Post by Taxigirl on Apr 14, 2004 10:29:24 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3621937.stm
QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG
Date: Wed 14 April
Kick-off: 1905 BST
Venue: El Madrigal
First leg: Celtic 1-1 Villarreal
Coverage: Live on BBC One Scotland, BBC Three and BBC Radio Scotland MW
Celtic pair Chris Sutton and Jackie McNamara face late fitness tests but are expected to play in the Uefa Cup quarter-final, second leg match.
Alan Thompson misses out through suspension, so Liam Miller is likely to be handed a midfield start.
Villarreal forward Jose Mari Romero was hurt in a collision at the weekend but is set to play with bruised ribs.
Winger Antonio Guayre has been out for two months but returned to full training last week and could feature.
Villarreal, who currently lie tenth in La Liga, entered via the Intertoto Cup and have already claimed the notable scalps of Torpedo Moscow, Galatasaray and Roma.
The winners of the tie are likely to meet Valencia, who hold a first leg 2-1 lead over Bordeaux, in the semi-finals.
Celtic (from): Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Pearson, Miller, Larsson, Sutton, Douglas, Valgaeren, Lambert, Mjallby, Beattie, Smith, McManus.
O'Neill aims for away win
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill hopes his side can draw on last year's run to the Uefa Cup final as they bid to overcome Villarreal and reach the semi finals.
"We have to try to win the game away from home," said O'Neill as Celtic aim to improve on the 1-1 first leg score.
"It is exactly the same position that we found ourselves in a year ago when we drew at home with Boavista."
"However, with all due respect to Boavista, Villarreal are definitely a better side."
Defender Bobo Balde also thinks Villarreal rank among the best sides he has played against during his time at Celtic.
Villarreal looked a better side in Glasgow than their 10th place in La Liga would suggest and Celtic will have to do what no other side in the Uefa Cup has done this season - score in El Madrigal Stadium.
However, Balde is convinced Celtic can progress to the last four.
"They know when they have to give the ball away and they know the right time to keep it and it makes it very difficult to defend against," Balde told the club's website.
"They are a very good side but we are still confident because when we started to play at the level we know we can in the second half we created a lot of chances and I thought their keeper made some great saves.
"It is always bad news to have conceded a goal at home but we have to be confident because not only did we come back into the game, we started to show what we can do.
"We go into the game knowing that we have to score a goal and I think we can do that, although it will be tough."
O'Neill is poised to gamble on the fitness of striker Chris Sutton, who limped out of Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final win over Livingston with a groin problem.
But, although Sutton did not train on Tuesday, O'Neill said: "I will leave it until the last possible minute.
"He wants to try and that will be good enough for us if that's what he wants to do."
Sutton, who has knocked in 27 goals this season, said before leaving for Spain: "I've had it a while, but I have always managed to get through games.
"I would walk through a brick wall to play."
QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG
Date: Wed 14 April
Kick-off: 1905 BST
Venue: El Madrigal
First leg: Celtic 1-1 Villarreal
Coverage: Live on BBC One Scotland, BBC Three and BBC Radio Scotland MW
Celtic pair Chris Sutton and Jackie McNamara face late fitness tests but are expected to play in the Uefa Cup quarter-final, second leg match.
Alan Thompson misses out through suspension, so Liam Miller is likely to be handed a midfield start.
Villarreal forward Jose Mari Romero was hurt in a collision at the weekend but is set to play with bruised ribs.
Winger Antonio Guayre has been out for two months but returned to full training last week and could feature.
Villarreal, who currently lie tenth in La Liga, entered via the Intertoto Cup and have already claimed the notable scalps of Torpedo Moscow, Galatasaray and Roma.
The winners of the tie are likely to meet Valencia, who hold a first leg 2-1 lead over Bordeaux, in the semi-finals.
Celtic (from): Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Pearson, Miller, Larsson, Sutton, Douglas, Valgaeren, Lambert, Mjallby, Beattie, Smith, McManus.
O'Neill aims for away win
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill hopes his side can draw on last year's run to the Uefa Cup final as they bid to overcome Villarreal and reach the semi finals.
"We have to try to win the game away from home," said O'Neill as Celtic aim to improve on the 1-1 first leg score.
"It is exactly the same position that we found ourselves in a year ago when we drew at home with Boavista."
"However, with all due respect to Boavista, Villarreal are definitely a better side."
Defender Bobo Balde also thinks Villarreal rank among the best sides he has played against during his time at Celtic.
Villarreal looked a better side in Glasgow than their 10th place in La Liga would suggest and Celtic will have to do what no other side in the Uefa Cup has done this season - score in El Madrigal Stadium.
However, Balde is convinced Celtic can progress to the last four.
"They know when they have to give the ball away and they know the right time to keep it and it makes it very difficult to defend against," Balde told the club's website.
"They are a very good side but we are still confident because when we started to play at the level we know we can in the second half we created a lot of chances and I thought their keeper made some great saves.
"It is always bad news to have conceded a goal at home but we have to be confident because not only did we come back into the game, we started to show what we can do.
"We go into the game knowing that we have to score a goal and I think we can do that, although it will be tough."
O'Neill is poised to gamble on the fitness of striker Chris Sutton, who limped out of Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final win over Livingston with a groin problem.
But, although Sutton did not train on Tuesday, O'Neill said: "I will leave it until the last possible minute.
"He wants to try and that will be good enough for us if that's what he wants to do."
Sutton, who has knocked in 27 goals this season, said before leaving for Spain: "I've had it a while, but I have always managed to get through games.
"I would walk through a brick wall to play."