Group F
Celtic have a number of injury worries as they prepare to entertain Benfica in the first of their back-to-back fixtures in Group F.
Midfielder Thomas Gravesen is out with a hamstring problem, while Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Aiden McGeady and Maciej ?urawski are struggling with ankle and hamstring injuries picked up on international duty.
The 19-year-old former Feyenoord trainee Evander Sno is in contention with Jiri Jarosík to replace Gravesen in central midfield, although coach Gordon Strachan admits he has yet to decide on his starting eleven.
“There have been a few missing from training,” the manager said. “On Tuesday we will get together and see who walks into the training field and then pick the best eleven. I am quite confident whatever team we pick will be able to give Benfica a good game.”
“Benfica took a while to get going, but you can see by their result that they’re up and running,” he said. “You’ve got two sides who are playing reasonably well and are more settled, so it looks like it’s going to be a good game.”
Benfica, meanwhile, are without Paulo Jorge, Georgios Karagounis and Rui Costa due to injury.
“We are going to go for goals,” said visiting coach Fernando Santos. “We will play to win and have a more offensive strategy.”
Forward Fabrizio Miccoli shared his coach’s optimism.
“I am enjoying playing alongside Simao and Nuno Gomes,” he said “We were unlucky not to get something from our last game at home against Manchester United but we hope to do better here in Glasgow.”
Probable teams:
Celtic:
Artur Boruc; Paul Telfer, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus, Lee Naylor; Shunsuke Nakamura, Neil Lennon, Evander Sno/Ji?í Jarošík, Shaun Maloney; Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink/Maciej ?urawski, Kenny Miller.
Benfica:
Quim; Alcides, Luisão, Ricardo Rocha, Léo; Nuno Assis, Konstantinos Katsouranis, Petit, Simão; Fabrizio Miccoli, Nuno Gomes.
