Champions League

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Dec 5, 2012 at 7.45pm UK

Celtic
2-1
Spartak Moscow

Neil Lennon: 'Celtic can go through to Champions League last 16'

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 04 December 2012

Neil Lennon says that Celtic can qualify for the Champions League last 16 and believes that their game against Spartak Moscow will be "open".

Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes that his side can progress to the Champions League last 16.

The Scottish champions are currently third in Group G, level on seven points with Benfica, who are second, and host Spartak Moscow on Wednesday.

The Hoops will progress to the last 16 only if they better Benfica's result against Barcelona at Camp Nou, but Lennon has faith in his team.

"At the beginning, no-one gave us a chance, people didn't give us points, but here we are," he said. "We feel we have a decent chance to go on, but Spartak will have a huge amount of pride to play for and they'll be very dangerous.

"They don't have any pressure, they have flamboyance, and we'll need to defend well. The game will be open.

"I prepared the team the best I could. I want to win the game and then that'll mean Benfica need to win too. That's all we can do - play as well as we can. Our players will have their own focus regardless of the result of the other match."

Barcelona have already qualified for the last 16 as Group G winners.