FC Barcelona travels to the Scottish city of Glasgow to face Celtic FC Tuesday night for a Champions League Group H fixture that spelled defeat for the Catalans last season. In a match that saw Celtic’s only two attempts on net converted, the Scots came out 2-1 on the night with goals coming from two players who no longer feature for Neil Lennon’s side, Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt, the latter of whom is on loan to Lierse SK in Belgium. Despite the changes to both sides’ personnel, The Hoops and Barça have both done very well in the league so far, indicating this clash could yet again prove to be anyone’s victory.
Team News
Celtic FC
The Bhoys have plenty of new faces this term and have had a surprise start. After a shocking defeat to Morton in the League Cup, Celtic bounced back with a 2-5 win at Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League and Georgios Samaras bagging a hat trick. Kris Commons also got on the score sheet at the end of the match, who has three goals and two assists in the league so far. The Scots indicated they might have trouble finishing off a match however, as a clinical three-goal lead was narrowed to one before halftime. Eventually they were able to pull away with the victory, however.
New signing Steven Mouyokolo is still out with an Achilles injury sustained before the 2-0 loss to AC Milan in Matchday 1. Finnish striker Teemu Pukki has two goals in three matches and could also cause Barça’s backline some problems. James Forrest and Beram Kayal will also bolster the home side having just returned from their own health issues.
Welsh defender Adam Matthews was subbed off against Kilmarnock and replaced by Swedish international Mikael Lustig, who will likely earn a start in Parkhead against Martino’s side. Midfielder Joe Ledley will also miss out due to a groin injury.
Like last year, Celtic will likely line up with a 4-4-1-1 or 4-5-1 and seek to hurt the Catalans on the break, something which would have paid dividends in both clashes last year had Jordi Alba not struck in added time at the Camp Nou to grab the victory for his side.
The Scots are tied with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who sits top of the table albeit with a game more than Celtic. Lennon’s side has six victories and one draw in the domestic league at the moment and appears to be in decent shape to give Barcelona a run for its money.
FC Barcelona
Oddly enough, the other goal-scorer from last year’s encounter, Lionel Messi is also out of the encounter thanks to a hamstring injury at Almería over the weekend. Lennon must be slightly relieved, though he did say he was “tinged with sadness” over missing Messi at Celtic Park, as the Argentine will likely be watching from either the stands or his home in Catalunya instead of scoring hat tricks like he did against AFC Ajax a fortnight ago. This means the central attacking role, if you can even call it that, will likely be occupied by Neymar or Fàbregas. Given Xavi featured for almost a full 90 minutes over the weekend, he will probably be rested to make way for Cesc in midfield while Neymar will slot between Pedro Rodríguez and the Chilean Alexis Sánchez—quite a frightening and lightning fast trident.
Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta will almost certainly feature with Cesc in midfield. Although Gerardo Martino could opt to throw Xavi in the mix after all if he wants more precise and fluid passing out of his midfield, as opposed to Cesc’s more direct approach.
In defense, two Brazilians, Daniel Alves and Adriano will feature on the flanks as Jordi Alba continues his recovery. The Barcelona board’s lack of defensive purchases is already beginning to cause problems as Javier Mascherano is also out having been sidelined due to a collision with Sergio Busquets last week. The mixed blessing however, will give much needed experience to youngster Marc Bartra who came off as a cool cat in the back line over the weekend. His aerial presence and potential are both there to make a strong case for the future. Mascherano was showing great positional sense, tackling and verticality however, and the blaugrana certainly would appear more stable at the back with its choice center back in tip-top shape.
Victor Valdés of course, is in the form of his life and should prove himself even more vital to this season’s chances for silverware if given the chance against Georgios Samaras or whomever else Lennon has to throw at the Barcelona net.
Predicted line-ups
Celtic FC: Forster; Lustig, Djik, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Stokes, Commons, Brown, Mulgrew, Samaras; Pukki
FC Barcelona: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Bartra, Adriano; Fàbregas, Busquets, Iniesta; Sánchez, Neymar, Pedro
Prediction
Having earned a solid eight wins in eight matches in the UCL and La Liga, the Catalans look to be the stronger side again. An upset seems unlikely and the pace and creativity of the Barcelona attack and midfield will be more than enough to pick up another three points.
Celtic FC 0 – 2 FC Barcelona
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