Old Friends and Foes.
The Hoopy hordes will once again be visiting the San Siro....
It’s always the saying that after a high comes a low. Yesterday, I was listening to the Champions League Draw, via mobile phone on my way home from work on the number 38 bus. My friend who was relying the information was mentioning Group B as the group of death and the fact that we didnae want Shakhtar or any Turks from pot 4.
I mentioned to him that the group with AC Milan and SL Benfica would be a disappointing outcome for me, as after the experience of the night before I was looking for new foes and friends to compete against and new places to visit. I was looking for the chance to turn over Madrid or a Chelsea at CP and a chance to maybe visit the Emirates.
Of course we ended up in Group D. And of course our worst fears were realized when Shakhtar were drawn in the same group. First thing I look for in these draws is what the chances of us finishing third are.
FC Shakhtar Donetsk are a mixture of home-based players, Brazilians and an Italian. Their Brazilian Matuzalem, the man who was the master of our heavy defeat last time we visited there has left and for us EPL watchers we can be glad that they have also sold Elano, another Brazilian to Man City.
The thing is they have replaced them with another Brazilian called Willian from Corinthians and the well-known Cristiano Lucarelli from Livorno. They have invested heavily in the summer and will be tough opponents, as I would expect them to be as good as Spartak who we have just faced.
They could put irons in the fire in the make up of this group as I fancy them to take points from all teams especially at home. We play them on match day one and if we manage to get a point there I would rate that as a fantastic result and one that will go a long way to ensuring third place.
Even though AC are odds on favorites to go through, with a fit again Ronaldo to be gracing CP turf for the very first time, something I’m looking forward to, us, Shakhtar and the Eagles of Lisboa will all fancy their chances of going through.
While the draw is disappointing in the glamour stakes, well we are Champion League regulars and we should expect to face teams we have already played, it’s a draw that if we get our away form sorted out we could match last years achievements, or at least finish third, but only if Milan take the points we expect.
As usual the double header against a familiar Benfica side, they have only lost one player from last season, could turn out to be vital. While we are facing teams we have knowledge of this is a different Celtic, a more expansive Celtic and I’m sure the teams we play against will love or new devil may care attitude just as I’m sure our midfield and strikers, maybe not our defenders will enjoy playing against our opponents.
After the other night I’m looking forward to the games. Apart from Milan I don’t think any of our opponents are any better than the Spartak team we have just faced. If we carry the same luck, have the same workrate, creativity and fitness I see us having a good chance of keeping our Champions League adventure alive after Xmas.
Cause we all know it’s going to be an adventure.
Forza
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2 comments:
I think we were quite lucky to draw Benfica as they were probably the weakest pot 2 team and I think we can improve on the 3 points we got from them last year.
That balances out the Shaktar effect, who are surely one of the strongest pot 4 teams, and certainly look to have more threat about them than the Copenhagen team we met last year.
As for Milan, well they are ranked number 1 in Europe (and I think that was the case last year as well). But I just get the impression they don't like playing against us and our style of play. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part though.
Not sure if the order of the games is the best for us, starting first away to Shaktar then following up with Milan at home then Benfica away. We might have trouble getting some points on the board at that stage.
In saying that, the run-in seems to be in our favour, especially finishing up agianst Milan in the last game (logically - if there is such a thing - they might be already qualified).
All in all we could finish anywhere between 2nd and 4th, but I think I said that last year and we threw away a chance to finish top by self-destructing in Copenhagen - so what do I know?
Also good to see the huns get a tough draw at last, that will help stretch them domestically cos they just don't have quality in depth like we do. How many red cards are we going to see? How many UEFA fines? Ach well, it gives us 6 more games to look forward to.
Ha Ha - love it!
They won't have a UEFA cup parachute this time round.
Whereas, realistically, either a last 16 or UEFA cup spot is definately feasilbe for us.
Personally, I would quite fancy a decent run in the UEFA cup, but that's partially due to the current coefficient set up - look at how it benefitted Benfica's coeff after we put them out last year.
Wonder when the guys in Nylons are going get round to sorting that out!
SIX- I think Porto and PSV were weaker than benfica...but they are no better than spartak, which should worry us!!!!
I like yer UEFA cup run notion, i have said we are a 1/4 final or semi final uefa cup team...there it's in print.:-)
The double header against Benfica will set us up.
I never mentioned the r*ngers draw as i huvnae stopped laughing yet.
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