Celtic and Benfica fought out a tight, chess-like, game in their opening Champions League group stage encounter. Celtic had the best of the opening 15 minutes as Benfica seemed to spooked by the occasion. Kris Commons, in particular, made good on his pre-match promise to make the most of his Champions League stage, but once Benfica settled action inside the penalty boxes was limited.
Emilio Izaguirre picked up an early booking, the result of poor positioning and a mistimed tackle, and thereafter was subject to continual pressing from Benfica as they sought-out a weak point. He was replaced after 65 minutes; part of a change of formation which benefited Celtic.
Neither team had a chance worthy of the name but both had good claims for a penalty. Rodrigo raced after an immaculately times forward ball and collided with the impregnable Fraser Forster. The Italian referee waved play on. Five minutes from time James Forrest at last got space to exploit inside the box but Garay caught him mid-flight. Forrest fell, to no avail.
Kelvin Wilson gave his best performance in a Celtic shirt alongside his initial central defensive partner, Mikael Lustig, then alongside Thomas Rogne, when Lustig retired injured shortly after the hour. As Benfica pressed Wilson and Charlie Mulgrew always tried to hold the ball and make a pass. Benfica were strong on the wings and Adam Matthews returned to his best defensive duties to counter.
Victor Wanyama, who also collected an early booking, struggled with concentration throughout the game but Scott Brown put in a tireless shift alongside him.
The change in formation after 65 minutes, when Gary Hooper replaced Izaguirre, improved Celtic enormously. Hooper used his strength effectively to lead the line, whereas Miku looked a forlorn figure until then. The 4-4-2 Celtic now deployed also gave Forrest space to exploit for the first time.
Wilson and Brown both played very well but Kris Commons was easily man of the match. There seemed no part of the field he was not prepared and able to launch an attempt at goal from. Late in the first half, when Benfica were enjoying their best spell, Commons twice in quick succession used his remarkable understanding of the game by successfully tempting an opponent to foul him. Pressure was released and Celtic gained a territorial advance.
Celtic never looked to be in any real danger of losing a goal and the vocal crowd believed a glimpse of daylight inside the Benfica box could deliver all three points but the opportunity never arrived.
Support a Scottish World Champion Boxer: Ricky Burns
On Saturday 22nd September, lifelong Celtic fan Ricky Burns is defending Scotland’s honour against England’s Kevin Mitchell in an unmissable World Championship boxing clash!
Burns puts his WBO World Lightweight Championship on the line, in a fight billed as the Battle of Britain. You can bag yourself the best seat in the house with BoxNationTV (Sky 437, Virgin 546).
Get the CQN discount now!
Celtic Quick News proudly presents to you a special deal for our faithful readers. You can sign up for BoxNation for just £10 a month with no registration fee (which usually costs £10) if you’re a Sky TV subscriber. And there’s no minimum contract, so if you decide you don’t want to keep the channel, you can cancel your subscription with no penalty fees after this huge world title clash.
To get behind a Scottish World Champion as he battles it out in the ring, subscribe to BoxNation now and enter the promo code GOALBOXING (all block capitals) to take advantage of this special offer.
275 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Big Kelvin showed last night why Lenny signed him AND why he’s an accident waiting to happen. Completely misjudging a high ball and attempting to control it Messi style when he’s last man and a couple of dribbles between their attackers! Cut that stuff out and he could be a player.
Held our own last night without creating much. Thought Miku panicked when he got in behind them late on- released the ball way too early when he had time to let Hooper(?) peel off his man and pick him out.
Forrest should have been hauled off after 60mins. Wanyama was a rock, booking saw him go back into his shell slightly but first 20mins he won the ballor us 6 or 7 times. Brown had his best game in a Celtic jersey- seeing him and Vic sweating in the post match interview you knew they’d given their all.
Would have given Watt 15/20 mins.
Overall can’t be too disappointed- 10 L debutants against a team that dominated Chelsea in their own Stamford Bridge last season! They threatened but weren’t a class apart. Roles will be reversed over in Lisbon but will be a good test.
We could get 4 points from Spartak Moscow but really the big thing this year is really just being in the CL.
Whisper it but maybe we have a chance against Barca at Parkhead:)
HH
Philbhoy @0953
Have to agree with you there!
Imo Tony Watt should have come on instead of Hooper who was obviously not fully fit, and looks half a stone – or more- overweight.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough – always been a firm believer in that.
Young Tony has shown that he has the talent, and the maturity, to play at a high level – other young players like Dylan and Filip Twardzik likewise.
HH!!
Stripping titles from cheats is just like confiscating stolen property from criminals.
Cheers Awe_Naw, it is an old article that I don’t remember reading; it’ll never come to pass. hehe!
kitalba
09:39 on 20 September, 2012
Did this ever get a mention on here?
……………………………………………………
Don’t know if the DR article you link was given any coverage or credence but it would appear that this is what Green is referring to as his “Draft agreement” that pre-judges the issue of EBTs.
He has a point, it does, but then the terms of the document are obviously “Without Prejudice” and simply form the basis of discussions and would not be admissible as evidence in any subsequent court or legal actions.
Ten Men Won The League
09:21 on
20 September, 2012
Considering the players missing and that we were playing a Pot 2 side who ran last seasons CL winners very close, i don’t see how anyone could be peed off with last nights result.
Spot on my friend. A grittty performance epitomised by the efforts of Brown,Wanyama, Mulgrew & Commons and the others close behind with the exceptions of Izzie and Jamsie who both need a wee spell on the sidelines IMHO. Once we get the injured boys back we will only get better.
Considering the average age of our team, reduced squad, injuries, restricted markets and budget, I thought we were unlucky not to shade it last night.
I have my opinion of the way the game went but my opinions are belated. If we could only pop a wee bit of hindsight into a time portal.
Len Brennan
10:03 on 20 September, 2012
Forget the Forrest pen claim Saw this on the back page of the Mail today.
This blatant hand ball on a goal bound header was a bigger reffing gaff IMHO.
………………………………………
Davie Provan wouldn’t see that far less discuss it.
Big Nan:
Going through my head is that old saying…
“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”
I thought it was a solid performance from a team that had 10 Champions League debutantes, I thought we sorely missed Sammi as when his on form he can offer something special that our other players don’t have.
It was never a penalty for Benfica as FF clearly got the ball before clattering the player, good reffing there. I thought Brown was a human dynamo in the second half breaking up attacks and covering our defence.
It was always going to be hard to beat Benfica especially with Jesus as their manager.
I would rather we draw at home in the CL while earning literally millions than be beaten in the Ramsden ramekin
Hail Hail
Can anyone at the match tell me how many Benfica fans there were ?
Hail Hail
By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Thursday 20 September 2012 08:51
CELTIC found themselves acting out a familiar script on their return to Champions League group phase action as they endured an evening of frustration which has already lengthened the odds on their prospects of further progress in the tournament.
Referee: N Rizzoli (Ita)
Attendance: 60,000
———————————-
BBC says
Att: 53,373
up over goal
spot on with regards to izzy and mulgrew
izzy was improving and charlie lost ball 3 times in succession when izzy went off
thought hooper held onto ball and used well when he came on tho
How good was the officiating last night. I thought in comparison very good indeed.
HAil Hail
THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2012 TEXT SIZE The Bhoys are back in town and other assorted songs provide soundtrack on return to Europe’s biggest stage
Stewart Fisher
Sports Writer
WELCOME back, we’ve missed you.
After 22 months – or 664 days – without one, a Champions League group stage match kicked off on Scottish soil once again. Even goalless draws don’t seem quite so bad in Europe’s premier club competition.
Uefa’s trademark theme music, Zadok The Priest, may have been sneakily aired a few times prior to the odd qualifying match or two but this was the first full-throated chorus heard anywhere in this country since Rangers conceded a late Wayne Rooney penalty to go down by a single-goal at Ibrox in November 2010.
For Celtic alone, you could go back a further two years, to a 2-0 victory against Villarreal. It said it all for the anticipation around this ground that Handel’s piece of classical music was fairly drowned out by more than 53,000 fans, delighted that Scotland for one night at least, no longer felt like a footballing backwater.
The other musical reference points pre-game were Gerry & The Pacemakers and Thin Lizzy. A rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone was dedicated as an act of post-Hillsborough remembrance before fans mounted a display featuring the European Cup and the words The Bhoys Are Back In Town. Lisbon, of course, was the scene of Celtic’s most famous triumph but times have changed and Neil Lennon’s ambitions against last night’s visitors from Portugal were decidedly more modest.
Twice in recent history Celtic had taken Benfica’s scalp in Glasgow only to suffer the opposite result in Portugal, but their visitors had reached the last eight of this competition only last season and their form coming into this match was in marked contrast to Celtic’s.
Jorge Jesus’ side top the Portuguese league after the first three rounds, even though they have not played a competitive match for a fortnight, and Lennon seemed content to check the thrusts of his more vaunted opponents. There was a realism about Lennon’s first Champions League group stage team selection, with Mickael Lustig and Kelvin Wilson, the two fastest central defenders on the Parkhead payroll, enlisted into duty.
Having said that, the cacophony around Celtic Park in the opening stages of these nights can be harnessed for the home side’s advantage and on a chilly night in the East End of Glasgow you briefly suspected Benfica also might get caught cold. And some things don’t change, Scott Brown devoting his evening to expertly bullying the likes of Pablo Aimar and Nicolas Gaitan out of their stride.
With Gary Hooper only fit enough to take a place on the bench, Miku – given his Sunday name Nicolas Fedor on Uefa’s official team lines – was the only true striker in Neil Lennon’s starting XI and from his cute touch Kris Commons had an early chance which he tugged wide. Dangerous crosses whizzed into the box from both Charlie Mulgrew and Commons but after a hesitant opening, the Portuguese gradually got their bearings. There were also first-night nerves from the Parkhead support, not least when Fraser Forster was given the benefit of the doubt when he converged on the ball and dangerman Rodrigo at the same time. Victor Wanyama and Emilio Izaguirre both ran the gauntlet after first-half bookings.
A second wave of Celtic optimism greeted the beginning of the second period, even if there remained little in the way of chances for the fans to get properly excited about. Commons’s cross was sclaffed haplessly towards his own goal by Gaitan; an opening cancelled out by another good save from Forster to defy Ezequiel Garay’s header.
Hooper duly arrived, as Celtic moved to a more recognisable 4-4-2, but only a limited amount of caution was thrown to the wind from either camp. Bruno Cesar and Commons swopped long-rangers, the Scotland man’s effort from all of 50 yards. A howl of anguish greeted the non-award of a penalty for contact on James Forrest, then substitute Oscar Cardozo’s header flew over. Fans leapt off their seats as Miku had one last run down the left but late drama was kept at a minimum. It hadn’t been a classic. But this was the Champions League all right.
Awe Naw.
A very small number at the front of the main stand right hand corner. Think St Johnstone when 10IAR was stopped.
And yes, the officials were good.
If I’m not mistaken, yesterday was Fraser Forster’s 100th competitive game for Celtic. Nice for him to mark it with a clean sheet and a visit from the England goalkeeping coach.
spikeysauldman
Agree – Hooper’s strength allowed Miku to get onto more of the ball.
Celtic mark their return to the group stage by earning both a point and respect from Benfica
Michael Grant
Chief football writer
Neil Lennon insisted his Celtic side had earned respect across Europe and proved they could compete in the Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Benfica last night.
inShare
Their return to the group stage after a four-year absence was edgy and evenly-contested but Celtic claimed a point at home on matchday one before their next two Group G games, both away, to Spartak Moscow and Barcelona.
Neither side looked likely to claim a winner last night but Lennon was pleased that his team, 10 of whom had not played in the Champions League before, had held such an experienced Portuguese side. “I always felt we could compete and I hope we have gained a little bit more respect from the footballing world,” said the Celtic manager.
“Benfica went into the game as heavy favourites but I don’t think you could call the game. It shows that we have a bit of depth, to be able to compete without Georgios Samaras, Joe Ledley and Biram Kayal.
“I haven’t set the team any targets in the group but I did say to them after the game that if you’re not going to win a game, don’t lose it. We have gained a point already so it’s a decent start. We will probably have to get something in one of the away games and we know that’s a tall order given our history in the competition, but this is a different team, a different animal, and we are capable of getting some results away from home. That was the first test of Champions League football for them and the majority of them passed the test.
“It was a fair result. We didn’t work their goalkeeper as much as I would have liked. Having said that, I was very pleased with the team’s performance. There were some superb performances.
“I thought Charlie Mulgrew had a fantastic game. Adam Matthew, Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama and Scott Brown in midfield; there are a lot of positives to come out of it and we move forward with a lot of confidence. A few maybe didn’t reach the heights they can do, but that’s understandable.
“Benfica set their stall out to be hard to break down and to hit us on the counter-attack. It’s a learning curve for me to see how other teams adapt to conditions away from home in the Champions League. I thought the atmosphere was brilliant. It was marvellous. It was a great privilege to be in the dug-out tonight.”
Lennon had known England goalkeeping coach and scout Ray Clemence would be at the game to watch Fraser Forster but he had not told his player in case it inhibited his performance. “I thought whatever Fraser did, he did very, very well,” said Lennon.
Mikael Lustig came off with a hamstring strain which could make him a doubt against Dundee on Saturday.
Jorge Jesus, the Benfica coach, felt his team had deserved to win. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, Celtic are a very aggressive team, good defensively. But Benfica played very well and victory would have been deserved.
“Their best player for me was without a doubt James Forrest. I was enchanted by their tactics, they surprised me. Celtic could have scored three points but they lost two at home.”
Funny how we all see the game differently Paul67, Commons MOTM? Not by a million miles he wasn’t! Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and Victor Wanyama were all much better than him. His first touch was too often poor and lost him the ball, mind yout he would have brought the house down if that 50 yard attempt had gone in!
Izzy is still a concern don’t know how to get his confidence back but he was caught in possesion at least three of four times last night, however central defence was solid with all three guys aquitting themselves well. James Forrest is still young and has to learn at this level but worked hard. The Benfica manager was quoted as saying that he thought James was our best player!
We struggled with creativity all night against a team who worked very hard with and without the ball but a draw was a fair result. I have no doubt we will improve when all of our players are fit and the new guys start to integrate into the team.
Got to look forward to Moscow, no fear there especialy if Samaras is fit.
Wait until young James F gets going, If Jorge Jesus was impressed with, in most people’s opinion, a average performance for a very talented player.
Agree, the Ref’s performance was very professional.
Hail Hail
Was the Benfica manager serious or playing games with his post match comments on Forrest……………….. these foreigners can play the ole psychology game very well IMO
Says it all when we see a decent refereeing performance as something rare and wonderful.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
I’d say there were about 200 Benfica fans but could be out by 100 either way
A big Quack! to the ref from me too.
Phil Bhoy – Certainly did not. I have a rule of never going with gilrs who are into football.
Spiers on Sport: can Ally McCoist prevail as The Rangers manager?
Graham Spiers
Even months after the The Rangers FC self induced calamity has been noted and documented, it is still surreal to be at Ibrox on a Tuesday night to take in the big one – quarter-finals night in the Ramsdens Cup.
I’ve spent years at Ibrox on such midweeks covering big European ties against Manchester United, Barcelona, Valencia and Inter Milan.
But not this: a grim The Rangers struggle against Queen of the South which ended 2-2 after 90 minutes and a deserved 4-3 win on penalties for the visitors, leaving mutterings again about the inability of Ally McCoist as The Rangers manager.
These are times of severe humble pie at Rangers – causing great mirth for some and pain for others – and there is plenty more of it to come over the next three years.
But this game caused some to ask once more: can McCoist prevail as manager and how much humble pie does the former portly Ibrox idol wish to consume ?
McCoist is adored at Ibrox, and has been a sheet-anchor in this self-inflicted fiasco at The Rangers, but even he cannot remain immune from the critics you hear around this club.
On this night one voice an employee from the main stand shouted down: “Ally ya fat pie muncher, yer coat’s on a shaky nail, grandad!”
With The Rangers stumbling time and time again in their new environment, and failing to beat such luminaries as Peterhead, Berwick Rangers, Annan Athletic and Queen of the South, a fresh focus has been brought to bear on McCoist’s inability to manage.
There are many things in his favour but, right now, footballing achievements cannot be cited amongst them.
McCoist’s record as Rangers and The Rangers manager in competitive games now reads: Played 55, Won 33, Drawn 10, Lost 12 and no I wont provide just the cup competition statistics.
The The Rangers boss is one of the most popular figures in the history of the club but some fans are not overly enamoured at these statistics, especially as they include 10 recent matches among the lower divisions. With the greatest respect The Rangers should not be getting beat by the diddy clubs.
Indeed, since losing to Kilmarnock in the SPL at Ibrox in February, the record of McCoist and Rangers and The Rangers reads: Played 22, Won 13, Drawn 4, Lost 5.
How good is all this? Not good enough for The Rangers, and McCoist knows it. Having already witnessed his team being ditched from four cup competitions over 14 months – the Champions League and Europa League qualifiers, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup – McCoist’s players have shown a fragility which has continued, even now in the fifth failing of the Ramsdens Cup. The trajectory has been that of a plummeting asteroid.
Against Queen of the South that brittleness was evident to all. The visitors looked superior team to McCoist’s in every department until a very questionable penalty decision threw the visitors a wobble and even having gone 2-1 behind, they hounded and harassed The Rangers and caused the home fans to become flustered at 2-2.
This was another bad moment for McCoist. For some reason The Rangers, even with their batch of highly paid international SPL players, are toiling in the lower regions of Scottish football. At the very least it must gnaw at the Ibrox manager.
It is absurd just now to think of Charles Green removing McCoist, just as it seems inconceivable that at some stage The Rangers will not advance to the top of the Third Division and win it in comfort.
But just imagine if this laboured football continues….what then? McCoist has been central to Green’s rejuvenation at The Rangers, in converting the fans’ hearts and minds to the Yorkshireman, but the manager cannot be viewed as immovable although it may be considered that Ally Mc Coist is in the comfort zone if his ballooning weight is to be considered. It is a worry.
Green needs The Rangers to be a success if he is to make money – his stated aim – from his Ibrox intervention. For that to happen, a successful The Rangers manager will be the key. In this context, McCoist somehow needs to hoist himself and his team away from these months of on-field stumbling.
On the plus side, the The Rangers support seem to be grinning and bearing all this through gritted teeth. The truth is, being out of Europe for four years and ploughing through the Third Division is the last place any of them want to be, yet the club’s faithful are doggedly sticking at it. It cannot be easy as some of them consider their season ticket purchase to be of the pig in poke variety already.
The attendance against Queen of the South was 23,932: not stellar, but it was the Ramsdens Cup for goodness sake. And Champions League football involving Manchester City and Real Madrid The Rangers fans other favourite teams was live on television.
Not so long ago these illustrious teams might have been here at Ibrox on the European stage. But a scandal has robbed Rangers the robbers and architects of the scandal of such status and prestige.
McCoist hopes to be the man to lead The Rangers back to the summit in three years’ time. Right now, though, that looks anything but certain.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
10:07 on
20 September, 2012
Stripping titles from cheats is just like confiscating stolen property from criminals.
……………
100% correct! That must be done (along with the league cups) and then they would normally get punished as well, but how can you punish a dead club?
A point a fair result for me.
Neither team outshone the other and it was very much a case of defenses on top and a midfield battle negating the other.
The biggest difference for me was when we won the ball in the midfield we had no pace in the side to get up to their goal and this allowed them to get back and cover well. Charlie getting down the left was slow and Forrest was not used the way he needed to be in the first half when they looked a little rocky.
Benfica when they won it had better option and movement up front when breaking on to us but thankfully our defenders and Brown and Wanyama held firm.
Other than Commons, we lacked creativity and I felt if we were going to score it would be from a corner or free kick as their keeper looked to be all over the shop at crossed balls.
It was not to be.
For Celtic to do anything now we need a result in Moscow. A draw could put us second in the group as I believe Barcelona will beat Benfica in the next round and should Celtic draw, they’ll have two points to Benfica and Spartak’s one with those two taking points off each other and two return matches to come.
Against Barcelona write off the games but anything you get is a bonus.
Moscow for me is now the key game. Take something and we have a chance to progress into Europa, take nothing and we’re right up against it.
Regardless we did not disgrace ourselves with a team minus 3 key players and minus one new defender who might have played.
The penalty claims were both soft and I thought neither were worthy. The referee was decent – he didn’t go in for play acting too often (and the Portuguese are the worst of the lot for that) and he tried to calm situations when he could. Both Brown and Wanyama with a weaker referee could have been sent off but equally Aimar and their fullbacks could have .
It was competitive and felt like it was either going to take one goal or be a 0-0 as it proved.
No disgrace to draw 0-0 with them. Here’s hoping the run of identical results home and away between these sides continues and we get a 0-0 in Lisbon. If Benfica win home and away against the Russians it might just relax them and we can get a result.
HH
That´s pretty disappointing show from the Benfica fans
So was the attendance last night 53K or 60K ?
Hail Hail
mearns 2 milton
Phil Bhoy – ‘Certainly did not. I have a rule of never going with gilrs who are into football’
Wise words which i agree with entirely young man
Although Natalie Sawyer of SSN could easily persuade me otherwise :)
Philbhoy
Watt was probably thinking “wow I’m 18 and already in my career in making the bench for Celtic the champions league”
Some preppie have to try and see a negative in everything.
It’s not healthy man.
And by the by, I would have brought him on instead of Hooper too, but you get my point.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
10:30 on 20 September, 2012
‘How good was the officiating last night. I thought in comparison very good indeed.’
It wasn’t perfect, but it was even handed.
What I don’t understand is why the ‘extra’ linesman is positioned on the same side of the goal as the ordinary linesman, he’d be of more use the other side of the goal.
There was a least one howler last night where the keeper took the ball over the line on the far side of the goal. It should have been a corner, but a by kick was awarded. If the ‘extra’ linesman had been on the far side he would have been able to see what happened.
awe_naw_no_annoni_oan_anaw_noo
I would say closer to the 60,000
Than the pro Sevco BBC 53,000.
bazzabhoy
11:01 on 20 September, 2012
Philbhoy
Watt was probably thinking “wow I’m 18 and already in my career in making the bench for Celtic the champions league”
#####
Or maybe he was thinking
‘It’s probably as well I’m not playing, what with this haircut and everything.’
One thing I noticed about Forrest is that he is really quick to sprint straight ahead- but he is really ponderous at turning. So their excellent left-back Melgarejo who whilst quick was slower than James often found it easier to knock it past james as he is slow to turn and get get back.
I’m not sure he is ideally built – could maybe do with a bit less weight up top – or possibly he has just lost a yard after injury.
Either way whilst good he needs to vary his play. I got the feeling the manager had told him to take on his man – and he kept trying to knock it down the line when Melgarejo was tight and there was cover behind him.
About 80 mins in he seemed to remember he could cut in.
Morning,
I dont know why there is some negativity surrounding last night. I have no doubt we as a team will get stronger in this tournament.
Benfica spent £20 Million in the summer and have some tremendous attacking talent in their team and to limit them the way we did is something to be proud of.
I am quietly confident we can go to Moscow and come back with at least a point. Never thought I would be thinking that in the CL.