The Portuguese side were swept away 3-0 last October as the Scottish champions made their way towards the knockout stages for the first time.

Celtic's impressive home form in the competition makes them firm favourite to avenge last month's 1-0 defeat in Lisbon which left Gordon Strachan's side at the bottom of Group D.

However, Gomes, 31, who is set to start for Benfica after recovering from a thigh injury, is adamant that Celtic will not get it so easy this time round.

He said: "We started strongly last year but let a goal in and after that they scored two goals on the counter-attack.

"We suffered a bit with the atmosphere and pressure on the night. But I don't expect it to be the same this time.

"We will come out strongly, try and play our best football and try to make it different.

"Celtic are strong at home and we know they have been scoring a lot of goals but we have our own strengths and we will play to them.

"A draw would be a (good) result but we want to go to the next phase so we are looking for a victory."

In Celtic's last Group D game at Parkhead, in which they beat AC Milan 2-1, a spectator go onto the pitch and confronted Milan keeper Dida after Scott McDonald's late winner.

The Brazilian was subsequently banned by UEFA for two games - later reduced to one - for making too much of the incident by collapsing to the ground before being stretchered off with an ice-pack on his face.

The Celtic fan was banned by the club for life and ordered to carry out 120 hours of community service.

But Gomes is not concerned about a similar incident occurring again.

He said: "We don't expect that to happen, it doesn't normally happen.

"We are here to provide a good spectacle.

"We know the fans are ardent and we expect them to enjoy the game but we don't expect that to happen again."

Benfica lost their opening two Group D matches to AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk before their narrow win over Celtic.

Coach Jose Antonio Camacho insists the game is not a must-win for the Lisbon club but the probability is that three points are needed by both sides if they are to realise their respective hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Camacho, however, tried to play down the importance of the game while talking up his side's chances.

He said: "Three points would be good but it would not be decisive.

"It's going to be a hard game, a man's game. Celtic are a physically strong side and we will have to match them.

"It's going to be a hard game but we will be doing our best to win the game, we won't be playing for a draw.

"We are a different team from last year with different players.

"We are mentally strong and ready for 90 minutes."

Celtic's chances of Champions League success will be seriously damaged if they do not beat Benfica but Strachan is also looking at his side's long-term progress.

"You never know what is going to get you through but this is all part of the building, to get this squad as much experience as they can," he said.

"It may not help them this season, it might help them next season, the season after and hopefully the season after that when this group can all stay together and learn.

"We want to win, that's the priority, there is no doubt about that, but if we can take things from the game, then great."