The Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium in Madrid hosts the match between Real Madrid and Glasgow Celtic corresponding to the second day of Group B of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Both teams suffered defeats on the first day: Madrid lost 3-2 at Chelsea’s home, while Celtic made their debut in the group stage with a 0-2 at home against Twente.
Chelsea – Real Madrid 3-2
State of form
Real Madrid
This is Madrid’s first match against a Scottish rival in UEFA competition.
Madrid began its European journey (its fourth consecutive participation in the group stage) with a defeat against Chelsea in London. Two goals in the first half hour left Madrid with work to do before Alba Redondo (39′) reduced the deficit before the break. Chelsea restored a two-goal lead early in the second half, so Linda Caicedo’s 84th-minute goal was just a consolation.
Madrid has only surpassed its group once, in its debut in the competition in 2021/22, when it finished second in a group stage that also included Paris Saint-Germain, Kharkiv and Breidablik. In the quarterfinals they lost to Barcelona 3-8 on aggregate (1-3 at home, 5-2 away).
White qualified for this season’s group stage after defeating Sporting CP in round 2 over two legs. Melanie Leupolz scored in stoppage time in Portugal in the 2-1 first leg on September 19, and Sandie Toletti scored twice in a 3-1 win in Madrid a week later.
Madrid was second in the Spanish League in 2023/24, 15 points behind Barcelona. It was the third time in four seasons that he was runner-up.
Alba Redondo scores two games for Real Madrid via Getty Images
Celtic
Record against Spanish clubs 0W 0E 1D 1GF 2GC
Celtic’s only previous experience against Spanish opposition was their first game in the Women’s Champions League, a 2-1 loss to Levante in the Round 1 semi-finals in 2021/22. Caitlin Hayes scored the goal for the Scottish team.
Their debut in Group B this season ended with a defeat against Twente in Hamilton on October 8.
Celtic began their European journey with a 1-3 victory away to Finnish side KuPS Kuopio in Round 1 on September 4. Roosa Ariyo put the hosts ahead in the 18th minute, but Saoirse Noonan’s reply in the second half took the match to extra time, where Noonan added two more goals to complete her hat-trick and secure progress.
Three days later, they defeated the Lithuanian team in the final of round 1. Shannon McGregor and Katherine Loferski gave Elena Sadiku’s pupils a 2-0 victory.
The ‘Ghirls’ then beat Vorskla in a two-legged Round 2 tie. Both matches were played in Airdrie, and goals from Murphy Agnew (5′) in the first leg and Emma Lawton (52′) and McGregor (63′) in the second leg they gave Celtic a 3-0 aggregate victory. In this way, Celtic has become the first Scottish team to participate in the group stage.
This is Celtic’s third campaign in the Women’s Champions League. Their participations in 2021/22 and 2023/24 both ended in round 1.
After taking charge of the team in January, Sadiku helped Celtic become Scottish Women’s Premier League champions for the first time. Their record was identical to that of their Glasgow rivals, Rangers (26 wins, four draws and two losses), but their better goal difference earned them the title.
Celtic fell to Twente at homeUEFA via Getty Images
Key data
Spanish teams have won six European matches against Scottish opposition.
Madrid has only lost two of its last ten Champions League games at home (five wins and three draws).
White, however, has lost its last six group games and has only won one of the last 12 (three draws and eight losses).
Celtic have won three and drawn one of their last four Champions League games outside of Scotland.
