Wednesday’s Champions League action gets underway at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid aim to capture a top spot in Group F by dispatching basement boys Celtic.
Carlo Ancelotti’s defending champions have claimed a berth in the Champions League knock-outs for the 26th consecutive season with two games to spare.
However, that seems to have led to a fair amount of complacency in Los Blancos’ camp, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat at RB Leipzig last week, marking their first loss of the 2022/23 season.
With only one point separating Madrid from the second-placed Germans, the Spaniards cannot afford another slip-up if they’re to ensure a favourable knock-out draw.
Karim Benzema’s absence due to injury has crippled Los Merengues’ sharpness in the front third, as evidenced by an underwhelming 1-1 home draw with La Liga newcomers Girona at the weekend.
Ancelotti hopes to have his talismanic striker back to the fold for Wednesday’s clash, though Madrid didn’t need the France international to humble Celtic 3-0 in Glasgow on matchday one.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have nothing but pride left to play for after racking up just two points from five Champions League outings this term (D2, L3).
Last week’s disappointing 1-1 home draw with third-placed Shakhtar Donetsk condemned Ange Postecoglou’s side to a bottom-place finish ahead of the final round.
Celtic at least did well to reply in domestic proceedings over the weekend, putting three unanswered goals past Livingston to solidify their place at the Scottish Premiership summit.
Match Preview
Real Madrid
Following a jaw-dropping 16-game unbeaten start in all competitions (W14, D2), Madrid lost at Leipzig last time out, but playing at home offers a new perspective.
Los Merengues have failed to win just once in their 11 home matches in the Champions League group stages under Ancelotti’s stewardship, netting an impressive average of 2.6 goals per game.
Another routine triumph is well on the cards, considering the reigning Champions League holders have been victorious in all three previous home European encounters against Scottish visitors via at least a three-goal margin.
Celtic
Speaking of omens, a failed attempt to pull off an upset in Madrid would see Celtic go winless in all six Champions League group stage fixtures for only the second time in the club’s history.
Unfortunately for Postecoglou’s men, it’ll take something remarkable to avoid defeat at the Bernabeu, let alone take home all three points, with the Hoops losing their last five matches against Spanish sides by an aggregate score of 19-1.
On top of that, Spanish soil has never been a happy hunting ground for Celtic as they’ve suffered eight defeats on their nine previous Champions League visits to the country (D1).
Real Madrid vs Celtic Potential Line-ups
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy; Aurelien Tchouameni, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos; Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde.
Celtic (4-3-3): Joe Hart; Greg Taylor, Moritz Jenz, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Anthony Ralston; Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Aaron Mooy; Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, James Forrest.
How to Watch?
Real Madrid vs Celtic, alongside all other matches in Europe’s most prestigious club competition this season, is available to watch online via Champions League live streams.
And if you are interested in attending a future UCL game, see our Champions League tickets page for more information.
Real Madrid vs Celtic Prediction
It’s no time to play games. That ship sailed in Germany last week, putting Madrid in a must-win situation.
We expect Los Blancos to live up to their status as pre-match favourites to cap off another routine Champions League group stage campaign in style.
Real Madrid 3-0 Celtic
