Charlie Nicholas believes Celtic will serve up a Champions League night to remember against Real Madrid.
Ange Postecoglou 's side host the European champions on Tuesday night as the Parkhead club return to UEFA's top table for the first time since 2017. The Celtic boss has promised to take the game to Carlo Ancelotti's superstars as they look to pull off a group stage shock.
Former Celtic striker Nicholas reckons anything can happen - including the Premiership champions rushing into an early two-goal lead. But he also expects the La Liga giants' experience to tell on a blockbuster night in Glasgow's east end, with the group stage opener ending in 2-2 draw. Nicholas wrote in his Scottish Daily Express column: "The elite of European football will arrive at Celtic Park tonight as Champions League football returns after a five-year absence - it will be a sensational night. The Parkhead faithful expect so much from this Celtic side now, knowing they are capable of causing major trouble to any team.
"Celtic have the potential to go two goals up inside the first twenty minutes, given how well they have been starting lately. I think the supporters look to nights like the wins over Barcelona and AC Milan and they're thinking to themselves that this Celtic team can follow that, or even better it. But this is Real Madrid, we are talking about a massive step-up for Celtic here.
"There are top stars in every department all over the pitch. Up front they are frightening, with Vinicius coming in off the left, Karim Benzema through the middle and Rodrygo on the right.
"We all know the qualities Luka Modric and Tony Kroos possess in the middle of the park, but they have top players throughout their team. Real don't always start that great in the group stages but they certainly know how to win the Champions League, with four triumphs in the last seven years.
"And they won't be fazed by the atmosphere at Celtic Park. I feel sure they will positively embrace it. So I just can't wait for this game to get going. But Celtic are good enough to give them a bloody nose and I can maybe see this as a 2-2."
