Here at the Football Transfer Tavern, we are excitedly awaiting the Champions League tie between Celtic and Barcelona.
While some may see this as a game that Barcelona will easily win without having to break into a sweat, some punters at the Transfer Tavern believe that the men in green and white stand a chance against one of Europe’s biggest and best clubs.
There is talk of Champions League games gone by that show that this giant killing isn’t impossible and while it is maybe unlikely, it could be done.
Will Leigh Griiffiths and Brendan Rodgers lead Celtic past Lionel Messi and the rest of Luis Enrique’s men? There is hope.
Here are the landlord’s THREE Champions League matches of the past that will give Celtic hope ahead of their upcoming match against Barcelona.
Do you agree with these picks and what Champions League nights do you remember most fondly? Let us know…..
Celtic 2-1 Barcelona (2012)
They’ve beaten them before.
Celtic have shown in the past that a Barcelona team that may seem invincible can actually be beaten.
Goals from Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt helped the boys in green to beat a Barcelona side that had the likes of Xavi and Lionel Messi.
Celtic only had three shots and 34% possession, but only conceded in the 90th minute to a Messi strike and managed to get the three points that got them into the round of 16.
It may be a new crop of players for both sides, but memories of that game will still be alive in the minds of Celtic players and supporters.
Celtic 1-0 Manchester United (2006)
A Shunsuke Nakamura free kick in the 83rd minute and a penalty save from Artur Boruc earned Celtic a 1-0 win against Manchester United, and a place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
It was a Manchester United team that had Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney entering his prime years and one of the best centre back pairings of recent years in Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
It shows that if somebody is able to produce a moment of brilliance and the team works together as a unit, then Celtic could have a chance of getting a result.
Celtic 2-1 AC Milan (2007)
AC Milan may have fallen from grace slightly in recent years, but when Celtic came up against them in 2007, the Italian club were reigning champions of Europe.
However, goals from Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald either side of a Kaka penalty handed Celtic a victory.
Like the Barcelona side that they will be facing, AC Milan had top quality players all over the pitch, however they were still beaten by a Celtic side that had a dogged determination to win.
Brendan Rodgers’ men will be just as hungry to win and could have a slight chance of doing so, even if they are written off by most.
