MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 1 BENFICA 0

PRE_MATCH COMMENT

Was so confident of victory tonight that the nearer kick off came the more nervous I became!!!

BORUC ….…….7 Had two world class saves in the first half and then went on to have an untroubled night apart from a wee mix up with McManus in the first half. He really enjoys the big games.

CALDWELL ….4 He’s slow, he gives away too many silly fouls, he passes poorly but he gives 100%. This should not good enough to secure a place in a Celtic team.

KENNEDY….. 6 Started the game very nervously and received very little help from his Captain. However the longer the game went on the more imposing he became. Has a poor headed effort when presented with a clear cut chance from a free- kick. It’s another step on his road back.

McMANUS…. 5 Was unsure right from the start and even allowing for the fact that he was up against a great forward in their no 7, Car , he had one of his poorer games. His Achilles heel is that if he is turned he hasn’t the pace to recover.

NAYLOR….….. 6 Made a couple of silly mistakes but overall he’s coming back to last years form and so is his confidence.

HARTLEY…. ….8 JOINT MOM His performance tonight was his best in a Celtic jersey as he was having to position himself, pace himself, stand firm in front of a shaky defence and still find the energy to make some crucial tackles/interceptions in midfield. Remember, he was not receiving the support from Brown that you would expect.

JAROSIK…. ….. 4 He may have had a couple of nice touches but he also showed with some very poor touches and his lack of energy and commitment later on in the second half indicates that he should move on in January. Celtic must be able to replace him with a better player.

BROWN …….. 5 Not the dominant, attacking display I was hoping to see from an undoubted talent. Had one great run and shot and suffered from a horrendous tackle that forced him from the field.

McGEADY…. ….8 JOINT MOM It was most satisfying that those supporters who couldn’t wait to criticise him after any mistake, eventually had to stay silent and hopefully, acknowledge that they are witnessing a star of real quality blossoming. His first C.L. goal and 90 mins of not only great attacking play but also some good defensive work………a performance that will have more clubs throughout Europe contemplating a move for him.

JVOH ……….4 I know he won a couple of headers and even made a couple of good passes but is that all we can expect as a return on our investment? I think not.
I don’t think it will happen but he too should be replaced in January for a better quality player.

McDONALD ……….7 Caused the Benfica defenders so much trouble by never giving up and winning so many balls in the air without ever jumping for them!

SUBS ………….
1. DONATI ……….. 5 Replaced Jarosik
2. KILLEN ……….. 4 How have Celtic managed to come up with a clone of JVOH? He’s just as slow, he’s just as timid and he is just as weak in the air.
3. SNO …………….. 4



REF…………. 7 Reacted immediately to correctly send off the Benfica player for an awful tackle and was one of the few refs not to give the opposing team a penalty in an C.L. game!

THE GAME ……6 It was fast, it had lots of mistakes but it was still a nerve tingler.

GOALS ………. 1st A totally deserved goal for McGeady even though it took a defl


COMMENTS ….. 1 Now the fun is going to start when Shaktar visit Celtic Park in 2 weeks. The following are the permutations with only two games left taking into account the rules in the situation where two teams end up with the same no of points:
-
a) The top two teams from each UEFA Champions League group go into the first knockout round in the spring, with the third-placed clubs to enter the UEFA Cup Round of 32. (Celtic’s victory makes ,at least, entry in to the UEFA Cup highly probable.)
b)
If two or more teams are level on points they are split by
(a) higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question,
(b) superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question
(c) higher number of goals scored away from home the group matches played among the teams in question
(d) superior goal difference from all matches played,
(e) higher number of goals scored,
(f) higher number of coefficient points accumulated by the club in question, as well as their association, over the previous five seasons.(Celtic are ahead of Shaktar but behind Benfica)

1 If Celtic beat Shaktar by 3 goals they are through to the last 16. If they win by only 1 or 2 goals then Celtic have to do better than Shaktar in the last game.

2 If Celtic lose to Shaktar they cannot make the last 16

3 If Celtic draw with Shaktar and Milan beat Benfica then Celtic have to do better than Shaktar in the last game.

Think the above is accurate but did it in a bit of a rush.