Celtic 2 - 1 Barcelona
The moons, the planets and the stars all seemed to align over Parkhead last night as Celtic recorded one of the finest results in their history by beating Barcelona, probably the best team of the last 5 years and possibly one of the best teams to grace the modern era of football.
In the run up to the match, there was a lot of hesitant optimism among Celtic fans, knowing that it couldn't just be fate that had brought the world's best footballing team to Glasgow in the same week Celtic celebrate their 125th anniversary.
Fans always knew that their team would provide a challenge, but would most likely have their backs to the wall for huge portions of the game and following the match in Barcelona a fortnight earlier, they had experience of seeing the visiting team's ability to strike at any point, almost at will. Could Celtic really turn the tables?
It would take a perfect storm for the result to go the way of Celtic, but that's exactly what happened.
From the outset Parkhead was in a celebratory mood, displaying a stadium wide banner hailing the club's 125 year history as the teams emerged from the tunnel. The traditional Champion's League theme was inaudible under the huge sustained roar of the fans. The atmosphere was electric, and it would never waned over the entire duration of the game.
Celtics celebratory display before the game
The match started in predictable enough form, the home team immediately having to defend as Barcelona traded passes amongst themselves, scoping out the home team. Celtic were rigid and organised, clearly well drilled. Barcelona set up with their usual formation, pinning two men out on the side lines in an effort to stretch the defence. For Celtic, the key was for wingers and full backs to be in complete unison, ensuring every overlap was covered. Not one beat was missed.
It could be said that Barcelona's overriding advantage in skill also contributed to their eventual downfall. With midfielder Alex Song the only man around the 6 feet tall mark, there was a reluctance to provide crosses from the wide areas. Instead, they zipped the ball around, often showing phenomenal class in their touch, constantly moving the point of attack and creating space through exceptional movement.
After 20 minutes, there was a rare moment of relief as Celtic broke into the Barcelona half, earning a corner on Barcelona's left side. Charlie Mulgrew, the man who delivered the exceptional ball to get Celtic's away goal in the Nou camp, delivered a fast, deep cross swinging in towards the back post where Victor Wanyama, having run on to the full back from the edge of the box, climbed highest to power a header in at his near post. Celtic were 1-0 up, and the stadium went wild.
Just as they had been in Barcelona, Celtic were in the lead midway through the first half, against all expectations.
Barcelona, almost unperturbed by the Celtic goal, continued as they had but a few minutes before, laying siege to Fraser Forster's goal. Messi skiffed the ball off the top of the crossbar as he found a free yard of space in the box. Minutes later, Barcelona surprised the home defence again, this time by crossing the ball for the first time, finding striker Alexis making the leap to head the ball back across Forster only to see it rebound off the outside of the far post and out for a goal kick.
Celtic were shaking slightly and the memory of losing a goal late in the half in the first game must have been prevalent in the minds of the players - it certainly was for the fans as the ardent clock watching started with 5 minutes of the half remaining. If Celtic could see out the half with the lead intact, it would be an improvement on a fortnight earlier, a night which saw small margins steal a valuable result away from them.
Half time indeed eventually came to rapturous applause, borne more out of relief for many as they saw their side retreat to the tunnel to regroup. The questions then started. Surely not? What if? The first half had seen Celtic have one chance against the 9 accumulated by Barcelona. The possession stats told a similar story as the home team claimed only 11% of the ball for themselves. They couldn't hold out for another 45 minutes, right?
The start of the second half saw Celtic start brightly. Getting to half time with the lead had clearly given a shot in the arm and there was clear intent for the opening few minutes. Centre backs Efe Ambrose and Kelvin Wilson were constantly looking to push the defensive line out after each wave of pressure had been absorbed. There was an awareness that they couldn't sit deep for the duration - they would accept the pressure, but they weren't going to invite it.
The second half had settled when Celtic manager Neil Lennon made his first change, a forced substitution that saw right back Lustig come of with a leg strain to be replaced by 18 year old striker Tony Watt. It meant Charlie Mulgrew slipped back to centre half, Ambrose out to right back and lone striker Georgios Samaras drop back into a midfield position.
The change solidified the back four but unsettled the midfield as Samaras failed to follow his man on a couple of occasions, allowing the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi to expose more space than they had seen at any time in the game. Lennon reacted again, taking Samaras, captain for the night, off for Beram Kayal, the Israeli terrier and out-and-out midfielder. Along with the outstanding Wanyama and Joe Ledley, balance was restored in the middle of the park for the home team.
Never had it seemed a football match had taken so long to play out. 70 minutes, 75 minutes, 80 minutes, each landmark seemed hours apart as the away side continued to press and create chances. For all the shots that went wide or over the bar, much to the relief of the home support, there were as many heading goalwards. Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster stood up to every single one, producing 4 or 5 outstanding saves through the duration of the game. Catalan sports magazine 'Mundo Deportivo' would later describe him as 'La Gran Muralla' - The Great Wall.
In the 84th minute Fraser Forster had his hands on the ball once again. His tired launch of the ball carried it just over the halfway line where Barcelona captain Xavi miscued his control, seeing the ball instead bounce right through him and into the path of Tony Watt. Javier Mascherano, having not been turned once by Samaras, was caught off balance as Watt's drop of the shoulder bought him the yard of space he needed, taking one touch to control and his second to coolly slot the ball past Victor Valdes.
The unthinkable was happening. Celtic were leading Barcelona 2-0 with 5 minutes to play and the 59,000 home fans were euphoric.
Tony Watt (32) scores Celtic's second goal
It could have been three 2 minutes later as Tony Watt again stripped Mascherano with power and pace only to be pulled down by the Argentine as he was through on goal. The referee let play go on as the Celtic fans pleaded for the red card that never came.
But the fans were still in party mode as the fourth official held up the board indicating 4 minutes would be added. 4 minutes to hold out, that was all.
It took all of 30 seconds of that time for Barcelona to strike. It was the first time that they had strung together the short, tight, fast passes for which they are so famed. Xavi, Iniesta, Villa with the shot, saved low to Forster's left side but parried only as far as a poaching Lionel Messi who duly knocked in the rebound.
I'm not sure I've experienced a more tense 3 and a half minutes in any sporting arena as those that then followed. Barcelona weaved two or three more phases as the tired Celtic defence did everything they could to repel them, eventually clearing it to half way for a throw in. A couple of passes later and it was all over as the whistle was blown for full time.
Celtic had done it. They had beaten Barcelona. All the tension was released and like a coiled spring, the stadium exploded.
I'm not sure I'll likely experience anything like it again, the sense of occasion being rubber stamped by a victory over one of the greatest.
As a stand alone night and result, it was one of the very best. In the context of the competition, it propels Celtic into a position of control over their own destiny. Benfica's win over Spartak Moscow means that Celtic hold a 3 point advantage over 3rd place, and sit 2 behind Barcelona. Whatever happens now is down to them, but there is no doubt that everyone in that stadium, players and fans alike, will remember the night they beat Barcelona.
Stand out players:
Fraser Forster - Celtic's keeper was outstanding all night, rightfully earning him the Man of the Match award. He'll be disappointed not to have kept a clean sheet.
Victor Wanyama - The midfielder was in imperious form, and deserves all the plaudits he will no doubt receive. Barcelona's Xavi & Iniesta will be having nightmares for the next few nights.
Adam Matthews - Calm and collected, he combined well with Charlie Mulgrew as a defensive partnership. Never put a foot wrong all night.
Joe Ledley - The silent but no less effective partner to Wanyama, Ledley chased everything all night - a prolific work rate.
Tony Watt - At 18 years old, he has everything ahead of him. For 30 minutes, he was nothing but a pest to the visting defence and finished wonderfully to win it for Celtic.
Some post match quotes:
"Unlucky we lost even I think we played well. Happy to be back. No words to describe the atmosphere at Celtic Park"
Gerard Pique, Barcelona defender
"Quite simply the greatest game I have ever been involved in"
Kris Commons, Celtic midfielder
"Greatest moment of my life! We have just beaten the best team ever!"
Joe Ledley, Celtic midfielder
"Congratulations to Celtic FC for well-earned victory a day after their 125th anniversary"
FC Barcelona Twitter account
"What an unbelievable result for Neil Lennon and all at Celtic. Only Lisbon beats it. The noise was deafening."
Kenny Dalgleish
