Celtic vs Barcelona

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?

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.

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.

Body language on the pitch shows that this game is finished now.

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.

One minute of the four to be added has gone now.

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.

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.

Barcelona content to just stroke the ball around midfield as a breathless match draws to a close.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Last ten minutes and, judging by what has gone before, you wouldn't like to guess how this will end.

Substitution takes place. Off goes McNamara and on comes Sylla.

Slight hold up in play as the luckless McNamara is laid out in some pain.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Another substitution for Barcelona sees Eto'o depart and Iniesta.

Sutton is willing to die for the cause and comes off worse in a challenge with Eto'o

What a turnaround. Celtic weren't even in this game half an hour agao and now they look the most likely to win it!

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.