Champions League: Celtic leading underdogs charge

Neil Lennon was delighted with his players' efforts in Moscow

As Celtic, Shakhtar and BATE Borisov all make impressive starts, Christian Crowther assesses their powers of sustainability...

Before these teams kicked a ball in this year's competition, not many observers would have tipped them for qualification, but now all three have staked their claims with some real boat-rocking results.

Celtic - 3.211/5 to qualify from Group G
It was a night for all Celtic fans to remember in Russia as Georgios Samaras' last-gasp winner clinched a first ever away win in the Champions League group stages for the Hoops. Neil Lennon was rightly delighted with the efforts of his players in coming from 2-1 down to overcome ten-,am Spartak Moscow 3-2 in the problematic surroundings of the Luzhniki Stadium. Celtic's heroics have created a three-point cushion over third-placed Benfica, though Lennon's side now face an ultra-daunting Barcelona double-header. Even the most optimistic of Hoops fans would have to concede that achieving a point at home would be just about the limits of Celtic's capabilities against Europe's finest. However, with Benfica losing at home to Barca, Celtic could probably afford to lose twice to the Catalans if they can gain at least one more win, probably at home to Spartak.
Verdict: The group dynamics are shaping up in Celtic's favour and after such a confidence-boosting win, they will qualify.

Shakhtar Donetsk - 2.021/1 to qualify from Group E
Shakhtar turned in one of the performances of round two to earn a point against Juventus in Turin and many Bianconeri fans would have been highly relieved it was not all three.
The Old Lady was hanging on by her skirt-tails as the final whistle blew at the Juventus Arena, proving that the Ukrainians will have a big say in the destiny of Group E. Shakhtar now have four points along with leaders Chelsea and sit two clear of Juventus prior to entertaining the European champions in Donetsk on matchday three. The Ukrainians have a good record at home and much will depend on getting a positive result against Chelsea.
Verdict: Juventus will get back to business with a win over FC Nordsjaelland and end up qualifying along with Chelsea, who will prove too strong for Shakhtar.

BATE Borisov - 2.89/5 to qualify from Group F
The group stages always throw up at least one out-and-out coupon buster and it duly arrived in Group F. The Belarussian champions put European royalty Bayern Munich to the sword 3-1 with a clinical display of counter attacking football, abruptly ending the German's nine-game perfect start to the season in the process. BATE now face a double header with Valencia, who are tied with Bayern in second. And if they can repeat their game plan against a useful but by no means world beating Spanish outfit in the first of these clashes on home soil, then they will have one foot in the knockout rounds.
Verdict: We're looking at the surprise package of this year's competition, who will qualify at Valencia's expense.