UEFA Champions League
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2 vs 1
Played
November 20, 2012 7:45 PM GMT
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) — Lisboa
Referee:‬ V. Kassai‎
Attendance:‬ 47065‎
 

Benfica - Celtic Preview: Hoops can qualify for knockout stages with first ever win at Benfica

Neil Lennon's side have lost on every single one of their visits to the Portuguese capital side, while the hosts are yet to taste defeat domestically this season

By Tim Poole

More On :  Benfica, Celtic, Benfica vs Celtic
UEFA Champions League, Celtic v Barcelona, Tony Watt, Javier Mascherano
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  PROBABLE LINEUP
BENFICA

Artur
Pereira, Jardel, Garay, Almeida
Matic, Gaitan, Perez
Lima, Cardozo, Rodrigo
CELTIC

Forster
Matthews, Ambrose, Wilson, Mulgrew
Brown, Wanyama,
Comons, Ledley, Lassad
Samaras

Benfica welcomed skipper Luisao back into the fold against Moreirense at the weekend after a two-month suspension and the defensive stalwart may be in contention to replace Ezequiel Garay once again.

Coach Jorge Jesus has a wealth of attacking options to choose from, with Ola John, Eduardo Salvio and Melgarejo all having featured up front for the Portuguese side during the group stages.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon, meanwhile, will be without midfielder James Forrest for a game that could potentially send his side through to the tournament's knockout stages.

The Hoops will have Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras available, however, despite the pair making way during their side's 2-0 win against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Scott Brown, Gary Hooper and Joe Ledley are carrying knocks into the tie, while Lennon could well look to revelationary young striker Tony Watt if he chooses to utilise a more attacking approach.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Benfica are unbeaten domestically this season and have only lost twice in all competitions - at home to Barcelona and away to Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.
  • The Portuguese outfit's star striker Oscar Cardozo (pictured right) is joint-second in the Portuguese Liga's top scorer charts with six.
  • The Lisbon side come into the game on a run of form that has seen them win all but one of their last seven games.
  • Celtic are currently top of the SPL, but have not ran away with the league as many anticipated they might, currently sitting just a point ahead of Hibernian with a game in hand.
  • The Glasgow club became the first British team to lift the European Cup 45 years ago in Lisbon.
  • Hoops midfielder Victor Wanyama became the first Kenyan to net a Champions league goal when he headed home against Barcelona last time out.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Benfica 1-2 Celtic
    17.42 %
  • Benfica 1-1 Celtic
    15.75 %
  • Benfica 2-1 Celtic
    14.56 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Nov 20, 2012 Benfica 2 - Celtic 1
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Sep 19, 2012 Celtic 0 - Benfica 0
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Last Five Matches
Benfica
May 19, 2013Benfica 3 - Moreirense FC 1POR1
May 15, 2013Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2EL
May 11, 2013Porto 2 - Benfica 1POR1
May 6, 2013Benfica 1 - G D Estoril Praia 1POR1
May 2, 2013Benfica 3 - Fenerbahce 1EL
Celtic
Mar 6, 2013Juventus 2 - Celtic 0UCL
Feb 12, 2013Celtic 0 - Juventus 3UCL
Dec 5, 2012Celtic 2 - Spartak 1UCL
Nov 20, 2012Benfica 2 - Celtic 1UCL
Nov 7, 2012Celtic 2 - FC Barcelona 1UCL
Odds
Returns: Benfica £15.33 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £210.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Celtic £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1ArturGoalkeeper
4LuisaoDefender
24Ezequiel GarayDefender
-L. MelgarejoStriker
8Toto SalvioMidfielder
21Nemanja MatićMidfielder
-André AlmeidaMidfielder
35Enzo Nicolás PérezMidfielder
7Ó. CardozoStriker
18LimaStriker
24Ola JohnStriker
-Paulo LopesGoalkeeper
14Maximiliano PereiraDefender
33Jardel Nivaldo VieiraDefender
-Bruno CésarMidfielder
27NolitoMidfielder
20Osvaldo Nicolás Fabián GaitánMidfielder
19RodrigoStriker
1Fraser ForsterGoalkeeper
2Adam MatthewsDefender
-E. AmbroseDefender
6Kelvin WilsonDefender
21Charles MulgrewDefender
2M. LustigDefender
8Scott BrownMidfielder
16Joe LedleyMidfielder
67Victor WanyamaMidfielder
9Georgios SamarasStriker
88Gary HooperStriker
24Lukasz ZaluskaGoalkeeper
15Kris CommonsMidfielder
20Paddy McCourtMidfielder
33Beram KayalMidfielder
36Niouoi LassadStriker
-Tony WattStriker
7MikuStriker
Players to Watch
Ó. Cardozo
Ó. Cardozo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
5 2 1 0
With six goals to his name in the Portuguese league and two in European competition, the experienced marksman is sure to cause a stir amongst the Celtic backline. Cardozo is not Benfica's only threat, yet how the Hoops contain the 29-year-old Paraguayan may well determine the outcome of the Scottish champions' fortunes.
Georgios Samaras
Georgios Samaras
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
10 5 2 0
Samaras has caused mayhem in recent European games against Barcelona and his danger from set-pieces will again be crucial. Whether the Greek striker is played as a lone frontman or alongside another of the Hoops' forwards, his ability to sneak a goal could be the difference between defeat and another historic night.
Prediction
Benfica will be heavy favourites in their own backyard and coming off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, but the Hoops' penchant for great European nights may just see them earn a vital point.
Editor's Prediction
Benfica 1
Celtic 1
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0