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• Champions league 2007-08

Quick Review

Game effectively over after conceding a 2nd minute goal to Xavi, 2nd half saw a much improved performance, with Naka going close to scoring with a long range effort just before injury time. Disappointing end to the whole campaign, but we were never really in this match. WGS decided to put pragmatism ahead of romanticism and we had a relatively defensive formation even though we were looking to score twice to try to make it through to the net round. Add in the possession that Barca had over us, and it was a real footballing lesson for the team.

Can't pass without noting two things
1) it was freezing! It may have been Spain, but the stadium has no roof and there was a major chill wind blowign around and it was the coldest many of us have been at a football game.
2) Barcelona must be the most unhelpful club in the world at giving tickets to away fans. The official tickets were in a stand way up the top, whilst the rest of us were not allowed to buy tickets via the unhelpful ticket offices! We all had to buy them off of touts for around €150.

Trivia

• A lesson in how to play the game at various pts.
• 4-5-1 formation, looks like we were never even trying!
• It may have been near the start of spring in Spain, but it was absolutely freezing on the night of the game, with massive wind chills for all in the unroofed stadium.
• Regarded by most its seems as the coldest game they have ever been to, see link.
• Celtic fans generally well received in Barcelona in spite of Rangers fans behaviour there a few months back.
• A journalist tried to stoke problems by sending a video of Celtic fans to UEFA, which was lauged "out of court" as you can say, and the Celtic officials to their credit released a strongly worded statement (see bottom of this page).

Teams

Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho, Toure Yaya (Edmilson 67), Xavi (Gudjohnsen 82), Deco, Messi (Henry 36), Eto'o, Ronaldinho
Subs Not Used: Pinto, Iniesta, Abidal, Bojan.

Goal: Xavi 2

Celtic team (4-5-1) first half:-
Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, Donati, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Second half (4-4-2):-
Boruc,
Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley (McDonald 78), Donati (Sno 46), McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras 55).

Subs Not Used:- Mark Brown, Pressley, Robson, O'Dea.

Agg: (4-2)

Att: 75,002

Ref: Pieter Vink (Holland)

Articles

• Match Report
• Manager Interview
• Celtic fans give an example of civility/politeness (Metro Directe, Spanish newspaper) (Mar 08)
• Zambrotta on Celtic (Mar 08)

Pictures

• Pictures 1
• Pictures 2

KStreet

• Pre-match
• Match
• MoTM - Boruc (Link to MOTM Winners)
• Post-match

Stats

Barcelona		Celtic
1	Goals scored	0
0	Yellow card	1
0	Red card	0
6	Shots on goal	3
4	Shots wide	1
16	Fouls committed	16
16	Corners	3
1	Offsides	4
37' 55''	Ball. Poss. (time)	23' 24''
61%	Ball. Poss. (%)	39%

Gls: Goals scored SP: Shots hitting post SC: Shots hitting bar ST: Shots on target SW: Shots wide FC: Fouls committed FS: Fouls suffered OF: Offside AS: Assists YC: Yellow cards RC: Red cards


A journalist tried to stoke problems by sending a video of Celtic fans to UEFA, was lauged "out of court" as you can say, and the Celtic officials to their credit released the following statement wrt it.

Celtic Football Club statement

No uefa investigation into media claims
Newsroom Staff

UEFA have confirmed today that there will be no investigation into media allegations concerning the behaviour of some Celtic supporters during their recent visit to Barcelona for the Champions League tie between Celtic and FC Barcelona.

A Celtic spokesperson commented: “As we said on Friday, we never felt that there was any case to answer and we welcome confirmation of this from UEFA today.

“This was simply an attempt by a journalist to manufacture a story and tarnish the good name of Celtic Football Club.


“Celtic and its supporters enjoy a unique relationship with FC Barcelona and our recent visit to the city was very well received once again by the club, the people of the city and the Catalan police. Indeed, the conduct of our fans was also applauded by UEFA.

“Celtic Football Club states quite clearly that as a club open to all, it stands firmly against all forms of bigotry and sectarianism. This can be seen from the great volume of work which Celtic carries out in this area.

“The club condemns anyone who chooses to indulge in any form of negative or offensive behaviour.”
Source