Glasgow Celtic has made an impressive start to the new season but life is about to get much tougher. It’s ok going to Dundee United and winning 9-0 but you can bet that a home game against Real Madrid in the Champions League on September 6 is going to be one of their hardest of the season.
The early part of a Celtic season usually includes playing Champions League qualifying games. Those don’t always go too well and bookmakers are soon setting odds for how Celtic will do in the Europa League.
However, Celtic was given automatic entry to the group stages this season due to Russia’s exclusion. That seems to have helped them as they have been able to concentrate on friendlies rather than playing tense European qualifiers when not quite ready to do so.
When their fans were asked who they’d like to see Celtic play in the Champions League group stages, many instantly replied “Real Madrid.” You can bet there were big smiles when that’s just what happened. Celtic has been drawn in a group that not just includes the holders of the trophy but also RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Bookmakers don’t fancy their chances of winning the group. Those odds will only grow larger if they fail to get a win at Celtic Park on September 6. It’s the games against Leipzig and Shakhtar that will decide whether they can grab second place or finish third and go into the Europa League Knockout Play-Off round.
Celtic is in the Champions League group stages for the first time since the 2017/18 season. Not since 2012/13 have they defied the odds and qualified for the last 16, losing to Juventus. They might just fancy their chances this season but betting on them to beat Real Madrid doesn’t look the best of ideas. This is a game that there will be plenty of UK football betting offers for.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have made an impressive start to the season that cannot be denied. However, as has been shown in the past, it is a massive step up in class when they take on the best that Europe has to offer.
It’s not just the best in Europe that prosper against Celtic. They have only won two of their last five home games in this competition. Midtjylland, Ferencvaros, and Cluj have all avoided defeat in recent seasons with the latter two both winning and delighting the bookies.
Celtic even lost to Bodo/Glimt at home in the Europa Conference League last season and those opponents rarely win away European games.
Their last three times in the Champions League group stages have produced just one win in nine home games. The odds of a victory over Real Madrid are understandably high.
Real Madrid won the Champions League yet again last season, beating Liverpool in the final. There were many times on the way to that final when the odds of them even getting through to the next round were growing by the minute.
Amazing comebacks were achieved in matches against PSG and Manchester City. Betting on both teams scoring in their games and cashing out on those who went ahead against them seemed to be the way ahead.
Somehow though, Real Madrid became European champions and they will want to do so yet again this season. The summer transfer window hasn’t been too hectic for Real. Their big signing has been Aurélien Tchouamemt from Monaco with the defensive midfielder costing £72m.
The arrival of Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea has been a good addition to the squad. The only major departure has been that of Casemiro to Manchester United.
Benzema and Vinicius Junior are already among the goals this season as Real makes an unbeaten start to the new La Liga season. Now they turn their attention to European football and you can bet they won’t give up the Champions League trophy without a massive fight.
They did have a loss against Sheriff Tiraspol in the group stages last season. A result few gamblers predicted, especially as it took place in Madrid. They went on to win their five remaining group games against Shakhtar (you can bet they’re not happy drawing Real again this year), Inter Milan, and the return match against Sheriff.
Their away form in the Champions League had a few hiccups last season but they had a tough fixture list. Losing at PSG and Manchester City is no disgrace and Real scored plenty of goals on their travels.
Celtic will want to get off to a good start in this group. However, online sportsbooks will be rightfully backing Real for the victory. A bet on them to do so with over 2.5 goals in the match looks a good one to make as the European champions
begin their defense of the title, something they are very used to doing.