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

Aye score draw is 1-1 2-2 etc and becayse we drew 0-0 at CP we woukd have a better head to head over benfica who are 3 point behind us so far it means they would only be able at best to equal our points and we would finish above the due to the H2H

 

Cheers.

 

Lying here half * with the flu, raging I can`t go out for it. Going to need another huge performance from the bhoys. Would be delighted with a draw. As I`ve said before, I think if Aimar can be shut down, we have a very good chance of getting at least a draw. Anyhoo, this would be my team if everyone is fit;

--------------Forster----------------
Lustig---Ambrose--Wilson---Matthews
------------Wanyama---------------
-------Brown--Kayal--Ledley---------
-------------Samaras---------------
--------------Hooper---------------

1-1

 

Just looking at their form. Theyve only conceded 2 goals in 9 games.

 

Yeah, they have to attack but I still think both defences will hold tight, hopefully theirs doesnt.

 

Would be careful about how we use Hooper in a game like this. First question has to be, 'do we use him at all?' Doesn't do enough for me. We'd be carrying him in a match like this - need to take that into account. Both Miku and Samaras suit this kind of game better than Hooper, imo. Not saying I wouldn't use him; just saying we need to be careful how he's used and who we put around him. Hooper is a player whose usefulness varies largely based on the system we're playing.

I'd go with:
(4-3-3, with wing-backs, and a narrow front 3)
Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews/Mulgrew; Wanyama; Brown, Ledley; Miku, Watt/Hooper, Samaras

Or:
(4-2-3-1 - again, a narrow forward 3; this time behind a poacher)
Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews/Mulgrew; Wanyama, Ledley; Commons, Miku, Samaras; Watt/Hooper.

Have to get in about them when they have the ball; pile on the pressure and make them lose possession. When we get the break on the counter, we need to be up there in numbers, putting the pressure on the defence. Also important to keep hold of the ball when we're on the break, and be direct but patient - as much as we don't want Hollywood passes that will lose us possession, we don't want to be rushing it, running out of ideas and losing the ball to either a well-timed tackle or a mistimed shot (Commons, in particular, tends to to fall victim to this when he goes too direct).

Ultimately, the man on the break must have support. Too often we've been caught out by a lack of ideas/options on the break. Must have a good 2 or 3 'supportng forwards'/'attacking mids' (call them what you will) to give us a better chance of not losing possession when we break and facing a counter-attack ourselves.
When we're not in possession, those 2 or 3 could press and try to win it back. They could also drop back to help the deeper mids when Benfica get the ball forward.
We've got at least 3 or 4 guys who could play this role in their sleep.

For me, so much depends on that pocket between our midfield and attack: if we can get the balance right there, that'll keep our defence from having to soak up too much.

Defensively, yeah, we want to be patient, but we can't sit off too much either. I want to see us have a go, but be canny about it. It's about getting that balance between sitting off when necessary and going in to stop the play when required.

Overall, I want to see us play a counter-attacking style, but one that isn't all about sitting off and not taking chances to close them down; a counter-attacking style that gives us options on the break, with neither rashness nor cockiness, but calmness.

 

I have a feeling we'll be witnessing another great night.

I predict our bhoys win 2-0

Come on Celtic!!!

 

I was actually more confident of getting a result against Barca than I am ahead of this match. This is the biggest game of Benfica`s season as well so they will be fired up like *. So much riding on this game. Can`t wait :icon_mrgreen:

 

There almost definitely going to score, they need to win, so we just have to make sure we keep it to a minimum and take our chances. Really really nervous!

 

Same: this one requires a bit more thinking. It isn't as black-and-whte. Against Barca, we could just force them wide because we knew they wouldn't play the long-ball. If we do that against Benfica they'll just loop it in towards Cardozo. However, we'll probably get more of a chance to keep the ball ourselves a bit - not that we should be doing that in our own half, but we have to get the balance right middle-to-front.

 

Need to be a bit more proactive than that. Sure, we can't be all over them, but we can do more than 'keep their attacks to a minimum'. Don't get me wrong, we need to do that, but we should be planning to make our own chances when we can; not just waiting for them to gift us opportunities. Obviously, that method worked against Barca, but it might well be very different against a more balanced team.

 

I trust Lenny and the coaching staff - they know what their doing. Very confident of getting the result we need but the nerves are kicking in already. :smiley-laughing002: Playing away from home doesn't seem to faze this team... hope visiting the Estadio Nacional has got them psyched up and ready to write their own names into Celtic history. 'Mon the Hoops!

 

I think Celtic can do a job on this mob ,They have to go all out for out so Celtic will need to be switched on right from the off .

Sit in for 20mins and keep a clean sheet then start working them ,Celtic can do this but they won't if they sit in for the 90mins ,have a go at them and see if they have the bottle to keep it together.

 

Predicted this game back when i came out of Paradise a few months back for the last game against them, sayed 0-0 as i'm sure that everytime weve had Benfica in the CL the results have been identical back to back. Despite the circumstances now i'm still sticking with it, although it seems very unlikely as it looks like a match full of goals. Nervous at *, Mon the Tic

 

Totally agree with that bit in bold there. About the bit before it: I wouldn't totally sit in for 5 mins tbh, never mind 20. We need to sit in sometimes, but not for long blocks of time. Yeah, I'd drop back and cover when we think they're going to hit us with a long ball or a through pass, but if we see an opportunity to break the play up, and it's not going to result in us chasing shadows, I say go for it.

 

A Celtic goal in the first 20 minutes and Benfica will start getting wreckless... if that happens I can see us getting two or three. The longer they go without scoring the better as their fans will start to get agitated (the way we do when we're not winning at home :smiley-laughing002 and that'll heap more pressure on their players.

 

A score draw and we are through. Imagine going into the Spartak game at home with no pressure knowing we are already into the last 16 of the Champions League, what a night that would be at Paradise.

 

I think we have proven already we can take pressure and hit teams on the counter, as we did in Moscow and in Barcelona. All we need to do is stay disciplined and focused take the pressure and make our chances and possession count.

It is not the most difficult match we have faced this season and if the bhoys can pull another performance out the bag, we are in the last 16.

I have full faith the Neil and the backroom staff have used every trick in the book to get the lads fired up for this one, I cannot wait.

 

first goal will be everything here .

If we score it , Benfica will start chasing the game , throwing bodies forward .. this is when we are at our best , we couldpick them off on the counter and win comfortably imo. If benfica score the first goal they will start playing with assurance , patience and confidence , and it will be difficult to get back into it.

Im going 2 nil celtic.

 

Benfica are very good and very difficult to score against, will all be about Mulgrew and the standard of his deliveries if we are to take something from this game. If I had to guess I'd say Benfica 1-0.

Hope Cardoso is on the bench again, don't fear Lima much.