Barcelona vs Celtic
Dec 11, 2013 at 7.45pm (UK)
Camp Nou
In the awake of Celtic interrupting 128 fans from going to future games and another 250 season-ticket holders from the Scottish club being relocated after smoke bombs and flares caused damage at Fir Park, the rumors around Barcelona looking for increasing Camp Nou’s current capacity of 98,787 to 105,000 and an approximately £37m million (according to the Independent) offer from the Blaugrana keen on acquiring Manchester United star Robin van Persie, have put the last match in the group stage in the UEFA Champions League for both clubs in a very low light.
Yet they are both in need of a victory.
Hosting this game, Barça will have the edge as the group leader and for their well-balanced defense with only three goals conceded in the competition against a Celtic offense that has only netted twice in five matches.
The first whistle of the game, however, won’t kick off this battle. Both sides will pay a tribute to Nelson Mandela as UEFA has organized in every game of the matchday six. A banner in the center of the pitch will read, “Madiba, the world will never forget.”
Though once the game gets underway, the visitors will bring with them a positive run from their past two battles in the Scottish Premier League, which have resulted in 12 unanswered goals in away matches against Hearts and Motherwell.
While Barça have faced their first two losses back-to-back two weeks ago for Ajax in a UCL game and Athletic Club for La Liga. But the home side can find inspiration in their youth team, which defeated Celtic’s Under-19 team this week by three nil.
Possible lineups:
Barcelona: Pinto; Montoya, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano; Song, Xavi, Iniesta; Alexis, Neymar, Pedro
Celtic: Forster; Lustig, Ambrose, van Dijk; Mulgrew; Brown, Kayal; Commons, Stokes, Izaguirre; Samaras
Team News:
Martino continues with Dani Alves tagged as doubtful and Valdés, Dos Santos, Messi and Afellay definitely absent from the game due to injury. Yet he won’t even be able to count on Isaac Cuenca and Fabregas for this specific clash versus Celtic.
Celtic’s only victory in the Group H came against Ajax at Celtic Park and now they hope to leave the European tournament in a high note.
But it won’t be an easy mission with multiple players on the medical department as well as suspended of their own. Emilio Izaguirre is ruled out through suspension while the likes of James Forrest, Beram Kaya and Nir Biton are suffering from hamstring, broken bone and a virus touble respectively.
Yet there are good news with the returning of Adam Matthews and the captain Scott Brown.
Recent Form:
Barcelona: WWLLW
Celtic: WWLWW
Pre-Match Reactions:
In a pre-match interview Celtic’s manager Neil Lennon discussed the difference Brown makes in his squad.
“It hurt us because he’s our captain and he’s certainly a leader on and off the park. There’s no question that his presence was missed in our last three Champions League games,” he said according to his club’s official website.
Brown picked up a three matches suspension in the first meeting against Barcelona at Celtic Park.
As for Martino, he talked about the importance he sees in this game even though Barcelona have already gone through to the knockout stage of the UCL next year and the visitors have no more chances of qualification.
“We know the consequences for Barça of every match – this is an important game in all aspects – we have finish top, we have to win and put in a good performance. For us, every game is tough and each one has consequences.”