Real Madrid and Champions League
Real Madrid's latest European Cup campaign gets underway this Tuesday when they take on Celtic in Glasgow (9pm CEST). The 2022–23 UEFA Champions League is the 68th season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 31st season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs' Cup to the UEFA Champions League. The defending champions kick off their 53rd appearance in the tournament following winning their 14th European Cup in Paris on 28 May.
Our team tops the tournament's all-time ranking. Real Madrid lead the way with 633 points, ahead of Bayern and Barcelona, with 517 and 465 points respectively. The rankings are based on a system whereby each team is awarded two points for a win and one for a draw in matches played since the tournament began.
Real Madrid, who have lifted the trophy 14 times since the competition began in 1955, have managed to qualify for the European Cup more often than any other team. Benfica are the closest, playing in the tournament for the 42nd time, while Bayern Munich and Ajax have appeared in the competition three times less.
Departure and Arrival of the Squad in Glasgow
Yesterday, Real Madrid departed Madrid and traveled to Glasgow, where the Champions League opener will be played. The Real Madrid travelling party, with this squad of players, departed from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport bound for the Scottish city. After a flight of approximately three hours, they landed at their destination. The team then moved to the Radisson Blu hotel, where they will be based for their Champions League group stage opener at Celtic Park (Tuesday, 9pm CEST).
Glasgow is the city that witnessed the club's fifth and ninth European Cups. Real Madrid return to a city that holds special memories for the club. Our team lifted two of the 14 European Cups secured during its 120-year history in Glasgow: the fifth one in 1960, and the ninth continental triumph, secured in 2002. Both showpieces were held at Hampden Park.
The Real Madrid squad then took to Celtic Park for the final training session ahead of the Matchday 1 encounter. Carlo Ancelotti oversaw a workout that featured all of the players named in the match squad. The players began the session with a warm-up and rondos. Next up, the madridistas completed some fitness drills and contested a match on a reduced-sized pitch. The session was rounded off with shots on goal and crosses and shots.
Meanwhile Carlo Ancelotti had announced his squad for the Champions League group stage opener on Saturday, with the team including:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Luis López.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Nacho, Rüdiger, F. Mendy.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modrić, Camavinga, Valverde, Lucas V., Tchouameni, D. Ceballos.
Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Mariano.
Pirri joined up with the team on their trip to Glasgow as well. The Real Madrid legend was present at the final training session ahead of this clash with Celtic at Celtic Park. Pirri made 561 competitive appearances and scored 172 goals for Real Madrid. His trophy haul includes 1 European Cup, 10 LaLiga titles and 4 Copas de España.
The referee and the opposition
As for the referee, it will be Sandro Schärer who will take charge of the match between Celtic and Real Madrid at Celtic Park (Tuesday 9pm CET). The 34-year-old referee has been a full international for FIFA since 2015. The Swiss match official will referee a game involving our side for the first time in the competition.
In-form opposition: Ancelotti's side face a Celtic side currently riding the crest of a wave. The Scots lie top of the domestic pile with a clean sweep of victories to their name (W6). They eased to a 4-0 win over Rangers in the Old Firm derby at the weekend.
Decimocuarta patch
Real Madrid are set to wear a Decimocuarta (14th European Cup) patch in tonight's meeting against Celtic. The badge recognizes the Whites as the current Champions League holders after they overcame Liverpool in the final in Paris courtesy of a Vini Jr. strike. Real Madrid have lifted the continental crown five times in the last eight years (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022), in addition to the previous nine European trophy triumphs, secured in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000 and 2002.
Celtic Park overview
Opened in 1892, Celtic's home was redeveloped between 1994 and 1998 and currently boasts a capacity of 60,000. Our club have previous experience of playing a competitive game at the stadium. That trip came in the 1979/80 season, in the first leg of the European Cup quarter-finals. Real Madrid slipped to a 2-0 reverse, but fought back to claim a 3-0 triumph in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Events: Celtic Park has played host to fixtures played by the national team, cup finals and other sporting events, such as the 1897 Track Cycling World Championships, track and field events and Gaelic games. The arena has also provided the setting for concerts and the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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