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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Ben Banks

Real Madrid to hit Celtic with full power as RB Leipzig shock leaves them needing Bernabeu victory

Celtic will need to prepare for a full strength Real Madrid side next week as the holders look to avoid a second place finish in their Champions League group.

The Hoops are not going to participate in Europe this season after next week ends but their hosts in Spain next Tuesday will be there after a strong start to Group F. However, they are not guaranteed to have won it yet and they will be keen to finish in top spot, which would help them avoid some of Europe's big guns at the next round.

A first spot could have been sealed against RB Leipzig in Germany but Marco Rose's side recorded a famous 3-2 success against Los Blancos at Red Bull Arena. In-demand duo Josko Gvardiol and Christopher Nkunku both fired their side into a quickfire two-goal lead inside 20 first half minutes in Germany. Vinicius Junior then hit back to half the deficit.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou's detailed insight to Celtic job offer as he opens up on Dermot Desmond talks

It looked set to be a nervy end to proceedings but Timo Werner stepped up to score a famous goal and puts them in the hotseat for a place in the knockout stages, with Rodrygo's late penalty not meaning much for the Spaniards.

Shakhtar are still in the hunt after ending Celtic's European campaign for the season, drawing 1-1 at Parkhead to leave the Ukrainians third and three points off Leipzig in second, needing a victory to secure their passage.

A glamour trip to the Bernabeu is now effectively a dead-rubber for Ange Postecoglou's team who are bottom and four points off third with one game to go, but they will take on Carlo Ancelotti's side who need a win to guarantee kings of Group F status.

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