Celtic v Benfica - Wednesday 7.45pm on Sky Sports 3

There was about 30 empty seats, They were all in a row just under the Prawn Sandwich area in the main stand, was quite weird how there was just like a big line of empty seats, Celtic must have made those Prawn Sandwich Area seats too and they never sold out because I noticed just after HT that the people in that area were all slow to get back to their seats too.

 

:smiley-laughing002:

 

Apparently done for the 96, although I fail to see how doing it 10 mins before kick off showed any solidarity...?

Should always be just as the teams are coming out, and no one singing it except the crowd.

 

I am seeing it in the light it was good result, no doubt about that, and I feel much better tonight than I did on Saturday night. I think it will realisitically come down to the two games with Spartak Moscow for second place, as I think we can draw with Benfica at least in Portugal, with Samaras Kayal and Ledley back.

 

Not once did MoN's side qualify for the last 16 with our best side for decades and people are expecting us with guys with no CL experience to be beating a side who should have put out Chelsea last year. Rome wasn't built in a day! Be positive about it, we've been in the wilderness for 4 years were back and competing and we've picked up a point, if a few more come our way I'll be happy. You don't get CL handed out for nothing, we earned that tonight without key players. Onwards and upwards.

 

There's no reason why we can't win the away game against them in Portugal. They are honestly nothing special. Even their main man, Cardozo, was quiet when he came on and had only one real chance, which sailed harmlessly over the bar. We'll also have Samaras back, hopefully.

 

Its neither a good or bad result. It was our easiest Group game but it wasnt an easy game, they are a good side who will fancy either getting to the Last 16 or maybe even winning the Europa League, where as we are hoping to get 2nd or 3rd but we know we're not really going to do anything.

For us its more about the experience, so the next time we're there we're better.

 

heard some thing about that seems a bit strange though

 

Some of our best results have been away from home under Lenny, he has bucked the trend.

Not a disaster by any stretch of the imagination tonight.

 

Quite happy with the result.

 

he is not their biggest threat for me, Gaitan looked dangerous every time he got on the ball and it is important we close him down and don't allow him any space in Lisbon

 

It's due to UEFA rules mate. Only caught a little bit of the players coming out.

 

The attendance for the game where Barcelona beat us in 3-2 in 2008 was listed as 58,345 by BBC. I'd say that's one of the best examples to use. Then again, I've seen higher figures for games against the old Rangers club in the past. BBC also said that we had over 60,000 for the 1-0 Man United game in 2006.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6160910.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7250340.stm

 

Threads Merged.

 

Just back in and although disappointed we didn't win there were many plus points to take away. Considering we started with 10 who have never experienced what a CL night is together with 3-4 key players unavailable like I thought we coped very well. It was a very solid performance and we still have everything to play for.

Matthews, Wilson and Vic all played extremely well and Brown for me was MOM. He was everywhere.

 

Before tonight we had lost 5 out of 6 CL openers (with the other being drawn) so it's already a step in the right direction IMO, as we have equalled our best start to a CL campaign.

Plenty of time to pick up points - potentially another 6 points at home - although both games will be tough...

And of course with the way we have performed home & away in Europe already, we have a chance of picking up points away from home too.

Add to that the 10 debutants - AND the fact that we were missing Sammy, who is on top form, Kayal, Ledley, Stokes, a fully fit Hooper and others and we did well tonight!

Plus, the opposition are a considerable step up from the Helsingborgs and Helsinkis of the world...

So no need for the 'we're a' doomed' *!!!

Enjoy the CL campaign this season - the coffers at the club will swell in the process - and hopefully we finish 2nd or 3rd and have continued European football after Christmas...

Hail Hail

 

*?! Their figures have been off by more than a couple thousand in all of our games.

 

I thought it was a little closer to kick off against Helsingborgs but I could be mistaken.

To be fair I was having a * over Subo at the time so my timing could be a little off.

 

Gaitan is undoubtedly a good player, but heading into tonight's game, Cardozo had scored 20 goals in 37 European games. He's also well over 6 foot and can use his head well, whilst our defence is traditionally shaky when dealing with set pieces. That's why I see him as their biggest goalscoring threat.

 

We might beat them away, it will probably be another really close game over there but by then we'll have more players back.