Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: Celtic, Real Madrid, Champions League
Chris Stonadge
The UEFA Champions League is finally back after a 101-day hiatus, and sleeping giants Celtic come up against 14-time winners Real Madrid in the opening game week of the competition.
The two sides are steeped in European football history, with Celtic the first ever British side to lift the esteemed trophy, then known as the European Cup, in 1967.
Los Blancos, as we all know, are the most decorated side in the competition’s history, and have won five of the last nine competitions.
It is the first meeting of the two since 1980, in which Madrid won 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
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Celtic took a 2-0 lead in the first leg at Parkhead, with George McCluskey and Johnny Doyle on the scoresheet. However, a 3-0 turnaround was in order at the Santiago Bernabeu, Santillana, Uli Stielike and Juanito broke Bhoys hearts.
In more recent times, both sit atop of their respective leagues - with Celtic coming off the back of a 4-0 thrashing of fierce rivals Rangers. Real have coasted their way to four wins out of four in La Liga.
Here's everything you need to know about Celtic vs Real Madrid
Celtic vs Real Madrid will be shown live on BT Sport 3, and fans can also live stream the match via the BT Sport app.
The match, played today on Tuesday 6th September, kicks off at 8pm UK time.
Ange Postecoglou will likely be without star forward Kyogo Furuhashi after he departed the field with a shoulder injury against Rangers, but the Japanese international did train with the side yesterday.
Carl Starlfelt is also likely to miss out, but otherwise it is looking like a clean bill of health for the Bhoys.
Los Blancos have almost a fully fit squad, with rotation options Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola the only pair in doubt for the Glasgow trip.