Celtic put in a tremendous effort when they met Barcelona in their most recent Champions League Group G outing and they now prepare to tackle the same opponents in the return in Glasgow on Wednesday night.
The earlier meeting between these sides at Camp Nou looked like producing a huge surprise but Barca found a winner deep inside injury time to clinch the points with a 2-1 win. The teams had gone into the break at 1-1 with Celtic taking a surprise lead and they fought tenaciously through the second period before the late heartbreak. Barca remain top of the group with three straight wins, five points clear of Celtic and six ahead of Spartak whilst Benfica bring up the rear with just a single point. Another win for Barca here will clinch a place in the knockout rounds at the earliest possible opportunity.
Previous Meetings, some beautiful goals here
On a side note, today is Celtic's 125th anniversary.
"A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed."
IT was 125 years ago this very day on November 6, 1887 that Celtic Football Club was born. A meeting in the church hall of St Mary’s parish in the Calton established the club, and while those present would have harboured well-intentioned ambitions for the new sporting organisation, none of them could ever have imagined that Celtic would go on to become one of the most famous names in world football.
Now, 125 years later, Celtic remain an important presence in the East End of Glasgow. The club has gone from strength to strength while remaining true to its roots. It is no idle boast to say that it is ‘more than a club’.
And in celebrating the proud and unique history of a club that has, from its inception, always been open to everyone regardless of race, creed or colour, we are reminded of the vision of those men back in 1887 and are proud of everything that has been achieved by the club down through the years.
As a football club, we celebrate our many triumphs on the field – league championships, Scottish and League Cups, one-off trophy successes and, of course, the 1967 European Cup, which firmly established Celtic as part of Europe’s elite. There have been highs and lows throughout this remarkable story, with the triumphs balanced by disappointment and, on occasion, tragedy.
But every step of the way, the Celtic support have been there, faithful through and through, enjoying the successes that began with the 1892 Scottish Cup win and most recently included last season’s title victory.
There have been many great players who have ‘walked through Parkhead’s gates’, and as supporters we have been blessed to see some of them, or hear of their exploits from our elders. Those players have worn the jersey, which has been the famous green and white Hoops since 1903, with pride.
As the late, great Tommy Burns once famously said: ‘When you pull on that jersey you’re not just playing for a football club, you’re playing for a people and a cause.’
Got the game set to record though. Hopefully we put up a good fight.
