GLASGOW (AFP) - Manager Gordon Strachan is hoping to come up against Real Madrid when the draw for the Champions League group stage is made on Thursday.

The Spanish giants are one of the few European heavyweights the Hoops have managed to avoid in the competition in recent seasons.

And Strachan believes Celtic fans would relish a tussle with the nine-time European champions.

He told the club's magazine: "Real Madrid? That would be handy. I think everyone at Celtic would like to get Real Madrid."

The clubs have not met competitively since Real overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win the 1980 European Cup quarter-final between the pair 3-2 on aggregate.