Celtic v Real Madrid: Kyogo fit as Ange Postecoglou vows to play on front foot

The manager says that Kyogo Furuhashi is available to play against Real Madrid in the group stage.

After scoring six goals in five games, the Japan forward went off after three minutes of the Rangers game.

Carl Starfelt won't be able to play in the Group F meeting with the defending champion.

Postecoglou said that Kyogo looked okay after training.

He is available." I make the decision whether he plays or not, but in terms of him training and doing everything in training, he was fine.

Carl Starfelt injured his knee. We don't have an exact diagnosis but it will probably keep him out for a while.

Celtic have started the domestic season with seven wins and 29 goals in seven games.

The team dismantled rivals Rangers at the weekend, but will face a team who have started the season with four wins from four.

The Celts will aim to play on the front foot despite the step up.

When you get the chance to measure it against the best, you shy away from it.

You could go out there tomorrow and try to limit the damage, but have you really tested yourself? I do not believe you have.

The football team we have been to this point is going to be out there tomorrow. You have a good idea of where you are at.

If we're short of where we need to be, we need to dust ourselves off, work at it again, and get a bit closer next time.

What they said

Matt O'Riley is a Celtic player. Because of the quality of the opposition, we might have to change some things.

The way we do it is the same. We approach Ross County in the same manner. No matter who you play against, bravery is required.

We take a lot of risks and there are always going to be scares. We need to be at our very best.

Team news

There was only one player missing from the Celtic group that defeated Rangers at the weekend and that was Starfelt.

The same 22 players that were involved in Saturday's win over Real Betis are on the plane.

As they return from injury, Jesus Vallejo, the former Wolves loanee, and Odriozola won't be available.

You can choose your team. You can either go for the team you want the manager to pick, or the one you think he will choose.

Match stats

• The sides have only met once in a competitive game, Madrid winning the 1979-80 European Cup quarter-final 3-2 on aggregate despite losing the first leg 2-0.
• Celtic have lost eight of their last 10 Champions League matches against Spanish opposition (winning the other two), including each of their last four - all against Barcelona from 2013 to 2016.
• This will be Real's first European meeting with a Scottish club since the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup final, which they lost to Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen 2-1 after extra-time.
• The defending champions have only been eliminated in the group stage in one of the last 28 seasons, with Chelsea bowing out in 2012-13. Only one of the last 27 title-holders have lost their first match of the following season's competition (winning 16 of them), with Liverpool beaten 2-0 away to Napoli in 2019-20.
• Celtic have qualified for the first time since 2017-18, under Brendan Rodgers. They have been eliminated from the group stage in their last three attempts (2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18), last progressing in 2012-13.
• Real are competing in their 27th Champions League, a joint-record along with Barcelona, including a 26th consecutive season, the longest ongoing run of any side. They have progressed from all 30 of their group stages.
• Celtic have never won their first match of a season in the Champions League in 10 previous attempts (losing eight times); only RSC Anderlecht (12) have played in more editions of the tournament without ever winning their opener.
• Ange Postecoglou will become the first Australian to manage in the Champions League. Overall, he is the fifth manager to take charge of Celtic in the tournament, after Martin O'Neill, Gordon Strachan, Neil Lennon and Brendan Rodgers.
• This will be Carlo Ancelotti's 19th season as a Champions League manager; his sides have progressed from the opening group stage in 15 of his last 16 editions, failing only with Napoli in 2018-19.
• Ancelotti has faced Celtic six times in the competition, all as Milan manager from 2004 to 2007, losing just once and winning three times.
• Real's Karim Benzema scored 15 goals in last season's Champions League; only Cristiano Ronaldo has ever scored more in a single season (17 in 2013-14, 16 in 2015-16). The Frenchman is tied with Robert Lewandowski on 86 goals overall in the competition, joint-third all-time behind Cristiano Ronaldo (140) and Lionel Messi (125).