Nuno Way We'll Be Treating Rivals Celts Like A Club In Crisis

Nov 4 2007 By Gavin Berry

Celtic V Benfica Tuesday, Kick-Off 7.45pm Live On Stv

BENFICA hitman Nuno Gomes last night laughed off talk of a Celtic crisis as he geared up for Tuesday's crunch Champions League clash at Parkhead.

The SPL champions crashed out of the CIS Cup last week at home to Hearts and the shock defeat came hot on the heels of moralesapping losses at Rangers and Benfica.

But Portuguese international Gomes knows that will count for nothing come the midweek Euro showdown - as his side also tumbled out of their League Cup last week.

Jose Camacho's troops lost 2-1 to Vitoria Setubal and the 31-year-old insists it would be foolish to read anything into either team's cup exit.

Gomes missed Benfica's 1-0 win over the Hoops in Lisbon a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury. But he saw enough of Gordon Strachan's men to know his side face one hell of a battle at Parkhead.

And the fit-again star reckons it's madness to write Celtic off after their poor run of results.

He said: "Crisis at Celtic?We also got knocked out of the League Cup in Portugal - it's a long season and you can't win every game.

"The team changes when it comes to the Champions League and it will be a different story on Tuesday."

Oscar Cardozo's late winner against Celts in Lisbon kept Benfica's Group D hopes alive after defeats in their first two games to Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk.

And Gomes is determined to keep them on track for a place in the last 16.

He said: "I have totally recuperated and I'm ready for the match in Glasgow. I don't like watching games because my nerves are bad.

"Our aim is to repeat the result from Lisbon. We want to get into the next round and for that we must win.

"But in Glasgow it's always hard because of the supporters.

"It was a great result to beat Celtic in Lisbon. I looked at their opening game against Shakhtar and they weren't brilliant.

"Against AC Milan at home Celtic also didn't have many chances and it was a blow for the Italians to lose a goal so late on."

A perfect Parkhead record took Strachan's side through to the knockout stages last year as FC Copenhagen, Benfica and Manchester United all went home empty handed.

The Portuguese side were crushed 3-0 but Gomes insists they can avenge that defeat to all but end Hoops hopes.

He said: "Celtic have been inconsistent this season - not like the team we faced last year.

"I don't know if Shunsuke Nakamura will be fit for Celtic but it will be good news for us if he doesn't make it. We are the better team but have to show it.

It will be a hard match but we are prepared."

Benfica stopper Luisao is also determined to make up for last year's horror show - a performance he rates as one of the club's worst in Europe.

Strachan's side blew them away with a thrilling second-half display as a Kenny Miller double and late Stephen Pearson strike had Parkhead rocking.

Luisao is still haunted by that night and the big Brazilian claims he's on a revenge mission.

He said: "I remember our defeat last season - that was one of Benfica's worst ever matches in Europe. We made errors all over the pitch but it will be different this time. We have learned how to play against Celtic in Glasgow."

Luisao is likely to mark fit-again Hoops hitman Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and is ready for an aerial battle with the Dutchman.

Chris Killen won plenty of long balls in the Lisbon clash and Benfica boss Camacho has worked on combating that threat in training.

Luisao said: " With Celtic's style at home it's normal for us to work on defence and we've worked on our aerial game. The manager said we must dominate possession to cause problems.

"The Champions League is huge andwe don't want to go out at this stage.

"It was important for us to win in Lisbon and now we want to deliver another huge blow to Celtic in Glasgow.

"They are physical but I don't believe they are a violent team.

"The atmosphere at Parkhead is always great but I'm convinced we can win. That's not being arrogant - I just don't think we are inferior to Celtic.

"A draw isn't good for either team - we must both fight for three points."