Back to the CL: Current group standings are as such: Milan 9 Barcelona 9 Shakhtar 3 Celtic 3 Everyone has 2 games left, so a FCB tie or better in any game (plus numerous other scenarios) means we go through. I would love a nice comfy win to push us thorugh so we can rest people for the Shaktar match.... Expect to see Iniesta and Messi play in this one.... Barcelona Celtic 20:45 Group stage 24 November 2004 20:45 (CET) Camp Nou - Barcelona O'Neill requires resistance from battles past Wednesday, 10 November 2004 Although FC Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson's link with Celtic FC stole the headlines as the Swedish international scored in a 3-1 victory for his new club against his former team-mates on the opening matchday of this season's UEFA Champions League campaign, one Scottish player will have fond memories of his last visit to the Camp Nou. Alan Thompson's goal condemned FC Barcelona to a UEFA Cup defeat last season at Celtic Park, but Celtic FC will need an equally positive showing at the Camp Nou if their interest in this season's competition is to continue Home win Celtic were involved in the 2003/04 UEFA Cup following their elimination from the Champions League, and having drawn Barça in the fourth round stage of the competition, Martin O'Neill's side defeated the Catalan giants 1-0 in Glasgow thanks to Alan Thmopson's goal after 59 minutes. Marshall debut But for the return leg, O'Neill was forced to give 19-year-old goalkeeper David Marshall his European debut in a match in which the Catalans were expected to make home advantage pay. However, a Barça win failed to materialise as Marshall and his Celtic team-mates clung on for a scoreless draw and a place in the last eight and another tie against Spanish opposition in Villarreal CF. With expectations of a second successive appearance in the UEFA Cup final, Celtic came up short, drawing 1-1 at home before succumbing to a 2-0 away defeat. Roles reversed The roles for O'Neill and his Barcelona counterpart Frank Rijkaard, however, are now reversed, with Barcelona sharing top spot with AC Milan while Celtic languish in joint third place, battling FC Shakhtar Donetsk for a place in the UEFA Cup once more.
Should be an easy one, in my estimation. Celtic just can't compete with Barca anymore, certainly not in Camp Nou, where we're undefeated in the last 19 games i think (last loss was ElClasico). I think we should all hold a vigil, light some candels, and pray that our merciful Lord can keep what remains of our team injury free!!!! 3 zip.
it doesn't really matter what celtic do. we already know what they are capable and they will put up a big fight, but the result depends more on how barca approach the game. if they want to they will tear celtic apart, but they might decide to focus more on the next liga game. i could see them going all out for the first half hoping to secure a comfortable lead and then sitting back in the second half. i'd really like to see some of the youngsters given a chance, although most of them might have to wait till the shakhtar game.
EASY!? Celtic aren't in their best form lately but its definately not going to be an easy game. I would however love to see them beat the bejesus out of them.
I would rather we focus on this and get the CL taken care of, our next league game is against Getafe...
Celtic lost Old Firm Derby Saturday they will come out fighting and want to prove a point to their fanatic fans. But we all know we thought them a lesson in Glasgow on matchday 1 (apart from a 10-12 minute spell to be fair) Celtic have no idea what we will throw at them tomorrow night. Go on get the job done Barca!!
Sorry, I dont agree with you. I will rather say beat Celtic with big goal difference and get 1st place in the group becouse you can get easier opponent in 1/8 finals later on. I just hope Celtic wont play ugly, we dont need another injury. Give ball to Ronnie and he will do the rest.
I can see this one ending about 5-0. Celtic are falling apart at the moment. 2 Old Firm defeats and getting beat by Aberdeen at home last month show the form they are on. Their defence is a particular problem, they've conceeded 12 goals in their last 7 domestic games. If they can't keep out Scottish teams how will they keep out Barcelona?! They've lost Larsson and brought in Camara and Juninho, who have been awful, I can't see them staying long...
i agree with you, we need to take care of celtic very well and then focus on the getafe primera liga match even if we will be playing away and even if they did shock valencia we will get a good result versus getafe. besides, a win versus celtic might take us top of the table as we wait to brave the cold in ukraine on match day 6 when we play a julius aghahowa led side.and your worst fears of celtic playing tough and battling all the way might as well be confirmed come tomorrow, they know that they can`t match up with the way we are playing, they can only pack the midfield and use all sorts of fouling and may be sit back and counter attack, i just don`t see celtic playing an open game, they are well aware that we shall rip them apart. i do rate highly thier bulgarian creative playmaker petrov and alan thmpson is good player but these two plus the roving neil lennon may not win the midfield battle against ronnie, deco and xavi. petrov in particular was off form in thier clash with rangers, they will need more from him if they hope to get a good result. i`m worried about john hartson`s aerial prowess should they decide to utilize wing and cross play. sutton might provide some problems to still i go for a 2-0 win with several celtic players booked for rough play- babo balde the biggest culprit- also judging by last season`s uefa ill tempered semi final first leg clash at celtic park.
I was actually saying I think we SHOULD focus on the game with Celtic so that we dont have to worry about it in the next game etc....
Sorry for misunderstanding Real just draw with Bayer at home in CL (1-1). They played awful again, if there would be some better side than Bayer Real would lose again.
i expect an ugly game with celtic scraping to get any kind of points out of this, 9 guys on defense type game, with lots of sliding in front of ronaldinho, deco, and xavi. hopefully we score early to open things up.
Except for a couple of minutes, I could swear there were DEAD players one the field. Los Comedicos is now sounding too flattering...cuz it means they're fun (comedy is fun no?)...but lately they're just plain boring...They almost lull the crowd to sleep.
Last 2 are classics in the making, they shall join Los Comedicos hand in hand. Depending on the game, they shall be used to refer to The Resting House, formerly known as Real Madrid.
Let's win this for Larsson Barca play their final home game of the group stage of the Champions in the knowledge that a good result will guarantee their presence in the next round. The players will be looking to dedicate a victory to Larsson. The vagaries of fate have determined that Larssons former club, Glasgow Celtic, are Barca's first opponents since the Swedish striker picked up a serious knee injury in the weekend's authoritative win against Real Madrid. Over the last few days there has been a groundswell of support for Larsson from fans, players, Frank Rijkaard and his former boss in Celtic Martin O'Neill. The sides go into the match on the back of very different results in league clashes at the weekend against their historic rivals, with Celtic losing 2-0 to Glasgow Rangers. The options: Barca have an excellent chance tonight to seal their passage to the next stage and confirm their aspirations of topping the group ahead of Milan. A win or a draw against Celtic will be enough to guarantee their place and, assuming that Milan manage to pick up at least a point against Shakhtar in Italy, Celtic would have to defeat Barca by more than two goals to put classification in any doubt. Ones to watch: Barca currently head Group F on goal difference tied on nine points with Milan. The results of tonight's matches, plus Barca's trip to the Ukraine and Milan's visit to Scotland in the last match of the group stage, will determine who goes through as group winners. And there's a personal duel between the players who currently top the scorer's lists in their respective domestic leagues. Barca's top scorer Samuel Eto'o will be looking to add to his tally of 10 goals in the league and 2 in the Champions League while for Celtic, Welsh striker John Hartson, with 12 goals in the Scottish Premier League, is certain to be a threat. Team news: In spite of the many injury setbacks suffered by the Barca squad this season, first team boss Frank Rijkaard will be able to field an impressive squad for tonight's match. French winger Giuly returns in place of Larsson after missing the Madrid game due to an injury he picked up with France. Midfielder Gerard is also available after recovering from his groin strain. "We're all with Larsson" Frank Rijkaard warned his team to be on their guard for Wednesday's game against Celtic, insisting: "we have to prepare for this game as if our rivals were the best team in the world". The boss reckons Martin O'Neil's team: "really rise to the occasion when they play a big team. Wednesday's game will be a tough and intense game. Celtic have a strong group feeling and their fans give them a real boost which means they have a special desire for games like this". Objective: three points A draw will do to take Barca through to the next round, but Rijkaard is clear what his objective is on Wednesday night: "we always go out with the aim to win and take the three points. If you go out thinking about what you can get away with, you end up having problems. We have to go into this game completely focused on a win and see if we can give the fans a real show they deserve to enjoy every game we play and see us fighting for a win every time". Work in hand Rijkaard was also keeping calm about Saturday's win, when asked if the victory would give his players an extra boost: "look, you enjoy things when they happen, but this club has the duty to get enjoyment out of working hard and a result winning". Team spirit Finally, the boss insisted that the long term injuries (Motta, Edmílson, Gabri and Larsson), didn't mean he was unable to put out a competitive side: "there's no point in worrying about what's happened this is a time when the lads really need to show their team spirit. Those players who can't be with us should serve as extra motivation for the rest of the squad". Rijkaard also made mention of Henrik Larsson's horrific injury, claiming: "to lose a player at this point in the season is tough. I think we are all suffering with him - unfortunately these things happen in football and the only thing to do is to look forward and keep at it". The Barca boss also praised the board's decision to extend Larsson's contract: "this just shows that the club will support a player in a very tough time".
Re: Let's win this for Larsson Does any one know why gio van bronckhurst is not starting? Is he being saved for later, or is it to give silvinhio some minutes...?
Re: Let's win this for Larsson Yeah, it's to give Gio a rest and Silvinho some minutes after coming back from an injury.