Celtic vs Barcelona
Who won: Barcelona 3-1
Barcelona beat Celtic 3-1 on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at Celtic Park. Goals for Celtic: Chris Sutton (59'). Goals for Barcelona: Deco (20'), Ludovic Giuly (78') and Henrik Larsson (82').
Play by play
- 90'
The penalty save for Marshall acted as a catalyst for the whole team and, once level, Celtic rattled their illustrious guests. But Barca should have been a few up by then and justice was done, in the cruelest of fashions. A deflection and a goal from 'The King of Kings' settled a wonderful game of football. You always suspected he would have a say, didn't you?
- 90'
Barcelona showed just what you can get for £40 million these days. Breathtaking attacking play from the Catalan's stars threatened to over-run Celtic early on. Credit to the Bhoys for sticking at it and, for a period in the second-half they looked like they were on course for an unlikely win.
- 90'
And now too does the referee's whistle. A fantastic game finishes 3-1 to Barcelona and, despite a spirited, gutsy display from the hosts, you have to say they deserved it.
- 90'
Body language on the pitch shows that this game is finished now.
- 90'
As Celtic push men forward there is space at the back for Barcelona to exploit. Giuly has room to roam, plays in a short pass to Larsson who helps it on to where he though Deco had kept running towards but he had not.
- 90'
One minute of the four to be added has gone now.
- 89'
Corner is aimed at the near post where Sutton wins it cleanly but his deft header is still rising as it sails over the bar.
- 88'
Hopeful ball forward is not dealt with well by a Barca defence under no pressure. Ball spills to Thompson who drags his shot wide with the aid of a deflection that generates a corner.
- 87'
Barcelona content to just stroke the ball around midfield as a breathless match draws to a close.
- 86'
Corner is cleared but only as far as Gerard who tries a first time half volley which he spoons into the hands of a grateful Marshall.
- 85'
Deco carries the ball a long way unchallenged, all the way into the box infact, but, just as he is about to pull the trigger a perfectly timed recovering tackle concedes a corner.
- 83'
Celtic haven't given it up yet. Free-kick on the edge of the box is squared for Petrov to fire a great shot in to sting Valdes' palms. Rebounded is headed on by Sutton and Camara finishes emphatically but he was well offside.
- 82'
So, Larsson scores at Celtic Park. It's happened before, but not like this. Thompson tried a back pass header from distance. Larsson read it, controlled, rounded the keeper and, inevitably, scored against his former club.
- 81'
Scratch that, this is going to end with a Barcelona win. Terrible mistake by Thompson lets in Larsson who makes no mistake. 3-1 Barca.
- 80'
Last ten minutes and, judging by what has gone before, you wouldn't like to guess how this will end.
- 79'
Substitution takes place. Off goes McNamara and on comes Sylla.
- 78'
Slight hold up in play as the luckless McNamara is laid out in some pain.
- 77'
Larsson - who appears to be being booed by a small section of the crowd, what is wrong with some people? - very much involved. His lay off to the overlapping Belletti alows him to cut back a cross to Guily who had taken a good position on the edge of the box. His shot was decent enough but Marshall would have got to it had McNamara not got a touch to send it past him.
- 76'
This is a cruel, cruel game. A well worked move down the right presents Guily with time to shoot and his effort takes a deflection to send the ball past a helpless Marshall. 2-1 Barcelona. You don't want to be dominating this game - the other team just scores.
- 75'
Reckless challenge from Puyol nearly takes amara's head off in the centre circle. Just a foul given and nothing more as both players just get on with it. It's that sort of game now. Fantastic.
- 74'
Celtic, enjoying some success down the right, get over another decent cross but Valdes, with Sutton lurking near by, does well to hold on to the ball.
- 73'
Another substitution for Barcelona sees Eto'o depart and Iniesta.
- 72'
Sutton is willing to die for the cause and comes off worse in a challenge with Eto'o
- 70'
What a turnaround. Celtic weren't even in this game half an hour agao and now they look the most likely to win it!
- 69'
Camara, more involved this half than the first. Takes the ball down on the edge of the box and desperately tries to carve out a shooting opportunity but there is nowhere for him to go and the chance passes.
