Benfica v Celtic, 20/11/12, 7:45PM.

Good idea. Not sure I would start Scrappy Doo though. Watt is best coming off the bench.

 

We will only need a draw with Spartak regardless or results this week, if Barca beat Benfica.

 

If we play the same tactics we did against Barca we will get pumped imo.We forced them wide at every opportunity as we are more comfortable defending cross balls than through balls.If we do the same thing Cordozo will score for fun.

 

Nothing too fear from this mob IMO. If we go out and play too our game plan which I sure Lenny has one a result is well within our capability. This is a must win for them not us, the pressure is on them not us, we have two chances left this is their last roll of the dice. It will be tough but achievable if we play too our potential.

 

Lenny is confident Hooper & Forrest will be fit and are in the traveling party. No matter who plays I'm confident the Bhoys can get either the draw or win. It won't be easy but we can do it.

 

Even if Barca draw, it'll be:

Celtic 10
Barca 10
Spartak 4
Benfica 4

We're beating Barca on Head to Head

 

Would be fantastic to qualify in style by going over there and doing them!

 

We aren't, there has been a 2-1 win for both Celtic and Barca. I think it goes down to GD after that.

 

I really think we'll win.
Will be harder than Barca as Benfica aren't scared to actually cross or shoot and will try to score but I think we can pick them off on the counter.

I see this going the same way as Helsinborgs and Spartak, just sit back and play it easy then break with pace with Lustig, Sammy, Commons and Hoops.

I hope Forrest is fit as he will give us enormous pace and an even bigger advantage on the counter, but i'm confident we can survive without him.

 

It does go to GD and Barca are +3 to our +1 just now. No idea though who takes the lead if after all the group games we are tied on points and GD with the same head to head.

If that were to happen how is the group winner decided?

 

Arm wrestle between Messi and Wanyama i heard.

 

* sake I was counting our loss as 3-2 for some reason. Probably the Spartak result mixing me up. My apologies.

 

Wanyama's * is bigger than Messi's arm is what I heard!!! :icon_mrgreen:

 

Then messi will spit out his dummy again

 

If we're tied with Barcelona on everything it goes to higher club coefficient. So Barça win.

 

:Forster:
:Lustig::Wilson::Ambrose::Matthews:
:Brown::Wanyama::Ledley::Mulgrew:
:Commons:
:Samaras:​

Not having Hooper will be a big blow, but we coped against Barca so I'm hopeful. We know we can beat the big teams, but it'll be interesting to see how we manage in this game when we won't be pinned back for the majority of the game. Hopefully we can really show our footballing abilities. 2-1 Celtic.

 

By the way, this is going to be a really hard game for us. I cannot see us winning or drawing! PS i'm not pessimistic though and I am having a party in the Champions League!

 

This will be very difficult. Arguably harder than away against barca. Would take a draw no doubt. But i thin k we can do it. Something tells me though that qualification will be gained or lost against spartak....

 

How many games is a suspension for picking up 3 bookings? Just thinking IF we do get the win, it may be good for Wanyama to get a booking so he serves his suspension in the meaningless Spartak game and starts the last 16 with a clean slate.

 

If we win we might as well rest Wanyama against Spartak. Yellows get wiped after the group stages anyway. Think it's 1 game though to answer the question but don't know if Wanyama might get 2 because he's already been suspended in the qualifiers.