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

Hate to be the bearer of bad news and usually I'm the optimistic one, but a lot of people on here are saying we'll do Spartak as if it's an easy task. Spartak are a * quality side, and we NEED to win. A draw would be a good result against them at home, but a win will be very, very difficult. We all seen how good they are away from home in Europe when they faced Barcelona, and losing 3-2 at the Nou Camp is very honorable.

 

Didn't play until they were ahead which is disappointing but understandable considering a score draw would've put us through. I just wonder how we'd have done if we'd been more adventurous. Sub-standard European performance but

Ach well... just wasn't our night. Bring on Spartak at Celtic Park - win, lose or draw it'll be one * of a game and the team have done themselves, the fans and Scottish Football proud as it stands - we're still in it.

No-one expected us to be in this position - point and a Barca victory away from qualification and for me it's win-win as it is regardless of the score. If all goes well we'll reach the last 16 of the Champions League, where the money and glamour is, or if not we still have the Europa League, where on our European performances this season and last I reckon we could actually progress to a decent stage of the competition.

 

If u told me at the start of the campaign this would be the posistion we would be in i would be delighted.

As far as i am concerned this is still in our hands

 

Yep. And Watt wasn't even playing the best we've seen him play.

What was up with Hooper tonight? I'm really at a loss to explain or understand his near complete absence.

 

I agree with this but not the rest. Brown's nowhere close to being fit and shouldn't even have made the bench, tactics were iffy and subs should have been made far earlier than they were. Matthews was poor at left-back, but to be fair he bailed us out a few times. Hooper did absolutely nothing.

 

I think we have a good chance of getting through. Barca haven't lost at home for some time in CL.
I was a bit sad that we played so defensive, thought we should have tried to get something of the game, and not only play on result.
Anyway I believe that the money we have got from participating, and winning games in CL together with perhaps a player leaving for good money, we have made ourself a foundation. For the first time in couple of years can we actually spend a bit more money, and that is what we need I think.

 

On a random note... Did anyone else hear a sort of gunshot noise in the arena about half way into the game? Sounded like a gunshot or a firework being set off or something

 

Barca will beat Benfica, just slightly worried about Spartak at home.
There a good side, that lad Emenke is a cracking forward.

Have to play better than tonight, team looked scared.

 

I think we lacked heart tonight. As I said, very subdued performance.

 

I'm a little bit disappointed to be honest, more with the performance, we just weren't in the game - and in honesty deserved to lose.

I feel that we kicked it long far too often (something we often do against decent opposition) and invited too much pressure onto us. Matthews made a mistake for the first goal, and in the first half was torn to shreds by Salvio (who was the best player on the pitch) because he was on the wrong side - just because it worked against Barcelona it was not the correct decision tonight.

The fans were brilliant for the entire 90 minutes too, came through loud and proud on the TV.

On to Moscow, hopefully it'll be as special a night as the last time we played them at Paradise.

 

The expectation level of the Celtic support has went sky high because we have improved big time in Europe ,Nothing wrong in this but we are now competing again with the big boys of Europe and doing it well .

It was'nt the best ive seen Celtic tonight but its a marked improvement in Celtic teams of the recent past going abroad and getting pumped .

 

Spartak aren't playing for anything, they won't be playing with the same determination as they did against us and other teams.

We can do it

 

While we beat Spartak away, if we play like we played tonight, they'll beat us.

Surely we will get the right result though....

 

Not the best result, but bring on Spartak!

 

The Fans HAVE Played their part many times.. The team owe us an attacking play for 90mins. Lets hope Lennon finally stops messing young watt about and play him from the start.

 

I think he just relies on the ball into his feet to often rather than chasing it down or pressuring the defence into making mistakes. If he's not getting service he just switches off. Might be issues with fitness as well but he's looked lacklustre a few times this season.

 

Just to be sure

Celtic win and Barca wins and we're through?

 

Not a good performance tonight. We seriously missed James Forrest I think, he's a great outlet to have in these games. Also wouldn't have started with Hooper upfront, or atleast have taken him off with half an hour left.

 

I'd like to think that we could step up to the task like we did against Barca.

Maybe we were complacent tonight. It's usually what does us in.

 

Said this after the draw at paradise Benfica are a very gcood team they reached the 1/4 final last year and damm near put chelsea out.
Sure its gona be a nervy finish and it might not go the way we all want but you know what I wouldnt trade it for the world
KEEP THE FAITH!