WED 6 DEC ~ UEFA CL ~ Man Utd v Benfica ~ FC Porto v Arsenal
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UEFA Champions League Wednesday, December 6, 2006
VS
Man Utd v Benfica
~ Ch 23 - 3:45am - (Live) ~
Probable teams
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Silvestre, Evra, Heinz, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Saha, Rooney, Smith.
Benfica: Quim, Correira, Anderson, Luisao, Leo, Petit, Ferreira, Katsouranis, Mantorras, Rui Costa, Miguelito, Moreira, Alcides, Diego, Paulo Jorge, Beto, Kikin Fonseca, Manu, Karyaka, Simao, Nuno Gomes, Nelson, Bruno Costa, Nuno Assis, Karagounis, Joao Coimbra, Miccoli, Moretto, Ricardo Rocha
VS
FC Porto v Arsenal~ Ch 24 - 3:45am - (Live) ~
Probable teams
Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Fabregas, Hleb, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Baptista, Adebayor, Almunia, Djourou, Hoyte, Song, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere.
FC Porto: Helton, Ricardo Costa, Pepe, Pedro Emanuel, Marek Cech, Ibson, Ricardo Quaresma, Lucho, Lisandro Lopez, Anderson, Tarik Sektioui, Jose Bosingwa, Jorge Fucile, Bruno Alves, Ezequias, Raul Meireles, Vieirinha, Paulo Assuncao, Tomo Sokota, Jorginho, Alan, Helder Postiga, Paulo Ribeiro, Joao Paulo, Adriano, Bruno Moraes, Diogo Valente, VÃtor BaÃa.
Both Man utd and Arsenal must not lose their games... A draw is acceptable to both teams.
First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic
Man Utd v Benfica
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille
Anderlecht v AEK Athens Start your predictions... -
yeah as both better goal diff
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First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid madrid
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti lyon
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic draw
Man Utd v Benfica win
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal arsenal
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille milan
Anderlecht v AEK Athens draw -
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My predictions...
First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - away win
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - home win
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - home win
Man Utd v Benfica - home win
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal - draw
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille - home win
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - draw -
Real Madrid
Lyon
celtic
Man Utd
Arsenal
CSKA
Milan
Anderlecht -
First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid-Madrid
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti-Lyon
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic-Celtic
Man Utd v Benfica-Man Utd
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal-Arsenal
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow-Draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille-Milan
Anderlecht v AEK Athens-AEK -
Mourinho backing Benfica against Man Utd
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho admits he will be rooting for Benfica to overcome Manchester United in their Champions League Group F clash.
United need a point to ensure they reach the knockout stage of the tournament but Mourinho warned Sir Alex Ferguson and his men that Benfica are capable of winning at Old Trafford.
And in a veiled dig at Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Mourinho said it would not be so easy for him to 'get one of his penalties'.
Ronaldo was at the centre of more controversy at the weekend when he earned United a penalty in their victory over Middlesbrough even though replays clearly showed there had been no contact between him and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Mourinho's Porto side knocked United out of the competition at the last-16 stage two years ago when Costinha's last-minute goal gave them a 3-2 aggregate success.
Now Mourinho believes Benfica can deliver a similar knockout blow to United.
Mourinho said: 'Benfica is a team that when you watch them you don't know what is going to happen.
'The last game they were magnificent against Sporting Lisbon. They beat them 2-0 away and played very well. Players were performing at the highest level and the team looked very solid.
'If they go to Manchester and play at their highest level they can do it. Of course, it is not easy, but they can do it.
'They know Ronaldo well and how to deal with him. So it won't be easy for him to get one of his penalties. Benfica have got a chance.
'I will be rooting for them for sure, if I didn't I could not go home.' -
I'd love it if Arsenal and United were beaten says Mourinho
Jose Mourinho yesterday admitted he would "love it" if Benfica and Porto were to eliminate Manchester United and Arsenal from the competition tomorrow night.
United are at home to Benfica, and Arsenal, away to Porto, both must avoid defeat to secure their path to the second phase. Despite admitting that both sides' elimination would worsen his team's Premiership prospects, the Chelsea manager did not hide his delight at the thought of the Portuguese representatives winning both ties.
Mourinho described the penalties awarded to United (one) and Arsenal (two) at the weekend as "nothing new"
When asked if he would be rooting for his compatriots. He said "I would love them to win, for sure. If Manchester United went out it would negatively affect our fight for the Premier League because if you go to the next stage of the Champions League you have big matches coming; it's top-level football.
"If Manchester United and Arsenal go into the Uefa Cup maybe they will decide to rest one or two players because it's an easy competition to play in. -
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - away win
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - home win
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - away win
Man Utd v Benfica - draw
FC Porto v Arsenal - away win
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - draw
AC Milan v Lille - home win
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - draw -
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - D
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - H
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - H
Man Utd v Benfica - H
FC Porto v Arsenal - D
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - H
AC Milan v Lille - D
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - A -
UEFA Champions League Wednesday
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid ; Real Madrid
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti : Lyon
FC Copenhagen v Celtic : Celtic
Man Utd v Benfica : United
FC Porto v Arsenal : Draw
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow : Draw
AC Milan v Lille : AC Milan
Anderlecht v AEK Athens : Anderlecht
Cheers.
C.K -
HENRY AND ROSICKY OUT FOR GUNNERS
Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky misses the Champions League trip to Porto on Wednesday after picking up a problem affecting his groin and hamstring during Saturday's 3-0 Barclays Premiership victory over Tottenham.
Philippe Senderos returns to the squad after missing the north London derby through suspension while William Gallas is still out with his thigh injury. Abou Diaby (ankle) and Lauren (knee) are longer-term absentees.
Thierry Henry, who would have been unavailable for the clash anyway due to suspension, is also suffering from a neck injury that could keep him out until the new year.
Team (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Van Persie, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini.
Oh man... so many out! Rosicky, Gallas, Lauren & Henry... all first team players... Big problem for the Gunners...
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First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - away win
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - home win
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - away win
Man Utd v Benfica - home win
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal - away win
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille - home win
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - home win -
I am only worry about Arsenal tomorrow... so many out! Rosicky, Gallas, Lauren & Henry... all first team players... cos they are taking on a team that is in one of the dirtiest league in Europe...
Tho Porto may have improve a little on their antics since that "Special one" left but that are still a dirty team...
So Arsenal better beware...
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Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - away win
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - home win
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - away win
Man Utd v Benfica - Away Win
FC Porto v Arsenal - Away win
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - Hamburg Win
AC Milan v Lille - Home win
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - Away Win -
Scoreboard
1. used 11pts
2. anhydrouscoppersulphate 11pts
3. zocoss 11pts
4. T.Ryousuke 11pts
5. CKeer 10pts
6. Dead_Man_Inc 9pts
7. Takumi2eLimit 8pts
8. a-Lost-9uY 7pts
9. sand king 7pts
10. SBS9828X 6pts
11.lpx88 5pts
12.BÃ¥seline 5pts
13. LazerLordz 4pts
14. OO_OO_OO 3pts
15. bballers 2pts
16. dragg 2pts
17. babymac13 1pts
18. mcfadden 1pts
==========Relegation Zone==========
19. universe 0pts
20. hobochua 0pts
21. Patrik 0pts
Champions League: 1st, 2nd
Champions League qualifying: 3rd, 4th
UEFA Cup: 5th
Relegation: Bottom Three -
First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - Away
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - Home
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - Draw
Man Utd v Benfica - Home
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal - Away
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - Draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille - Home
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - Away -
Clubs that remain... and
Clubs that are out will have a strike off on them. -
Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid - draw
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti - away
Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic - draw
Man Utd v Benfica - away
Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal - home
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow - away
Group H
AC Milan v Lille - away
Anderlecht v AEK Athens - draw
EPL
Newcastle v Reading - home
West Ham v Wigan - home -
Celtic going all out for top spot
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is targeting the club's first Champions League win on foreign soil in a bid to finish top of qualifying Group F.
"We have the chance to go top of the group which would be fantastic," said Strachan ahead of the Copenhagen match.
"I don't think we are firing on all cylinders at the moment so I would like to get near top form."
Celtic are tied on nine points with Manchester United but are guaranteed their place in the knockout phase for the first time because of a better head-to-head with Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
United need a point against Benfica at Old Trafford to join the Scottish champions in the latter stages.
Therefore, Strachan's side know they have to match United's result to claim top spot in the section.
Finishing first would ensure Celtic line up against a second-placed team in the last 16 and play their second leg at home in March. -
First Phase Group E
Dynamo Kiev v Real Madrid madrid
Lyon v Steaua Bucuresti lyon
First Phase Group F
FC Copenhagen v Celtic celtic
Man Utd v Benfica Man U
First Phase Group G
FC Porto v Arsenal arsenal
Hamburg SV v CSKA Moscow draw
First Phase Group H
AC Milan v Lille milan
Anderlecht v AEK Athens draw -
Although only a draw is required to ensure they progress to the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, FC Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira expects his side to go all out for victory when Arsenal FC travel to Portugal in the concluding round of Group G fixtures.
Henry absence
Jesualdo Ferreira is able to welcome back Paulo Assunção and Fucile after both sat out Saturday's 2-0 home Portuguese Liga win against Boavista FC, although Tomislav Šokota, Pedro Emanuel and Anderson remain long-term absentees. The visitors have their own injury concerns, however, with talismanic captain Thierry Henry – who is suspended in any case - facing a spell on the sidelines through fatigue-related problems, yet the home coach is not placing too much significance on the Frenchman's loss. "Henry's absence makes no difference to me. He's an important player for Arsenal but they're very strong as a team.
Arsenal weaknesses
"It's not easy to find weaknesses in the Arsenal team - they are very balanced and they manage to keep the ball in their opponents' half," added Jesualdo Ferreira. His side succumbed 2-0 at the Arsenal Stadium on Matchday 2, but the hope is that they can exploit the travel sickness of a team who have lost their last three Premiership away games: "Arsenal are as vulnerable as any other team, as their Premiership campaign proves. If we play at our best then those weaknesses will show."
Remarkable potential
Wenger took his charges to last season's final and echoed his Porto counterpart in his desire for a positive result, adding: "We will continue to play our game and our approach is always to win. Porto will no doubt aim to do the same. They have been consistent and the match should be very interesting. We have a very good chance of qualifying and the team has the potential to repeat last year's performance and even improve on it - but the first step is to qualify."
Probable teams
Porto: Helton; Bosingwa, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fucile; Paulo Assunção, Raul Meireles, Lucho González; Ricardo Quaresma, Lisandro López, Hélder Postiga.
Arsenal: Jens Lehmann; Emmanuel Eboué, Kolo Touré, Philippe Senderos, Gaël Clichy; Aleksandr Hleb, Cesc Fabregas, Gilberto, Fredrik Ljungberg, Robin van Persie; Emmanuel Adebayor. -
Just like last season Manchester United FC find themselves in a do-or-die duel with SL Benfica but according to Sir Alex Ferguson, this time they have only themselves to blame. Successive defeats at FC København and Celtic FC have left United needing a point to progress from Group F against Portuguese visitors who proved their nemesis 12 months ago – prompting the manager to bemoan his club's seeming fondness for "doing it the hard way".
Last time
Benfica came from behind to beat United 2-1 in Lisbon on 7 December last year, denying them a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 1994/95. "Our pride was terribly hurt," recalled Sir Alex, who believes that setback acted as a spur to his players, who in 55 games since have won 38 and lost just eight. "Sometimes out of bad comes good. I think we are playing better - there is no question about that. Our form has been excellent." According to Benfica coach Fernando Santos, United are "a different team this year, much stronger and challenging at the top of their league".
'A final'
For Benfica, two points behind Celtic and United, only one result will do. "This is a one-off game, a final," said Santos. "We're going to try to achieve what we set out to do at the start - to reach the knockout stage." Benfica's record in England does not augur well, with eight defeats in ten matches, but they won 2-0 at Liverpool FC on their most recent visit in March, en route to the quarter-finals, and arrived here buoyed by a 2-0 triumph at neighbours Sporting Clube de Portugal last Friday.
'Going for win'
"I hope we can play even better than at the weekend," said Santos. "It is possible to beat United but it'll have to be a great Benfica performance. We have to be organised, compact, defend well and play well - and that means making opportunities to score and scoring them. If we get chances we have to take them." Portuguese teams have eliminated United in two of their previous three European campaigns but, predicting an open game, Sir Alex promised his players would show no caution. "Going for draws is not on the agenda of Man Utd and we will be going for the win."
Probable teams
United: Edwin van der Sar; Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidić, Gabriel Heinze; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs; Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha.
Benfica: Quim; Nélson, Luisão, Ricardo Rocha, Léo; Petit, Konstantinos Katsouranis, Nuno Assis, Simão; Nuno Gomes, Fabrizio Miccoli. -
