| Match Pictures | Champions League | Matches: 2004 – 2005 | 2004-2005 Pictures |
Trivia
- Sad return to Parkhead, as we had to watch Henrik play for Barca against us, and worst of all see him score and set up a goal (against us)……..
- Marshall saved a Ronaldinho penalty.
- Quotes "His passion [Henrik Larsson] for his former club remains undiminished and it is he who brings the conversation round to Celtic's last 16 clash on Tuesday night against AC Milan. "Yes, but Celtic Park is a fortress," he states. "European nights there are special occasions and I don't think any teams enjoy walking out there. They (AC Milan) might enjoy the noise level and the Champions League song, but once they've got the ball they won't enjoy the experience. I spoke to a lot of Barcelona players about their experiences of Celtic Park in 2004, when Celtic beat them 1-0 in the UEFA Cup and they said that the noise level was unbelievable, that they had never experienced anything like it before. They noticed where they were alright."Henrik Larsson 2006
Review
There was an early scare for Celtic when Jackie McNamara allowed a long ball to run by him and Marshall had to race of his line to kick the ball away from Juliano Belletti.
Marshall was beaten when a loose pass from Didier Agathe prompted a swift counter-attack and Ronaldinho fed Deco, who sent an angled strike into the corner of the net. When Alan Thompson found Stanislav Varga with a free-kick, the defender could only head the ball over the crossbar. Giuly was then released by a Xavi pass and the Frenchman rounded Marshall, only to be denied by a fantastic sliding challenge from Bobo Balde.
With Sutton replacing Juninho, Celtic started the second half brightly but conceded a penalty after 53 minutes when McNamara bundled into Giuly. However, Marshall produced a wonderful save to claw away Ronaldinho's spot-kick.
Marshall then had to react quickly to keep out Rafael Marquez's header and Xavi shot narrowly wide.
Celtic were level on 59 minutes when Henri Camara burst down the right flank and his flashing cross was met by the outstretched leg of Sutton six yards out and the ball flew high into the net.
Barcelona reacted by sending on former Celtic favourite Larsson in place of Ronaldinho.
Stilian Petrov conjured up some great skill to flick the ball over an opponent with his right foot and fire in a dipping left foot strike that Valdes tipped over.
Just when Celtic looked the more menacing side, Giuly's shot from 18 yards took a slight deflection off McNamara and evaded the grasp of Marshall.
With eight minutes remaining Larsson latched on to a poor back-header from Thompson and took the ball beyond Marshall with his chest before guiding the ball into an empty net.
Petrov almost got one back but his smashed free-kick was blocked by the flying Valdes.
Teams
Celtic:-
Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara (Sylla 80), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Juninho Paulista (Sutton 45), Hartson (Valgaeren 63), Camara.
Subs Not Used:- Douglas, Pearson, Lambert, McGeady.
Goal:- Sutton 59.
Booked:- Hartson, Juninho Paulista, McNamara.
Barcelona:-
Valdes, Belletti, Puyol, Marquez (Oleguer 62), Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Gerard, Xavi, Giuly, Eto'o (Iniesta 74), Ronaldinho (Larsson 62).
Subs Not Used:- Ruben Martinez, Sylvinho, Gabri, Fernando.
Goals:- Deco 20, Giuly 78, Larsson 82.
Booked:- Marquez.
Att:- 58,589.
Ref:- Markus Merk (Germany).
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Stats
| Celtic | Barcelona | |
| 11 | Shots | 15 |
| 6 | Shots on Target | 10 |
| 28 | Fouls | 22 |
| 5 | Corners | 7 |
| 10 | Offside | 2 |
| 37% | Possession | 63% |
Articles
Celtic 1-3 Barcelona
BBC
Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson returned to Celtic Park to help destroy his old club's unbeaten home record in the Champions League.
Deco shot the impressive visitors ahead after 20 minutes and David Marshall, who made a number of fine saves, stopped a Ronaldinho penalty kick.
Chris Sutton slid in an equaliser on the hour but Ludovic Giuly's deflected shot put Barca back in front.
Larsson then showed neat control and a calm head to slot home a late third.
There was an early scare for Celtic when Jackie McNamara allowed a long ball to run by him and Marshall had to race of his line to kick the ball away from Juliano Belletti.
Ronaldinho then sent a fierce shot flashing wide when he found space on the edge of the penalty area.
A neat interchange involving Samuel Eto'o and Giovanni van Bronckhorst saw the former Rangers and Arsenal player's low shot saved by the feet of Marshall.
But Marshall was beaten when a loose pass from Didier Agathe prompted a swift counter-attack and Ronaldinho fed Deco, who sent an angled strike into the corner of the net.
Soon after, Belletti's great run and cut-back set-up Ronaldinho for a shot that Marshall pushed away smartly and the move ended with Xavi smashing the ball into the side-netting.
Celtic were struggling for scraps of possession and rarely troubled the visiting defence.
And when Alan Thompson found Stanislav Varga with a free-kick, the defender could only head the ball over the crossbar.
Marshall made another fine save at his near post when Giuly found room behind the Celtic defence.
Giuly was then released by a Xavi pass and the Frenchman rounded Marshall, only to be denied by a fantastic sliding challenge from Bobo Balde.
Thompson had a sight of goal right on half-time but his raking shot from 20 yards was comfortably held by Victor Valdes.
With Sutton replacing Juninho, Celtic started the second half brightly but conceded a penalty after 53 minutes when McNamara bundled into Giuly.
However, Marshall produced a wonderful save to claw away Ronaldinho's spot-kick.
Marshall then had to react quickly to keep out Rafael Marquez's header and Xavi shot narrowly wide.
But Celtic were level on 59 minutes when Henri Camara burst down the right flank and his flashing cross was met by the outstretched leg of Sutton six yards out and the ball flew high into the net.
Former favourite
Barcelona reacted by sending on former Celtic favourite Larsson in place of Ronaldinho.
Stilian Petrov conjured up some great skill to flick the ball over an opponent with his right foot and fire in a dipping left foot strike that Valdes tipped over.
Barca had lost their earlier composure and Belletti was inches away from an own goal when he prodded the ball away from Thompson.
But, just when Celtic looked the more menacing side, Giuly's shot from 18 yards took a slight deflection off McNamara and evaded the grasp of Marshall.
With eight minutes remaining Larsson latched on to a poor back-header from Thompson and took the ball beyond Marshall with his chest before guiding the ball into an empty net.
Petrov almost got one back but his smashed free-kick was blocked by the flying Valdes and Sutton sent a header just over the bar.
Celtic: Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara (Sylla 80), Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Juninho Paulista (Sutton 45), Hartson (Valgaeren 63), Camara. Subs Not Used: Douglas, Pearson, Lambert, McGeady.
Booked: Hartson, Juninho Paulista, McNamara.
Goals: Sutton 59.
Barcelona: Valdes, Belletti, Puyol, Marquez (Oleguer 62), Van Bronckhorst, Deco, Gerard, Xavi, Giuly, Eto'o (Iniesta 74), Ronaldinho (Larsson 62). Subs Not Used: Ruben Martinez, Sylvinho, Gabri, Fernando.
Booked: Marquez.
Goals: Deco 20, Giuly 78, Larsson 82.
Att: 58,589.
Ref: Markus Merk (Germany).
O'Neill proud of players
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill
Celtic 1-3 Barcelona
BBC
Martin O'Neill believed Celtic would beat Barcelona after David Marshall saved a penalty and Chris Sutton levelled in a game that was lost 3-1.
"We had them on the rack for a spell and I thought we might go on and win this," admitted manager O'Neill.
"The penalty save galvanised us and we were on top after we got the goal.
"The players gave everything and their efforts have been brilliant over the last few seasons but the goals we conceded were poor."
Barcelona were on top throughout the first half and Marshall made a number of outstanding saves in the game, including stopping a penalty from Ronaldinho.
"They (Barca) are a very fine side with designs on winning this competition," added O'Neill.
"They passed it well, as befits a team of that quality. But we kept hanging in.
"They had some great chances but, when we did level, I thought they might settle for a draw."
The defeat was Celtic's first on home soil in the Champions League, while O'Neill's side have yet to pick up a point on the road.
"We've dropped three points," O'Neill continued. "Now we have go out and get something away from home."
Meanwhile, Jackie McNamara was carried off after catching his studs in the turf and O'Neill fears the defender may have a bad injury.
"It's not looking good," said O'Neill. "He's gone over on his ankle and he'll have a scan tomorrow."
In the other Group F match AC Milan picked up maximum points with a 1-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Larsson's mixed feelings
BBC
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Larsson knocks home Barcelona's third goal at Celtic Park
Barcelona's Henrik Larsson admitted he found it hard to celebrate his goal in the 3-1 Champion's League win over former club Celtic.
"There were mixed feelings," said Larsson. "I have had seven great years here but I know what I have to do now. I'm a Barcelona player.
"It felt good but it was very difficult to celebrate when I had such a great time here.
"But I'm happy we got the three points. It was a good result for us."
Larsson scored the final goal of the evening, intercepting a headed back-pass from Alan Thompson to round David Marshall.
"I saw Alan Thompson head the ball back and I just gambled," he added.
"Celtic will always have a big place in my heart but life goes on. You have to do what you have to do."