MATCH REPORT: BARCA 1 CELTIC 0

PRE-MATCH COMMENT. Sat down to watch the game in a state of complete relaxation. Did not want Celtic to be hammered but neither did I think they had a hope progressing, no bad thing when you know that winning the league is all that matters this season. Understood why GS went for the starting eleven but did not expect JVOH to contribute much as he just cannot hold a ball up.

BORUC ….…….7 MOM I agree with D. Provan rather than C.Nicholas with regard to Boruc being culpable in losing the goal. Provan said “no blame could be attached to Boruc”. Artur went on to make about 5 very good saves.

WILSON.... ….. 6 Thought he did well in his first start for months. Stuck to his man as much as you could hope for and I think he’ll play an important part in the run in to retaining the Championship.

CALDWELL….. 7 Can’t remember him making a passing mistake and he stuck manfully to the very difficult task of trying to contain a wonderful array of talent.

McMANUS…. …6 He, like Caldwell, could only rely on his ability to break down attacks with last minute tackles/blocks. Our Captain should spent a lot of training time learning how to pass a ball of more than 5 yds.

NAYLOR….….….6 His usual first half form continued in this game with too many misplaced passes but he did have a great intervention tackle to prevent a certain goal.

McGEADY …. …..6 Was up against one of the best full backs in the world in Zambrotta and found it difficult to make any impact. Think he will be disappointed with his contribution.

BROWN ………….4 Was so disappointed in his lack of any real skill and he was one who found it almost impossible to hold the ball or make a pass. He did improve when he was moved back to his natural position.

DONATI …….. . 3 I think this unacceptable display by the Italian might be the final nail in his coffin in terms of starting in any of remaining big games. He was like a wee lost bhoy and it was no surprise that he did not re-appear for the second half.

NAKA…….. …… 4 Was played in the midfield but failed to make any impact apart from a great shot late in the game.

HARTLEY.. ….. 7 Didn’t notice him much but that is not a criticism. He worked away trying to cope with an amazing attacking team but he ended up with the best passing success rate of any in the team.

JVOH 5 Hindsight proved that it is not a position he can play. Rec’d very little of the ball

SUBS ………….1. SNO…..6 Made a difference right away by imposing himself physically and showing a willingness to hold onto the ball. Would like to think that GS will now give him a run.

SAMARAS…… 6 He too made a difference with his natural confidence and ability.

McDONALD ….5 Came on with 15 mins left and did have a decent shot which was on target.


REF…………. 8 Didn’t have too many difficult decisions to make but he highlighted the difference in class with our own referees.

THE GAME ……6 As a Celtic supporter it was an awful experience watching the first half but pride was restored with the second half performance. As a football supporter it was just great to watch the ability of everyone who wore a Barca shirt.

GOALS ………. 1st It was a fast, interchanging series of passes which led to Ronaldhino making a superb dummy pass to release Sylvino who sent over a cross which Xavier was first to respond to.


COMMENTS ….. 1. Once again Celtic make a disastrous start to a game (Porto & Copenhagen spring to mind) conceding a goal in the first few minutes.
2. I feel that the gamble of GS in playing a system that the players were not used to backfired and Celtic’s improvement when they reverted to their usual system.
3. One of the major differences in the approach to this game was the most surprising. It was the Barca players who did the closing down, it was the Barca players who hunted in packs, it was the Barca players who covered the most ground. One would have thought that these would have been areas in which a Scottish team would have brought to the game.
4. The most disappointing aspect of the game was the inability of all of the Celtic players (apart from Hartley) to make a telling pass, even when they were not being closed down.
5. One positive aspect of the visit to Barcelona was that the good name of Glasgow was restored by the behaviour of our fans.