Amy Gallacher has hailed Caroline Weir as her hero as they prepare to face off against each other in tonight’s UEFA Women’s Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Celtic at the Alfredo Di Stéfano in the Spanish capital (kick-off is 5.45pm Celtic Park time).
🛬➡️🏃♀️➡️🎙️
#RealMadridCeltic | #UWCL | #CelticFC🍀 https://t.co/ClExDrui4U pic.twitter.com/Gg4we4Q2TV— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) October 16, 2024
A crazy 12 months for Amy Gallacher
There are not many Celtic players more worthy of playing in the Champions League than Amy Gallacher, whose 90th minute winning goal for the Hoops against Hibs last season clinched Celtic’s first ever SWPL1 title.
It has been a crazy 12 months for Amy Gallacher, who won her first senior Scotland cap against England in the Nations League in September 2023.
Taking on the Galactico’s Femeninos
Fast-forward a year and to be now starring in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Group Stages in the Spanish capital against the Galactico’s Femeninos are surely what dreams are made of.
Gallacher will match-up against her fellow Scotland teammate Caroline Weir. The former Manchester City star is making a return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept the forward out of action for a year.
Amy G on Real Madrid star Caroline Weir
Speaking to the media ahead of the game, Amy Gallacher heaped praise on 102 capped Caroline Weir, “personally, I looked up to Caroline Weir when I was young growing up playing football, so to play against her playing for Real Madrid, it’s a bit crazy. It’s just something I’m looking forward to. Obviously, she’s a great attacking player for them. She creates goals, she scores goals, so that’s something we want to stop during the game.”
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![Kelsey Daugherty in Madrid]()
- Kelsey Daugherty training at Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in Madrid. Photo Celtic FC Women
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![Caitlin Hayes in Madrid]()
- Caitlin Hayes training at Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in Madrid. Photo Celtic FC Women
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![Natalie Ross in Madrid]()
- Natalie Ross training at Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in Madrid. Photo Celtic FC Women
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![Amy Gallacher in Madrid]()
- Amy Gallacher training at Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium in Madrid. Photo Celtic FC Women
Amy G added: “She’s someone I look up to and want to play like. She’s a massive player for them, so if we stop here then we give ourselves a chance, so hopefully we can do that tomorrow.”
Amy Gallacher missed the UWCL opener against FC Twente
25 year-old Gallacher was absent from the squad in last Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Dutch champions FC Twente in Celtic FC Women’s inaugural Champions League outing, suffering from a bug. She made a welcome return from the bench on Sunday afternoon against Hearts and is exactly the kind of quality player Elena Sadiku will be looking towards this evening.
Amy Gallacher, great grand daughter of the legendary Patsy Gallacher, will be hoping to create more family history as a Celtic player this evening, with Elena Sadiku’s side aiming to pull off an almighty major shock in Madrid.
Lessons from Real Madrid’s match at Chelsea
Against Chelsea, Real Madrid sat in and looked for their chances on the counter. The English Champions were big favourites and won the match 3-2 but Madrid had a great chance near the end to steal a point at Stamford Bridge.
However this Real Madrid side is not at the level of Barcelona – that’s their own ambition obviously.
Celtic should play with no fear, a swagger and a little ‘gallusness’, remain tight at the back and look to punish Madrid on the counter and at set-pieces.
It’s unlikely but stranger things have happened in football and Celtic will be better prepared after having an introduction to Champions League group stage standards against FC Twente on match-day one.
COYGIG!
📍🇪🇸 Madrid: A look at what the Spanish capital has to offer before tonight's #UWCL clash!#RealMadridCeltic | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/27iwAEYOwx
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) October 17, 2024
Conor Spence
