MY ACCOUNT
Midfielder Matt O’Riley insists Celtic will treat tonight’s Champions League opener against Real Madrid as if it was a trip to Ross County.
The Bhoys welcome holders Real to Parkhead just four days after smashing Glasgow rivals Rangers 4-0 in the first Old Firm clash of the season.
And Los Blancos will be in for a shock if they are expecting a defensive effort from a team who have netted 25 goals in just six Scottish Premiership games.
O’Riley, 21, said: “We don’t change the way we play, regardless of the opposition.
“We might have to tweak little things in terms of the amount we press because of the quality of the opposition.
“But in general, the way we go about it is going to be the same. We approach Ross County away the same way we do this game.
“It takes bravery regardless of who you play against.
“There are always going to be scares at times because we take risks quite often. Against this type of opposition, we need to be at our very best.”
O’Riley’s bullishness was backed up by boss Ange Postecoglou as Celtic prepare for their first foray into the Champions League group stage in five years.
He will not change the way his side play despite coming up against the likes of Karim Benzema, Vinicius Jr and Co.
Aussie Postecoglou said: “There’s no point playing football a certain way and then, when you get the opportunity to measure it against the best, you shy away from it.
“You could go out there and limit the damage and might get a win playing a different way, but have you really tested yourself? I don’t think you have.
“If we’re short of where we need to be then we go back, dust ourselves off, work at it again and get a bit closer next time.”
Carlo Ancelotti guided Real to their 14th European title last term — and has won four as a manager.
While he admits he loves the Parkhead atmosphere, he has failed to pick up a victory in three trips there.
After two goalless draws in his first two visits when in charge of AC Milan, he lost 2-1 in the group stage back in 2007.
The Italian, 63, said: It is a really difficult stadium but it is a fantastic atmosphere.
“I love that my teams can play in this atmosphere. It’s obviously going to be a difficult game. They are a lot like us in that they have a good dynamic at the moment, they play with a lot of intensity.
“But we are prepared, we are ready for it and hopefully we will get a victory in our first game. We are looking forward to it.”
Team news
Kyogo Furuhashi will be available for Celtic despite limping off after three minutes against Rangers, but Carl Starfelt misses out with a knee injury.
Ancelotti has a near fully-fit squad to choose from, with Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola the only absentees.
Did you know?
Celtic and Real’s only other meetings came in the 1979-80 European Cup quarter-finals, which the Spanish side won 3-2 on aggregate despite losing the first leg 2-0.
The Bhoys have lost eight of their last 10 Champions League matches against Spanish opposition, including each of their last four in a row, all against Barcelona from 2013 to 2016.
This will be Real’s first European meeting with a Scottish club since the 1983 Europrean Cup Winners’ Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen after extra-time.
The defending champions of the Champions League have only been eliminated from the group stage in one of the last 28 seasons, with Chelsea bowing out in 2012-13.
Celtic have been knocked out in the group stage in their last three participations at the tournament (2013-14, 2016-17 and 2017-18). They last progressed in 2012-13.
Celtic have never won their first match of a season in the Champions League in 10 previous attempts (drawn two and lost eight) — only Anderlecht have played in more editions of the tournament without ever winning their opener (12).
Postecoglou is set to become the first ever Australian to manage in the Champions League.
