PORTUGAL: FOOTBALL/ SOCCER - Benfica and Celtic prepare for their Champions league Group F clash in Lisbon

A Celtic win over Benfica in Lisbon on Wednesday (November 1) would more or less guarantee the Scottish champions a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Celtic are in second place with 6 points, 3 points behind Manchester United who top the group with 9 points. Benfica, who have failed to score in their last five Champions League matches, share the botton of Group F with FC Copenhagen. Both teams have one point each. Manchester United would qualify for the knockout round with a victory against Copenhagen and a draw would also suffice if Benfica fail to beat Celtic. Celtic could also go through with a victory over Benfica as long as United do not lose. Two-times European champions Benfica will seek revenge for the 3-0 defeat by Celtic in Glasgow and hope to grab a victory that would take them to within two points of second place. Benfica midfielders Giorgios Karagounis and Rui Costa are still out for Wednesday's match recovering from injuries. The 29-year-old Greek international Karagounis is sidelined after sustaining injury in his right leg during Greece's 4-0 win over Bosnia three weeks ago and Rui Costa is recovering from a thigh injury. GROUP F P W D L F A Pts Manchester United 3 3 0 0 7 2 9 Celtic 3 2 0 1 6 3 6 Benfica 3 0 1 2 0 4 1 FC Copenhagen 3 0 1 2 0 4 1

ITN Source | November 1, 2006

Tags:. .united. .still. .second. .group. .place