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

Been way more nervous about this game than any of the previous 4. So close to the last 16. Hope the players can give another big performance on Tuesday and seal it.

 

Forster

Lustig Ambrose Wilson Matthews

Commons Wanyama Brown Mulgrew

Samaras

Hooper

Is what Lenny will play imo

 

They are in the list of smilies man.

Just do it like this though : Forster :

Minus the spaces before and after Forster.

 

Anyone have a rough idea of how many fans are going to Lisbon?

 

To be honest, I am not that nervous at the moment (we do need to avoid a hammering, that is always on the table even if we have been playing great against Barce). I just hope Barca win in Moskou, since this would mean we have at least third place.

If Barca and ourselves lose on Tuesday, I will be * myself for the final game.

 

I would guess at over 10 thousand mate.

 

Can't think about it now,starting to get that feeling in my stumoch already

 

Cannot wait. Simply cannot wait.

When's the last time, if ever, we qualified with a game in hand ?

 

The Naka game v Man United I believe!

Embarrassingly it wasn't till an hour after full time that me and my mates realized we were through, too busy getting pished just celebrating the win!

The morning after was quite brutal lol

 

From a Benfica fan -

"Benfica also won 2-0 in the cup match. The team had several changes and there are many players that are in doubt for tuesday's game.

Last Game it was a 4-1-3-2 with these players:
GK - Artur
Def.- André Almeida, Luisão, Jardel, Luisinho
Def. Mid. - Matic
Mid.- Gaitan, bruno Cesar, Nolito
Forw.- Lima, Rodrigo

The subs used were Cardozo, Ola John and André Gomes.
Salvio, ofen. Mid. and Melgarejo, left back were not used due to the international game they played last wednesday.

Injured players as of today: Maxi Pereira, Garay, Carlos Martins, Aimar, Enzo Perez. I'm not sure if Matic is sidelined as well.

I think the team will play in the same formation with obvious changes (in brackets are the players used if the first option is injured):

GK - Artur
Maxi Pereira (André Almeida), Garay (Luisão), Jardel, Melgarejo
Matic
Salvio, André Gomes/Bruno Cesar, Ola John/Gaitan
Lima, Cardozo

I think it will be a close match. If you manage to score first, it will be hard for Benfica to change the result. But with all the fans behind, I believe Benfica will win this but you will finish second anyway.

The manager has done a good job considering that he had to reinvent the team after Javi Garcia and Witsel left and Luisão was suspended. And he even "created" a new left back, like he did with Fabio Coentrao.

It's always great to watch the way you support your team. I wish Benfica supporters were more like you and less troublemakers (some of them, of course)."

 

I was very young for that match.. I've thought up until now that that game was our last in the group and only a win would have put us through

Come to think of it.. didn't we lose to Copenhagen in our next game though ? I was only.. 9 going on 10

 

Well two ways you can look at it. The other being if Barca lost and we lose on Tuesday it'll be Barca will have to beat Benfica on the final day to guarantee a place in the last 16. Also mean that destiny would actually be 100% in our hands. A win against Spartak will see us through to the last 16 regardless.

Whilst if we lose to Benfica and Barca win they we'll be relying on Barca picking up something and us winning/drawing to go through. Albeit the task of winning the last game would be easier as Moscow would be out and have nothing to play for except pride.

 

aye we did. I was fuming because i think if we had won that we'd have finished top! :smiley-laughing002:

seem to recall big jarosik scoring!

 

Yeh went 1-0 down instantly and a win would've seen us go through as group winners.

Remember thinking there was no better opportunity than to get our first away win. Pretty frustrating viewing that night.

 

Remember being shocked that we were through after the united game, even Neil Lennon didn't believe the reporter interviewing him after the game.

 

Gordon Strachan's reaction was hilarious

 

Videos! I need videos!

 

would it be goals scored maybe? barca currently lead 8-6

 

Just think if Barca lose (Spartak did run them close at the Nou Camp) and we win. Then we'll go top of the group heading into the last round.

This is tie-breaking criteria for anyone interested (disregard no.5, it only matters if 3 teams finish level and that is very unlikely in this group stage.)

1. higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;
2. superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;
3. higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question;
4. higher number of goals scored away from home in the group matches played among the teams in question;
5. If, after applying criteria 1) to 4) to several teams, two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1) to 4) are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6) to 8) apply;
6. superior goal difference from all group matches played;
7. higher number of goals scored from all group matches played;
8. higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as its association, over the previous five seasons. (Barca win that, obviously)

 

What a day tomorow will be! Off work all day, plus celtic = day off wednesday?