter of whom will not officially join on a permanent basis until next summer.
Celtic have been boosted by the return to fitness of Leigh Griffiths this evening, a week on from picking up a knock during Scotland's win over Malta. That is arguably not the biggest news, though, as Brendan Rodgers always fancied having his leading marksman back; it is instead the inclusion of Anthony Ralston at the back - in direct competition with Neymar - that will get supporters talking.
Rodgers talked in the build-up to this game about his side being more prepared to tackle Europe this season compared to 12 months ago, when finishing bottom of an admittedly tough-looking group. It was never going to be easy for Celtic to topple Manchester City and Barcelona, but they also finished above Borussia Monchengladbach to miss out on a place in the Europa League. Indeed, the Boys crashed out without a win to their name from their six group-stage matches.
They arguably have an even tougher group this time around, with Bayern Munich and PSG currently second and third favourites to win the competition with most bookies, slightly behind favourites and current holders Real Madrid. Advancing in Europe is Rodgers's biggest challenge in his second campaign at Parkhead, having cantered to a domestic treble last time out, remaining unbeaten in doing so to rip up the record books.
Celtic are expected to do likewise this time around, albeit without remaining unbeaten throughout, so it is these six group stage matches that could define their season. Winning an eighth domestic title in a row would not be at all surprising; advancing from Group B and possibly further certainly would be. And that is the thing - while it may be a horrible-looking draw, the Bhoys do at least have a real chance to produce an almighty shock.
The Hoops have kicked off their 2017-18 campaign with four wins and a draw in the Scottish Premiership, while also advancing in the Scottish League Cup with a 5-0 win over Kilmarnock. They have also already come through three rounds of qualifying in the Champions League, beating Linfield 6-0, Rosenborg 1-0 - James Forrest netting the decisive goal away from home in the second leg - and Astana 8-4 last time out in a pretty incredible two-legged affair.
Despite taking a more-than-comfortable lead into the second leg, Astana pulled things back to 6-4 at one point before Celtic pulled away through late goals from Ntcham and Sinclair. Now they are rewarded with four tasty-looking fixtures against PSG and Bayern, as well as possibly decisive encounters against Anderlecht at home and away. Rodgers may well be targeting the most unlikely of top-two finishes, though it will more likely be a straight shootout with the Belgian club for third.
Rodgers has urged his players to "stay calm" against PSG, who boast an incredible array of talent. Lessons will no doubt have been learned from their trip to Barcelona nearly a year ago, when going down 7-0 en route to finishing winless in their tough group. A positive start will make all the difference this time around, and the Bhoys do at least have home advantage against PSG which they will be looking to make count.
It is worth pointing out that Celtic head to Anderlecht in their next outing two weeks from now, while also taking on the Belgian club in their final home match - they could be massive matches. Tonight's match is not exactly a "bonus" for Rodgers and his men, as such, but to take a point from a PSG side that many fancy to go all the way and lift the trophy for the first time in Kiev will be quite some achievement.
DID YOU KNOW? Celtic have won two of their last six European home matches, both coming in qualifying ties. It has actually been 15 games since the Bhoys last picked up victory in the group stage of the Champions League or Europa League, stretching back to a 2-1 triumph over Ajax in October 2013. Since then, they have drawn three and lost six at Parkhead.
Celtic finished bottom of their Champions League group last season when coming up against Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach. The Scottish champions have just as tough a group this time around, starting with the visiting of a Paris Saint-Germain side who can hold claim to being the biggest spenders on the planet following the arrivals of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Celtic's defeat to Astana was just their second in nine European matches, though that also takes into account qualifying games. Winning a fixture in the group stage is an altogether tougher task, as touched upon a few moments ago, and games do not come much tougher than this. The Parisians certainly have a point to prove this time around, though, having let their grip on the Ligue 1 crown slip in 2016-17, as well as exiting this competition in shocking circumstances.
Snatching back the French title from AS Monaco should be a formality after bringing in Mbappe and Neymar, and that is already proving the case as they have won five games from five, scoring 19 goals and conceding just three. That has helped lift the Parisians top of the pile, above Monaco - now minus Mbappe and a couple of other stars, of course - who slipped up quite shockingly in the most recent round of fixtures.
Winning the Champions League will determine just how successful this season has been, however, as following years of talk they must now quite simply walk the walk. Neymar as good as admitted himself that he has to lift the famous trophy come next May if his gamble to depart a successful Barcelona side is to ultimately pay off. A £198m transfer fee certainly suggests that he has the pedigree to drag his side all the way if required.
Mbappe was the other big name arrival in attack, completing a hugely talented strikeforce alongside Neymar and Cavani. All three men were on the scoresheet in the 5-1 thrashing of Metz at the weekend, taking Neymar's tally to four goals and four assists in four Ligue 1 games - he really is enjoying himself in his new surroundings. This is the trio's first taste of European football together, however, and it is fair to say that there will be plenty of eyes on them tonight.
Paris Saint-Germain remained unbeaten in the group stage last season, but that does not tell the whole story because they slipped up in their final match against Ludogorets Razgrad to gift Arsenal top spot. The punishment for that, so to speak, was a double-header against Barcelona in the round of 16 - opponents that they have got to know well in recent times. After winning the first leg 4-0, PSG famously went on to lose the return fixture 6-1 to exit the competition.
Neymar was the key man in that second-leg miracle, playing as big a part as any in what was the competition's biggest ever comeback. PSG had previous reached the quarter-final stage four-successive years between 2013 and 2016, but making it any further has proved to be a major challenge. Emery, many feel, was perhaps a tad fortunate to stay in the job over the summer, though a failure to bring the trophy home this time could spell the end for him.
PSG have won five of their last nine away games in Europe, but they have no kept a clean sheet in any of their last six - hope for Celtic. The Bhoys, it is worth remembering, went 42 games without suffering defeat prior to going down to Astana in the second leg of their playoff qualifier - a result that barely mattered in the end as they still made it through. This, though, is a different test entirely for Rodgers's men.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! These two sides have met in just one two-legged fixture before, with Paris Saint-Germain coming out on top 4-0 on aggregate in the second round of the 1995-96 Cup Winners' Cup - a competition that they would go on to win for their only piece of European silverware. PSG have played Scottish opposition six times before, meanwhile, winning three and drawing three of those matches.
Celtic have faced off against French opposition on 14 occasions, claiming five wins and a couple of draws. The Bhoys have won each of those games on home soil, and a similar result tonight would send shockwaves throughout Europe. With Bayern Munich also to come next month, this ground will be in for quite a ride. Finishing third will be the realistic target, with Rodgers confident that his side can achieve that.
With kickoff now just a couple of minutes away at Parkhead, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Brendan Rodgers: "We just aim to play our game, based around being aggressive defensively and having a physical edge. If you stand off top-class players they will show you why they are top class. The quality they have been building over the last few years and what they have done over the summer - bringing in Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe, who is an amazing young striker - their focus clearly is on winning it."
Unai Emery: "I know of [Griffiths's] quality, how well he plays on the ball and how well he keeps the ball. He has a lot of experience. We've analysed the style of the team and his style as well and we'll try and adapt for him. I'm obviously aware there is a great atmosphere here. All the players love to play this type of game. My players are used to playing at this level, in this type of atmosphere. It will be difficult for us to overcome but we aim to try and do that."
KICKOFF! Celtic, in front of what is a truly incredible atmosphere, get us up and running in this Group B encounter. It has become something of a cliche, but you really cannot beat Parkhead on a Champions League night.
PSG, rather ominously, seeing a fair bit of the ball in these opening few minutes. Celtic going with more of a 4-3-2-1 this evening, rather than a 4-2-3-1, with players taking it in turn to drop deep in midfield alongside Brown and Ntcham.
Mbappe already looking as though he has a goal or two in him, as he cuts back inside from the byline and sends the ball into a central position. The French youngster claimed handball, but the referee waved away the small appeal.
Good delivery from Alves down the right towards Cavani, who could not quite turn it in from a five yards out. A strange one, really - the Uruguayan looked as though he could have stretched a little more, perhaps wary of Gordon in front of him.
Celtic struggling to get out of their own half of the pitch in the opening nine minutes of the match. No real chances created by PSG just yet, but Cavani had half an opening and Mbappe also got on the ball inside the opposition box.
Celtic finally manage to get some bodies forward, with Ntcham opening to go for goal from 25 yards out. The effort was dragged wide to the dismay of Roberts, who was in far more space out wide. Still, promising signs for the hosts!
A well-worked corner routine from PSG, as Motta sends the ball in low towards the front post. Mbappe looked to dummy it but Celtic cleared their lines well, before the visitors soon turned possession back over to maintain the pressure.
Ralston goes into Neymar from behind to give away a free kick. The home fans were not happy about the decision, letting the referee know exactly what they thought, but the man in the middle had little choice in truth.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Celtic are carved open by their opponents, as Layvin Kurzawa is played in down the left and in turn played the ball across goal for the simplest of tap-ins for Cavani. The linesman correctly ruled that the striker was offside.
SAVE! The ball is smartly headed down for Cavani to strike goalwards, where Gordon was waiting to make his first stop of the game. PSG truly dominating things now and they are starting to make the possession count a little more.
GOAL! CELTIC 0-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (NEYMAR)
It has been coming! Neymar is off the mark for PSG in the Champions League, calmly lifting the ball over Gordon when played through one-on-one by Rabiot's perfectly-weighted pass. Celtic just cannot seem to hold their opponents back at the moment.
SAVE! The home side's best moment of the evening so far, as Griffiths takes on a free kick from all of 30 yards out. The ball dipped in the air and was going in off the underside of the bar, if not for Alphonse Areola's intervention.
With a little over a quarter of the match played, PSG deservedly lead in Glasgow. Celtic have looked livelier since going behind, though, coming close to a leveller through a well-struck Griffiths free kick that required saving.
Armstrong initially took the wrong option by looking for a lofted ball over the top rather than shooting from 25 yards, but Celtic managed to win the ball back. It was worked to Tierney on the left, only for a poor delivery to be sent in for Areola to gather.
A real shocker from Cavani, who laid the ball off to nobody in particular when perfectly picked out by Neymar. The Brazilian's ball from deep was just crying out for Cavani to put his boot through it, rather than trying to walk it in.
PSG are still the side looking far more likely to bag a second, but the match is not as one-sided as it was at 0-0. Celtic are managing to get more bodies forward now, while also winning a few set-pieces from deep which are going straight into the box.
Decent play from Patrick Roberts to skip inside from the right, only for his final pass to let him down when looking for Griffiths and Sinclair. Certainly much more positive from the Bhoys' perspective, though, giving PSG something to think about.
GOAL! CELTIC 0-2 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (KYLIAN MBAPPE)
I tell you what - Paris Saint-Germain are starting to look the real deal. Neymar nodded the ball back across goal for Cavani to tuck home, but after the Uruguayan fluffed his lines Mbappe was instead there waiting to convert past Gordon.
PSG fans making all the noise now thanks to a bright start to the competition from their side. This Group B opener is not over just yet, but you would back the Parisians to add a third before the half-time interval at this rate.
Rodgers will just hope to keep the game at 2-0 heading into the interval, at which point he can change things around in the hope of pulling one back. All incredibly simple for the visitors at the moment, though, as they look to send out a message.
GOAL! CELTIC 0-3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (EDINSON CAVANI, PEN)
All three of the famed forward trio now on target for PSG in their opening 45 minutes of Champions League football together. Cavani had the task of tucking home from the penalty spot after being tugged back by Jozo Simunovic, who was rightly penalised.
The match is now as good as over, it is fair to say, so maybe a case of damage limitation for the hosts now. Rodgers felt his side were better prepared compared to 12 months ago, but they have come up against a real force tonight.
The Parisians are the ones knocking on the door for the game's fourth goal, which really would add insult to injury as far as Celtic are concerned. A truly dominant display from PSG, who are good value for their commanding lead.
HALF TIME: CELTIC 0-3 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Celtic's best moment of the first half was left until the dying embers, as Scott Sinclair charged through and got a shot away for Areola to keep out. No denying that Paris Saint-Germain have been by far the better side, however, with their famed front-three trio each registering before the interval.
PSG were on top from the off, pegging their opponents back and finding a way through 16 minutes in through an Edinson Cavani tap-in that was rightly ruled out for offside. There was to be no stopping Neymar four minutes later, though, as he calmly lifted the ball over Craig Gordon when picked out by Adrien Rabiot's perfectly-weighted pass, soon after the Scottish keeper had denied Cavani from inside the box.
Celtic initially responded well to the setback, coming close to levelling up through a Leigh Griffiths free kick from range that needed helping over the bar by Alphonse Areola. Then came what already appeared to be a killer second for the visitors, with Neymar heading the ball back across goal for fellow summer signing Kylian Mbappe to tuck home towards the back post after Cavani fluffed his lines.
The third of the evening would arrive before the interval, this time through Cavani from the penalty spot following Jozo Simunovic's pullback on the Uruguayan striker inside the box. Celtic saved their best moment of the first half until the dying embers through Scott Sinclair, who burst into the box and sent a shot on target for Areola to palm over the crossbar.
It would not be at all surprising to see Brendan Rodgers make a slight change at the break, knowing that this game is only heading one way at the moment. Sinclair did come close to pulling one back at the end, but it is PSG who look the more likely to bag a fourth of the evening.
CELTIC SUBS: De Vries, Bitton, Ajer, McGregor, Rogic, Edouard, Forrest
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBS: Trapp, Meunier, Kimpembe, Yuri Berchiche, Lo Celso, Lucas, Draxler
RESTART! We are back under way at Parkhead, where there is indeed news of a half-time change. Stuart Armstrong, ineffective in the opening 45 minutes, is replaced by Tom Rogic for the remainder of this Group B clash.
Half a chance for Griffiths when picked out inside the box. Looked as though the Scottish striker was instead looking to head the ball back across goal for a teammate, though, rather than attempting to get the better of Areola with his head,
The Hoops have started the second have in a good manner, really looking to get at their opponents. That comes with an obvious risk, though, as PSG can counter and Rabiot is not far away at all with his blazed shot over the bar.
It may seem a strange thing to say at 3-0, but the next goal in this game will still be important. A breakthrough for Celtic and their fans will get right behind them, while a fourth for PSG and it could get embarrassing come full time.
YELLOW CARD! Ralston goes on a positive run right through the PSG defence before being edged off the ball - legally, it must be said. The full-back is clearly pumped up, but a little too pumped up as he enters the ref's book for a strong challenge.
Brilliant atmosphere around Parkhead once more, largely due to Ralston as he urged supporters to make some noise. A Celtic goal now could make things interesting, but Paris Saint-Germain are not looking all that troubled at the back.
PSG under no pressure to add to their first-half tally of goals. Celtic have looked the better side in the second half but the visitors are well set up to counter and do look as though they have another goal or two in them.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUB! First PSG change of the evening sees Julian Draxler, reportedly a summer target for Arsenal, come on in place of Rabiot. The man making way has had an impressive hour on the field.
Not been the liveliest of second halves in Glasgow, with PSG still happy to let Celtic ask all the questions. No real sign of the Bhoys finding a way through at the moment, though, despite their fans really getting behind them.
SAVE! Celtic finally starting to test Areola now, as Sinclair gets in behind and finds the target at the near post. Decent stop from the PSG keeper in the end, simply making himself big to keep out the opposition once more.
Rodgers appears to be ready to make another change, just when the Parisians had started to look a little livelier. The visitors have decided to move back through the goals in search of a fourth, having done little attacking since the restart.
CHANCE! PSG's first real chance of the second period falls the way of world-record signing Neymar, who uncharacteristically smashed the ball over the bar from 12 yards out when getting on the end of Draxler's cutback.
CELTIC SUB! Edouard is brought on against his parent club, taking over from Griffiths up top. Something a little different for the Hoops in attack, which they will aim to make the most of in search of a consolation goal.
CHANCES! PSG coming closer and closer to a fourth goal. Mbappe this time guilty of squandering a good chance from close range when working the ball on to his right, as he smashed the ball into the face of Ralston. From the next attack, Neymar somehow sent the ball wide from an identical position.
Alves is down receiving some treatment after picking up an injury to his ankle. A little over 15 minutes of the match left to play and it is still PSG who are looking the more likely to find the net, having created a number of chances in the last five minutes or so.
YELLOW CARD! A furious Neymar is booked for diving to the joy of the home fans in attendance. A frustrating second half for the Brazilian forward, who has wasted a couple of big opportunities in front of goal in quick succession.
CELTIC SUB! Patrick Roberts makes his way off the field, rather reluctantly, to make way for James Forrest. All three changes made by home boss Rodgers now, while opposite number Emery still has a couple more available to use.
Into the final 10 minutes now and it is as easy as you like for PSG. A goal for the Bhoys when on top earlier in the half would have changed things slightly, but it was not to be and the Parisians are cruising over the line.
GOAL! CELTIC 0-4 PARIS SAINT GERMAIN (MIKAEL LUSTIG, OG)
PSG have a fourth goal of the evening via a Mikael Lustig own goal. Draxler created it with his work down the right, before sending the ball across goal for the centre-back to turn into his own net from close range - a real shocker!
GOAL! CELTIC 0-5 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (EDINSON CAVANI)
Goal of the night from Cavani, who somehow turned the ball past Gordon with his head from what appeared to be an impossible angle. Layvin Kurzawa's delivery was decent, but my word did the Uruguayan still have a lot to do!
SAVE! Rogic decides to have an attempt on goal, which Areola was equal to. The replacement midfielder than took range from further back a few moments later, this time missing the intended target completely with two minutes to go.
Celtic almost out of their misery at Parkhead, as they stare down the barrel of a record home European defeat. Tonight was always going to be tough for them, of course, but Rodgers would have been hoping for a much tighter game than this.
FULL TIME: CELTIC 0-5 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
The referee blows his whistle for full time, meaning a record home European defeat for Celtic. They were second best pretty much from the off, conceding three times in the opening 40 minutes before Paris Saint-Germain stepped things up and added two more late on.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Parkhead. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while results and reaction from the other Champions League matches this evening can be found elsewhere on the site. Thanks for joining!
