Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic are set for a showdown with reigning European champions Real Madrid but will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages after a favourable UEFA Champions League draw.
The Hoops landed in Group F, alongside Real Madrid, German club RB Leipzig and Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk, which gives Postecoglou’s men a genuine chance to progress when the tournament kicks off next month.
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic have landed in the same UEFA Champions League group as title holders Real Madrid.Credit:Getty
Having avoided some potentially trickier opponents from England, Germany and Italy, Celtic will be confident of a third-placed finish at minimum, which would take them into the latter stages of the Europa League.
But Postecoglou’s ambitions will be higher than that, with the fearless ex-Socceroos coach certain to stick with his ultra-attacking methods in the hope of springing an upset that will get the football world talking.
Despite Real Madrid’s unparalleled pedigree in the Champions League, which they won for a record 14th time by beating Liverpool in the 2021-22 final this year, recent history suggests they are vulnerable in the group stage.
Last season, they were beaten 2-1 at home by Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol, who were making their debut in the tournament – and there is no reason Celtic can’t do the same at the Santiago Bernabeu if they can transfer their Scottish Premiership form to the European stage.
Ange Postecoglou lifts the Scottish Premiership trophy with Celtic last season.Credit:Getty
Shakhtar Donetsk, who were also in Real Madrid’s group last season and went winless, will play their home games in Poland, at Legia Warsaw’s Stadion Wojska Polskiego, due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
RB Leipzig, meanwhile, who are owned by energy drink goliaths Red Bull and are despised by rivals in Germany due to their corporate heritage, finished fourth in the Bundesliga. They haven’t won a domestic match so far in three attempts this campaign.
They came third in Group A last season – behind Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, who they beat 2-1 in a dead rubber on the final match day – and were eventually toppled by Rangers in the Europa League semi-finals.
This is the first season Celtic have reached the Champions League group stage since 2017-18. The Scottish champions haven’t faced Real Madrid in a competitive match since the 1980 European Cup quarter-finals.
Postecoglou is again making history, this time as the first Australian to coach a team in what is widely regarded as the world’s biggest club-based competition.
Celtic, who also have Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy on their books, are unbeaten in 36 games stretching back to last season – matching the Australian record winning streak Postecoglou forged at the helm of Brisbane Roar a decade ago.
“You only live once, right? So, why not just play the way that you’re comfortable with, and go out there and see it?” Celtic’s new first-team coach Harry Kewell told the Herald and The Age this month when asked about their chances in Europe.
“Is it going to be exciting? Oh yeah. It’s going to be interesting, it’s going to be exciting. I love that. And I think I would have loved that if I was playing.
“I would have been buzzing: ‘Just give me the ball, yeah, I’m ready’. That’s what the players love. They will go out there with no fear. I would love to play the best teams because I think his style will be a challenging for anybody – especially at Parkhead.
“It’s a big year for Celtic because the expectations are huge. But he talks about, ‘Let’s just go out there and be the best we can be’. That’s a great motto for the players to understand and work by.”
There will be other Aussies flying the flag in Europe this season. Australian skipper Mat Ryan’s new club Copenhagen are in Group G with Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund. Ajdin Hrustic’s Eintracht Frankfurt face Tottenham Hotspur, Sporting Lisbon and Marseille in Group D. And fringe Socceroos striker Nikita Rukavytsya and his Israeli team Maccabi Haifa are in Group H with PSG, Juventus and Benfica.
