The Champions League group that Celtic will play in is not the hardest that the club has ever faced.
No supporter, including the management of Celtic, should be alarmed by being grouped alongside teams like Feyenoord, Lazio, and Atletico Madrid.
When the draw was done, I initially had that impression. After seeing Atletico Madrid humiliate Real Madrid in the Metropolitano Stadium, I’m not so sure I still believe that.
Typically, the Madrid Derby is a football spectacle. There are two guys who were on display last night who Brendan Rodgers must now be wary of since both clubs have some of the best players in the world.
Alvaro Morata poses a threat to Celtic.
In 2019, the Spaniard transferred from Chelsea to Atletico in a £58 million move. [ESPN] In 112 appearances since then, he has scored 42 goals. In La Liga, goals are scored on average every 2.66 games, which is pretty amazing.
He was a continual thorn in the side of the Galactico last night against Real as he twice ghosted their defense to nod in a double in the 3-1 victory.
In 66 appearances for Spain, Morata has also scored 33 goals and has won a slew of prestigious awards, including the Champions League (twice), the Europa League, and the UEFA SuperCup. [Transfermarkt]
For Celtic, Callum McGregor must restrain Saul Niguez.
Saul Niguez was another player who stood out in the victory over Real Madrid. The Spanish international midfielder assisted both of Morata’s goals last night. He was formerly linked to a £35 million move to Chelsea in 2021.
Niguez, who is primarily a midfielder, slipped onto the flanks and shown his talent with two exquisite pin-point crosses that Morata was able to finish.
Therefore, McGregor will need to perform at the top of his game to aid in containing his midfield runs. Greg Taylor and Alistair Johnston will likewise.
In 384 games for Atletico, Niguez has scored 46 goals and produced 24 assists, three of which have already been made this year. [Transfermarkt]
The Spaniard, who has 19 caps, will be a huge challenge for Celtic.
Celtic should take note of Atletico’s track record before playing Real Madrid.
If anyone had any doubts about Atletico’s reputation, they only experienced defeat six times in their last 21 La Liga games versus Real Madrid.
Eight of the other games resulted in draws, while six were victories. Atletico has scored 20 goals while giving up 22 in eight clean sheets.
Although Celtic has the ability to score against the Spaniards, it’s important to note that the La Liga team is also no stranger to scoring against their opponents.
Atletico’s performance against Real Madrid will convince fans that they are a top team, even though Celtic could have faced stronger opponents in the Champions League.
