Well, it's the final matchday of the group stage in the Champions League for this season, and Milan only need a draw in order to qualify top of the group, whereas Celtic need at least a point to keep their Champions League hopes alive after Massimo Donati sealed a last minute victory for Celtic against Shaktar which keeps the flame alight. Milan has already qualified themselves for the knockout stage and a victory tonight would signify six successful campaigns in European football topping their group. When the two sides met last at Celtic Park, Celtic clinched a last minute winner courtesy of a McDonald strike, soon involving the controversy with Dida, which was an insult to Italian Football and Milan. I don't have a prediction for this match, as I think Celtic are capable of stealing a point if they are determined enough. I hope that Milan will avenge themselves and enter the Knockout stage of the Champions League on a positive note.

Jesus i didnt even know ChampionsLeague was on this week...While im here might as well post something useful



Milan might experiment and throw in young Gourcuff in the starting line up...Im predicting a draw, Milan wont really be up for it, but they'll want to avoid embarassment again.

Dida to start as captain hahaha

Yeah its only group D this week.

Hopefully Benfica can do Celtic a favour and beat Shakhtar

Yer thats right, because Milan have the Fifa world club championship next week or something...fair enough

Yeah I had no idea this was on either until I saw it in the tv guide before and had to triple check as I thought they made an error. Hopefully McDonald gets a start, scored again on the weekend again and got the winner against Milan last time so he should. Think I may go to bed earlier and get up and watch this one so it better be a decent game!

Wow...Willy got called up to the squad! Fucking shock considering we have only had 2 strikers all fucking season and he has never seen the bench.

I wasnt even too excited about last weeks game agaisnt Benfica, I care even less about this. Saw Celtics CL record there on sky yesterday. 15 games played away from hom, zero wins, 1 draw and 14 deffeats. Make the result almost look a formality. Saying that, if there is one side in the CL they could beat this season away, its probably the highly unmotivated and already through Milan who still havent won at home in Serie A this season (7 fucking games).

I dont expect a good game here at all. It will probably finish a bore 1-1 draw though. Thats my prediction!

Damn Dutch TV with their gay publishing rights. No CL game for me today... :'(

The bookies have a draw down as the favourite result. 0-0 is only 3/1. Bookies aren't stupid and with two teams only needing a point neither side is going to go out all guns blazing.

Kalac
Cafu-Bonera-Simic-Favalli
Gattuso-Pirlo-Kaka-Seedorf
Kaka
Inzaghi

Boruc
Caldwell-Pressley-McManus-O'Dea
Jarosik-Donati-Brown-Hartley-McGeady
McDonald


Mon the Hoops


Benfica goes up a goal against Shakhtar early

'Fields of Athenry' clearly audible in the background now

Dive by Inzaghi wins a very dangerous free-kick. Seedorf takes it and smashes it into the wall. Lucky escape for Celtic.

2-0 to benfica

Kaladze coming on for Simic.

38' First Celtic's shot on the target by Jarosik.

It's square game, but Milan is playing a bit better. Great news from Donetsk. The Bhoys are qualified for the next round.

no they havent already

Both matches at half-time, the Bhoys seemingly only need to endure 45 minutes of the same to go through.

Here's hoping Benfica can hold onto the win in Donetsk, just to make sure.

Christ that was dull viewing. Like I said before neither side is willing to really go for it.

I have a stream for live coverage of some paint drying if anyone is interested?

What a boring game. It will end 0-0 obviously.

Expected it to be a dire affair, and it is so far.

I'd like to see Gourcuff get some minutes as he would inject some enthusiam into the game.

Nah, this game doesn't need anymore enthusiasm than what we're seeing right now imo.




A rather daft move on Scott Brown's part, now he's out for the first leg (if the scores hold).

Pirlo missed by inches with that free-kick.

@Wengermania - but they are very, very close.

Uh oh

Gourcuff on.

And Inzaghi breaks the record.

Goal for Milan. Inzaghi...

A few minutes to go in Milan and Ukraine. 'Fields of Athenry' breaks out in the stands again.

Great run by Kaka. Shame he couldn't finish it.

Dang it Kaka.....goal from pippo was vintage.

McGeady just wide.

1 minute in Donetsk and they need 2 goals....looking good for Celtic

Too bad for Kaka, that would have been a class goal.

Gourcuff has looked good, although thats easy to do given the circumstances of the game.

Some stats of the match

Milan
Posession: 64%
Shots: 24

Celtic
6 shots

Celtic through....well done lads....

2nd half was better than the 1st congrats to celtic definatly the 2nd best team in the group amd well done for inzaghi for the record hes a legend

What a dull dull game.

They shouldn't have even come out to play.

I agree with most other people that it was a very boring game that lacked intensity as there wasn't that much at stake as Celtic were never really in danger of going out as Benfica got the early goals. Milan midfield dominated as expected and were allowed to control the game. Felt sorry for McDonald as he can't really do anything when he's on his own and they play like that.

ohh wellll.. nothing at stake really.


all i can say is.. CELTIC QUALIFY

Good news for Milan and Celtic. Ancelotti selected a team which consisted highly of reserves in consideration ahead of the FIFA World Club Cup in Japan. I didn't have high expectations coming into this match given that. Milan played well, wasn't an inspiring performance though, which is understandable given the squad Ancelotti played and the fact the match had little importance. I'm happy for Inzaghi who continues to write himself into the history books. All in all, a decent performance, the statistics tell a different story though, so it's luck for Celtic that Shaktar couldn't produce the goods at home.

What an absolute borefest!! After half an hour i switched to the Benfica game as it was a bit better. Whats up with the Milan crowd, the stadium was completely empty!

Wheres the incentive if your teams qualified, hardly a full strength team and predictable that it wasnt going to be a classical match..

If this match was played in England the stadium wouldve been full or atleast 80% full. Just shows you how much more passionate the English are about their teams.

As Jorge Valdano said...shit on a stick and all that!

And in all seriousness, its far harder to fill an 80,000 seater stadium for a meaningless game than it is to fill a 45,000 seater stadium.

Good day for Celtic, but the game was really very boring. Only a few shots and practically only one good chance to score (excepting Inzaghi goal). Don't like the match.

I found it entertaining when i switched it on...62min onwards...

The Milan game yesterday was even worse than that Liverpool vs Chelsea match.

Man United filled a 76000 seater stadium for a meaningless Carling cup match against a second division side.

TBH id rather watch the grass grow then endure that game again...



Jeez that says alot about their fans....

Does anyone know the name of the song that played in the matchday 5 highlights on espn 2 at half time? If anyone can find the video on the internet then that'll be much appreciated as well.

god. gotta hand it to him, his calls are brilliant.
/sarcasm.


dude wtf, that was terrible.
/serious.

Your sarcasm gets your pretty far around here i can tell, my comment just meant that jeez their fans must be pretty committed to go watch a meaningless match vs Coventry...sold out...

oh it does. my sarcasm is like my ammunition. it just looked as though you were paying out ManU fans from the post. nevermind.


everyone go to the "what's your favourite animal" thread in the lounge and agree with my post on penguins.