Celtic v Real Madrid LIVE stream: Hoops set for Champions League return, LaLiga giants involved in first European meeting with Scottish club since defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Celtic are set for a mouth-watering clash with European giants Real Madrid in their first Champions League game in five years tonight.

The Hoops will be full of confidence coming into this clash off the back of a 4-0 win over fierce Old Firm rivals Rangers.

3

But Celtic have never won their first match in a Champions League campaign and are coming up against current holders Real Madrid.

Ange Postecoglou's side can take solace from the last time Los Blancos faced a Scottish club in Europe however.

Madrid famously fell to a 2-1 defeat to Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in extra-time during the 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup final.

Celtic v Real Madrid: Date and how to follow

This Champions League Group F tie will take place on Tuesday, September 6.

Kick-off at Celtic Park in Glasgow will get underway at 8pm.

The clash will be broadcast on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate with coverage starting at 7:15pm.

BT Sport customers can live stream the game via their app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.

3

Most read in Champions League

Ex-EFL manager clinches victory over PSG ahead of crucial Arsenal decider

Micah Richards walks out of studio after Inter star's comment leaves co-hosts in hysterics

I'm a Barca legend and Yamal is better than Messi at 17 - this is how he can eclipse him

Champions League final date, time, stadium and how to follow as Arsenal eye showpiece

Celtic v Real Madrid: Teams

Celtic: Hart, Juranovic, Carter-Vickers, Jenz, Taylor, Hatate, McGregor, O'Riley, Jota, Abada, Giakoumakis

Subs: Bain, Kyogo, Sieghurst, Haskanbanovic, Mooy, Turnbull, McCarthy, Bernabei, Maeda, Forrest, Welsh, Ralston

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Tchouameni, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius Jr, Valverde, Benzema

Subs: Lunin, Lopez, Nacho, Hazard, Camavinga, Asensio, Vazquez, Ceballos, Rudiger, Rodrygo, Diaz

3

Celtic v Real Madrid: What has been said?

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Celtic are his side's toughest opponents so far this season.

"On Tuesday we've got the most difficult game of this first half of the season," Ancelotti said. “We're going to be up against a team playing great football and we have to be ready.

"Our objective is to play good football and to pick up the points and the wins.

"We’re capable of playing well, with the quality we have, combining well and good in transitions. The squad dynamic is good and we're full of confidence in our abilities.”

Celtic v Real Madrid: Match stats

• Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema scored 15 goals in last season’s UEFA Champions League; only Cristiano Ronaldo has ever scored more in a single edition of the tournament (17 in 2013-14, 16 in 2015-16). The Frenchman is tied with Robert Lewandowski on 86 goals overall in the competition, joint-third all-time behind Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (125).
• This will be Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti’s 19th season as a UEFA Champions League manager; he has seen his sides progress from the opening group stage in 15 of his last 16 editions, failing only with Napoli in 2018-19 in this time. Ancelotti has faced Celtic six times previously in the competition, all as Milan manager from 2004 to 2007, losing just once (W3 D2).
• Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is set to become the first ever Australian to manage in the UEFA Champions League. Overall, he is the fifth manager to take charge of Celtic in the tournament, after Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers.
• Celtic have never won their first match of a season in the UEFA Champions League in 10 previous attempts (D2 L8); only RSC Anderlecht have played in more editions of the tournament without ever winning their opener (12).
• Real Madrid are competing in their 27th UEFA Champions League edition, a joint-record along with Barcelona, including a 26th consecutive season, the longest ongoing run of any side. The Spanish side have progressed from all 30 of their group stages in the competition (including second group stages).
• Celtic have qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2017-18 under Brendan Rodgers. The Scottish side have been eliminated from the group stage in their last three participations at the tournament (2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18), last progressing in 2012-13.
• The defending champions of the UEFA Champions League have only been eliminated from their first group stage in one of the last 28 seasons, with Chelsea bowing out in 2012-13. Only one of the last 27 title-holders have lost their first match of the following season’s competition after winning the Champions League (W16 D10), with Liverpool losing 2-0 at Napoli in 2019-20.
• This will be Real Madrid’s first European meeting with a Scottish club since the 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup final, which they lost to Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen 2-1 after extra-time.
• Celtic have lost eight of their last 10 UEFA Champions League matches versus Spanish opposition (W2), including each of their last four in a row, all against Barcelona from 2013 to 2016.
• Celtic and Real Madrid have only previously faced in the 1979-80 European Cup quarter-final. The Spanish side won 3-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-0 but winning the second 3-0.