Celtic v Real Madrid predictions: Rodrygo can spoil Celtic's big night

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Celtic v Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Rodrygo first goalscorer
0.5pts e-w 13-2 general

Team news

Celtic
Kyogo Furuhashi is a doubt with a shoulder injury but trained on Monday. However, Carl Starfelt is out with a knee injury and joins Yosuke Ideguchi in missing the game.

Real Madrid
Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Ordriozola remain sidelined but Nacho has been included in the travelling party.

Preview

It promises to be one of those famous European nights at Celtic Park but don't be too surprised if Real Madrid rain on the Bhoys' parade.

Celtic are back in the Champions League group stage for the first time in five years, are playing well and ought to be confident of finishing above Leipzig and Shakhtar to reach the knockout stage.

Real are a different class to all three group contenders though, and the defending champs can lay down a marker by drawing first blood in Group F at Celtic.

Both sides are in magnificent form with Celtic having won all seven of the matches they have played with 29 goals scored. Twelve different players have netted for them.

However, dismantling Scottish opponents is one thing, tearing holes out of the 14-time champions of Europe is quite another, and Los Blancos are in perfect nick after a Super Cup success over Frankfurt followed by four straight league wins.

Aurelien Tchouameni has seamlessly slotted in where Casemiro once strode while their front three of Vinicius, Benzema and Rodrygo is firing.

Rodrygo bagged his first of the season in Saturday's 2-1 win over Betis and looks a fair shout in first-scorer betting at 13-2. Indeed, if whispers of Benzema being rested are true Rodrygo could play more centrally, although it seems unlikely the Frenchman won't start.

Real's four league wins this have all been in games featuring three or more goals and games in which both teams have scored, which could be options.

However, given that Ange Postecoglou will surely have to box clever rather than pretend he's playing Ross County, this might not be a total free-for-all.

Key stat

Real won all three group-stage away games last season by a 9-0 aggregate scoreline

Inside info

Celtic

Penalty taker Josip Juranovic
Assist ace Matt O'Riley
Card magnet Callum McGregor
Set-piece aerial threat Mortiz Jenz

Real Madrid

Penalty taker Karim Benzema
Assist ace David Alaba
Card magnet Eduardo Camavinga
Set-piece aerial threat Karim Benzema

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