MATCH REPORT: BENFICA 1 CELTIC 0

PRE_MATCH COMMENT

Celtic should have a great chance of bringing to an end the unbelievable run of no wins in our C.L. campaigns. Benfica are not a top team and are not playing well and Celtic should be good enough to snatch a win.

Killen up front on his own does not fill me with great hope. He might be physical, he might be good in the air but he is slow and lacks the quality of touch and control of a Sutton.

BORUC ….…. 8 MOM His dive to his right to pull off a ‘Gordon Banks’ type save was world class. His other saves were just top class. There is one thing he could learn from McGregor and that is directional kicking from hand.
Don’t know how much longer Celtic will be able to hold onto Boruc if he continues these types of performance on the European stage?

CALDWELL ….…….6 Again in the position he doesn’t like and there were times that Benfica tried to exploit his weaknesses but he stood firm and played his part in a brave defensive effort. I wish he would stop trying to show us how good he is with the ball and just concentrate on being a solid defender. There were a few occasions when a simple pass would have been more beneficial than the clever one he attempted (and failed).

KENNEDY….. 7 Up until the last few minutes he had played a really solid game breaking up attacks and even finding time and confidence to surge fwd. Tiredness I think played a part in him losing his man at that crucial time.

McMANUS…. 6 There had to be some risk in playing him but thankfully he came through unscathed..

NAYLOR….….. 6 Was up against a tricky opponent but stuck to his task.

HARTLEY…. ….7 Playing in front of the defence is his best position and he showed that again to-night with a display of commitment, anticipation and skill.

JAROSIK…. 6 The guy tried for 90 mins, showed some nice touches and won a good nos of balls in the air but he is physically weak as was noticeable by the nos of times he end up on his rear end! I don’t think there is a long-term future for him at C.P.

DONATI ……5 I had really hoped that the European stage would allow him the opportunity to show off his skill but apart from a couple of fleeting moments he really did not rise above average. Was rightly substituted.

BROWN …….. 7 Had a couple of great surging runs and covered every blade of grass but I feel that he looking for a calmer more mature player alongside him. Lennon of a couple of years ago might well have been the guy

McGEADY…. 7 Another O.F. game in which he failed to have any impact. He just does not like it when the going gets tough. Was rightly substituted. At the start I thought he was going to be the man to spark the victory but then he faded, then he rored back into the game and was the Celtic player most likely to create the opening.

KILLEN ….5 We got all that you could expect form a player who’s experience at top level is measured in a Hibs jersey. He tried and sometimes he managed to hold and control the ball but overall the gulf in class was obvious. He might well turn out to be a good SPL player but Celtic quality, I doubt it.

SUBS ………….
SNO..……. 4 Replaced Donati and seemed more interested in the battle than he did on Sat. Showed that he is comfortable on the ball but did not change the way the game was heading at that time.



REF ………….6 Was McCurry like in how quickly he pulled the yellow card out but overall was much more consistent.

THE GAME ……5 In terms of quality of the football it was not a game for the connoisseurs but there was tension as Celtic battled to hold out for the draw.

GOALS ………. 1st The only real bit of class in the game. A delightful chip and excellent finish.



COMMENTS ….. 1 If Celtic had held out for a draw we might be saying that “the result is all that matters” but in truth Benfica were no great shakes and we did not attack enough.

2. I fancy Celtic to beat Benfica at home and I hope that Milan beat Shaktar away. These results would mean that the Shaktar game at C.P. would be a must win game.