Celtic FC - 07/08 Champions League campaign

[LAF]

Group D

Celtic FC (Scotland) AC Milan (Italy) Benfica (Portugal) Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)


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[Aladino]

Does celtic have any injuriis going into their game agaisnt Shakhtar this week? As weel as who would you say would be the men to watch out of the cletic players ahead of the game? Donati? He has been great apparently. Naka? Jan VOH?

The reason I ask is I am doing a preview thing. thanks

[DavidMc]

Celtic dont have any major injury worries for their first game. There are a few players to watch out for. As usual keep your eyes open for Nakamura, a player with fantastic technique, Donati has looked impressive in recent weeks and you can see he is a class player.

But watch out for Scott Brown who partners Donati in central midfield. He is a young scottish internationalist who joined Celtic in the summer for £4million from Hibs and has a great future.

[Aladino]

Thanks for the help. Would rep you, but have to spread it around

[Doc-Bhoy]

Not the best start to the campaign after 3 games ( 3 points), lieing last in the group due to goal difference but apart from that we're only 3 points off the lead.

As usual our away form lets us down and most fans are extremely disappointed with the late goal conceded against Benfica which could have got us a point.

But with two home games remaining I'm still confident we can qualify.
Two wins at home and hopefully a point in Milan will show us through

[DavidMc]

Celtic face Benfica at Parkhead this Tuesday in what has to be a must-win game for them. Celtic are extremely difficult to beat at Parkhead and I think they will cause Benfica problems.

Gordon Strachan knows that if Celtic are to progress from the group phase, then they must win their remaining home games as his team often struggle away in Europe.

[DavidMc]

With Celtic beating Shakhtar Donetsk at Parkhead last week, they now have the opportunity to qualify if they take a point at the San Siro next week. Will be difficult. But you cant write them off.

Should be a good game.

[DavidMc]

Congratulations to Celtic. Benfica helped them out with their win in Donetsk.

Now they go into the draw for the last 16. Wasnt much of game to watch. The game picked up in the second half a bit but it didnt feel like a Champions League match.

Congratulations to both AC Milan and Celtic for qualifying.

[Aladino]

Congrats to Celtic on qualifying! One thing is for sure I am sure glad we won't meet again in the next round!

[Doc-Bhoy]

Congrats to Celtic on qualifying! One thing is for sure I am sure glad we won't meet again in the next round!

Always encouraging to hear something like that.

I just hope Strachan adds to our squad in January.

[DavidMc]

Celtic have been drawn to face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.
The first leg will be played at Celtic Park on 19 or 20 February, with the return tie at the Nou Camp scheduled for 4 or 5 March.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said: "We might be outsiders at 100/1, but just to be there is fantastic.

"Although we say that, we want to beat them, we really want to beat them and that is realistic, it can be done."

Celtic progressed to the last 16 thanks to a fine home record.

"We've shown that, when we are at our best, we can beat anybody," said Strachan.

"We know about our away form and we will try and rectify that.

Celtic are a very physical team, fairly defensive, and as such it will be difficult to score the first goal

"But, as long as you give it a good shot in the home game, you never know what can happen after that."

Strachan interrupted training to pass on the news of the draw and revealed that the players were excited by the challenge.

"Most of us have never locked horns with Barcelona in a competitive match, so it's a good draw," he said.

Scott McDonald said visiting places like the Nou Camp was one of the reasons why he moved from Motherwell.

"When I came to Celtic, I wanted to play in great stadiums and against great teams," said the striker.

"In AC Milan and Barcelona, I believe I'm doing that.

"It's a fantastic draw. No matter who we would have got, it would have been hard.

"Barcelona have some mighty players, but I'm sure they will be less pleased than us about the draw.

"Few teams would want to come to Celtic Park.

"We got to the last 16 last year and the boys held their own.

"We were unlucky to go out to one goal against the team that went on to win it.

"So Barcelona know they will have a tough time against us.

"We are not going to give an inch and I'm sure we will rise to the occasion."

Celtic qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament after finishing second in Group D.

Frank Rijkaard's outfit finished top of Group E ahead of second-placed Lyon and Rangers, who finished third.

Celtic lost 3-1 at home against Barcelona in the 2004-5 season but drew 1-1 in the Nou Camp.

However, the Glasgow club knocked the Spaniards out of the Uefa Cup in 2004, beating them 1-0 at Celtic Park and playing out a goalless draw in the return leg.

And Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said they would not underestimate their Scottish opponents.

"It is a good draw, but we must face it with respect because, as much as anything, there remains a lot of time until the tie," said the defender.

Indeed, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, while welcoming the draw, pointed out that Strachan would be given money to bolster the squad in the January transfer window.

Puyol thinks he knows what to expect of Barca's next opponents.

"They are a very physical team, fairly defensive, and as such it will be difficult to score the first goal," he said.

"But, if you score quickly, everything becomes easier."

Very very tough draw. Barcelona will be in full swing by the time they play Celtic. I think this is possibly the toughest draw they could have got.

I cant see Celtic progressing. If they are to have any chance they need a result at Celtic Park as its unlikely they will get anything in the Nou Camp.

[DavidMc]

Celtic 2-3 Barcelona

Celtic have got an almost impossible task in trying to qualify at the Nou Camp. Barcelona will attack even more in Spain. Looks like their european run has ended.