Real Madridvs.Celtic Women

The Spanish side lost out to Chelsea on matchday one, while Celtic were unable to take anything from their home meeting with Twente.

Match preview

Real Madrid are competing in Europe for a fourth consecutive season after finishing in second place in Liga F last season.

Las Blancas sealed their place in the main draw with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the second round of qualifying.

Real Madrid were subsequently drawn in a group with Chelsea for the second year in a row, and unfortunately for Las Blancas, they were unable to take anything from last week's trip to the English capital.

After losing their previous two away meetings with the Blues, Real Madrid experienced a similar fate on matchday one with goals from Alba Redondo and Linda Caicedo proving fruitless in a 3-2 defeat.

Alberto Toril's side experienced more frustration in Sunday's derby clash against Atletico Madrid, as Caroline Weir saw her first-half opener cancelled out by Vilde Boe Risa's 78th-minute penalty.

Real Madrid will now turn their focus to Thursday's European home match, where they will attempt to end their seven-game winless run in the Women's Champions League main draw.

Celtic successfully negotiated their way through Women's Champions League qualifying to become the first Scottish team to appear in the group phase.

They ousted KuPS and Gintra in the first stage, before they recorded a 3-0 aggregate win over Vorskla Poltava in the second-qualifying round to seal their spot in the main draw.

After beating Vorskla Poltava, Celtic went on to thrash Montrose 7-0 and fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against rivals Rangers, ensuring they took significant momentum into last week's European clash with Twente.

Unfortunately for the Scottish champions, their first-ever Women's Champions League group game ended in a 2-0 home defeat.

They then fell to another defeat at the weekend, falling to a surprise 1-0 defeat to Hearts to leave them in fifth place in the Scottish Women's Premier League and six points adrift of top spot.

Having gone three games without a win, Celtic will turn their focus to a difficult away trip against one of the most iconic names in football, knowing that all the pressure and expectation will be on a Real Madrid side that have won four of their five home games this season (D1).

Real Madrid Femenino Women's Champions League form:

W

W

L

Real Madrid Femenino form (all competitions):

Celtic Women Women's Champions League form:

W

W

W

W

L

Celtic Women form (all competitions):

Team News

Real Madrid are unable to call upon midfielder Sandie Toletti, who sustained a knee injury in a league clash against Valencia earlier this month.

Maria Mendez is likely to return to the side to feature in a backline with Sheila Garcia, Maelle Lakrar and Olga Carmona.

Toril may also decide to recall Athenea del Castillo and Redondo after the pair dropped down to the bench for Sunday's derby.

Meanwhile, Celtic are unable to call upon long-term absentees Chloe Craig and Clare Goldie, while Hana Kerner and Kit Lofterski are also set to miss out due to injury.

Sadiku is likely to recall Murphy Agnew and Saoirse Noonan after the pair featured as half-time substitutes at the weekend.

Lucy Ashworth-Clifford also came off the bench against Hearts, and the 25-year-old could be given the chance to operate on the left flank against Real Madrid.

Real Madrid Femenino possible starting lineup:

Misa; Garcia, Lakrar, Mendez, Carmona; Angeldahl, Abelleira; Del Castillo, Weir, Caicedo; Redondo

Celtic Women possible starting lineup:

Daugherty; Lourenco, Clark, Hayes; Cross, Ross, Ashworth-Clifford; McGregor, Agnew, Noonan

We say: Real Madrid Femenino 2-0 Celtic Women

Previews by email