It’s a very big night for Celtic as they bid to qualify from the knock-out rounds of the Champions League for the very first time. After a loss in Manchester and a victory over FC Copenhagen, Celtic know victory tonight over Benfica would put them five points clear of the Portuguese side at the half-way stage in the group.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan wanted his side to win their home matches in this group and a similar result to the 1-0 success over the Danes would do them very nicely.
The injury list, however, has been growing all week and Strachan could be without as many as five regular first-team players for this clash. Tommy Gravesen is definitely out and he could be joined on the sidelines by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Aiden McGeady, Maciej Zurawski and Craig Beattie. It means the Celtic squad will be tested to the limit but despite that, they should have enough to register a victory.
Benfica were far from impressive three weeks ago as they lost at home to Manchester United and they are not good travellers. They arrived in Glasgow yesterday promising to play attacking football as they bid to kick-start their hopes of qualification. They have just one point from their first two matches and they badly need something from this match. A defeat would really dent their hopes ahead of the return fixture in Lisbon.
Even though Benfica are one of five teams in the competition who are yet to register a goal, they do have some excellent attacking players as Liverpool found out to their cost last season. They knocked out the then defending champions eight months ago and even though they are under a new manager, the forward potential is still there.
Nuno Gomes can be very dangerous in front of goal but he only seems to play in fits and starts while Simao is a real menace and can unlock most defences when on his game. Benfica have scored four goals in each of their last two league matches so the confidence is there. Celtic should have just about enough to win tonight, even with all their injury problems.
The Scottish champions are eyeing second spot in this group as their route to the knock-out rounds. The feeling is that Manchester United will win the group and they should beat FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford tonight. They did not play well in Lisbon on Matchday 2 but they still won and another victory this evening would move them on to nine points – just one away from the 10-point mark which should be enough to guarantee safe passage out of the group.
Copenhagen were surprise qualifiers for the competition proper and while they do have some talented players Manchester United will have too much class for them. Wayne Rooney showed some flashes of his old self at Wigan on Saturday and tonight would be the perfect night for him to re-open his scoring account in the Champions League. Ryan Giggs changed the match at the JJB on Saturday when he came on after half-time and should have a major influence on the game this evening.
Like Manchester United, Arsenal are very well placed to advance from their group ahead of their match in Moscow against CSKA on Tuesday. The Gunners have two wins from two matches. Their form in the Premiership is on the up after four consecutive victories and they have designs on another trip to Champions League final.
That match will be played in sub-zero temperatures and the starting line-up will probably be the same as for the victory over Wigan in London on Saturday with the exception of Theo Walcott who will be replaced by Robin Van Persie. Arsenal may not win tonight but they have been playing so well in recent weeks, it is hard to see them being beaten by the Russians.
On Wednesday night, Chelsea and Barcelona renew their intense recent rivalry in this competition at Stamford Bridge. Nobody thought it would be possible, but the match has been overshadowed by the goalkeeping crisis which has struck the London club. Petr Cech was ruled out on Saturday after that accidental clash with Stephen Hunt at Reading and Carlo Cudicini has today ruled himself out of the match after suffering concussion during the same match.
Jose Mourinho will have to give a start to the former Porto ‘keeper Hilario and there is real concern about his quality. He conceded four goals in a match against Manchester United almost 10 years ago and Wednesday night against the reigning European Champions will be a massive test for him. That could really hamper Chelsea’s chances of victory at Stamford Bridge. It will be a great occasion and the atmosphere will be very intense.
Liverpool are also in action on Wednesday night and they will meet up with their former team-mate Vladimir Smicer in Bordeaux. The Czech international did not have a great time at Anfield but he has a special place in the folklore of Liverpool after his goal and his penalty in the shoot-out in the 2005 final in Instanbul.
Liverpool have been struggling in the league and are 10th after their draw against Blackburn on Saturday. They just about hung on to win against Galatasaray on Matchday 2 and have won just one of their last seven visits to France. They are without Dirk Kuyt because of injury but a draw would do them just fine with the French side due at Anfield on Matchday 4.
