LISBON: Celtic missed out on a chance to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night with a game to spare after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Benfica.
Ola John gave the Portuguese side an early lead before Giorgos Samaras equalised for Celtic, but Ezequiel Garay’s 71st-minute winner left Celtic third in Group G and needing them to better Benfica’s result in a fortnight if they are to advance to the knockout stage.
“I’m disappointed with the two goals we conceded. There was a lack of composure, a nervousness about us at times on the ball. It is a young team and this is a difficult place to come and play football,” manager Neil Lennon told Sky Sports.
With Barcelona already through as group winners courtesy of a 3-0 win at Spartak Moscow earlier on Tuesday, a score draw for Celtic would have secured them a berth in the next round, but Lennon’s side must now get a result at home to already-eliminated Spartak to keep their European hopes alive.
“We have one more crack at it against Spartak and we live to fight another day,” added the Northern Irishman.
Meanwhile in Istanbul, Galatasaray earned a 1-0 victory in a hard-fought battle with a young Manchester United side on Tuesday night, snatching the win through a Burak Yilmaz header in their Group H Champions League game.
The victory boosted Galatasaray’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage, putting them in second place in the group, behind United who had already qualified after four wins in their first four matches.
Burak put the Turkish champions ahead in the 53rd minute, heading into the top left corner above the head of Rafael after Felipe Melo had gone close seconds earlier and won a corner.
Hamit Altintop just failed to double Galatasaray’s lead in the 78th minute with a powerful shot which flew off the crossbar.
United, knowing qualification was already assured, rested a number of senior players including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David De Gea and Robin van Persie.
In their final match on December 5, Galatasaray, who are ahead of CFR Cluj on goal difference, will play Braga. The Portuguese side, who lost 3-1 to Cluj, are already out of the competition on three points.
“Beating Manchester United is important,” said Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim. “We played brilliantly and unselfishly. My players played football in a way we have been expecting for a long time. We are very hopeful for second place,” he added. “There is no guarantee in football but we will play well at Braga who no longer have any chance.”
United manager Alex Ferguson said: “Parts of the game were good but in the area which we were worried about - set pieces - we suffered. Other than that I was satisfied. We had some good attacking play in the first half and at that point the only trouble they gave us was from outside the box. It was a very competitive, good game.” REUTERS
