Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Celtic to face FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League
Barça were placed in Group G in the the Champions League Group Stage along with Benfica from Lisbon, Spartak Moscow and Celtic from Glasgow. Benfica and Barça will face off once again after the 1960/61 Champions League final.
Monaco (FCB).- Group G is a group full of storied teams. This Thursday afternoon’s draw at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco paired Tito Vilanova’s men up with Nolito’s Benfica, Unai Emery’s Spartak Moscow and the well-known Celtic FC, in Group G.
Storied past
FC Barcelona have played against these three teams in past editions of the Champions League. Benfica edged FC Barcelona by 3-2 in the 1960/61 season in the cursed 'woodwork final' in Bern. Barça also played against the Lisbon team in the Catalans’ 1992 and 2006 triumphant Champion League bids.
Barça have only played against Spartak Moscow on one occasion. It was in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the 1993/94 season. The Azulgranas beat Spartak, but then lost in the Athens final to AC Milan.
Of all the teams in Group G, FC Barcelona have played against Celtic FC the most. In total, the two teams have battled it out on four occasions. The record between Celtic FC and FC Barcelona is two wins apiece.
Complete match schedule
19/09 - FC Barcelona - Spartak
02/10 - Benfica - FC Barcelona
23/10 - FC Barcelona – Celtic
07/11 - Celtic - FC Barcelona
20/11 - Spartak - FC Barcelona
05/12 - FC Barcelona-Benfica
The Champions League Groups
Group A: Porto, Dinamo Kiev, PSG and Dinamo Zagreb
Group B: Arsenal, Schalke 04, Olympiacos and Montpelier
Group C: AC Milan, Zenit, Anderlecht and Málaga
Group D: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund
Group E: Chelsea, Shakhtar Donestk, Juventus and Nordsjaelland
Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia, Lille and Bate Borissov
Group G: FC Barcelona, Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Celtic
Group H: Manchester United, Sporting Braga, Galatasary and CFR Cluj