Football fans the world over know Barcelona better than any other team, apart from their own personal favourites. We have all marvelled at how this side redefined the game at club level, before carrying their modus operandi and success to the Spanish national team, with an even greater win ratio, but the devil is in the detail, and the details point to a vulnerability in Barcelona.
They have won European trophies three times in the last nine seasons but only once in the other six seasons have they been eliminated by a non-British team. Five times in nine seasons they have passed, jinked and outplayed British opposition without creating enough clear-cut chances to win the tie, or by protecting their goal sufficiently well.
Inter parked the bus in the 2010 Champions League semi-final, as only Inter can, but all others across continental Europe have been swept aside, no matter how defensively, flamboyantly or aggressively they play.
The pool of teams capable of beating over two legs Barcelona is admittedly small but any opponent who reaches the knock out stage of a competition from France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy or Spain itself would take their chances seriously. The Russians, Ukrainians and Belgians would have a go too. None of these countries have a single team better than Barca by any objective measure, but the same is true of British teams.
There is something about the high-tempo nature of the British game this team just doesn’t cope well with. If they did, they would have won at least twice as many European trophies as they have in the last nine seasons. If it’s objective evidence you are looking for, you don’t need to look too far for a style of football Barcelona don’t cope with.
Chelsea triumphed twice during the period while Liverpool and Manchester United both won once. The sequence started when Celtic drew 0-0 at the Camp Nou after a 1-0 win in Glasgow in 2004. Liverpool also knocked Barca out three years earlier and don’t ask a Dundee United fan about their exploits at the Camp Nou unless you have an hour to kill!
Play your own game, Celtic.
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JohnnyClash-haha
veradownendcsc
BSR
Any more shots? feel as if I am there in the Placa Catalunya/Las Ramblas/Passage Gracia.
HH
VOGUE PUNTER
Bet they drink Peroni……
I have no fear. We have every chance of almost any sort of result including being on the end of a scintillating Barca performance. No matter. The important thing is we are there with as much chance of success as a beating. I’ll enjoy the moment and look forward with this squad to many more of them. Yes its good to be a Celtic supporter. Have pity on those less fortunate.
BMCUWP
Good on them.
VP
Here you go Sooking up the atmosphere
What would be the effect – shortly after kick-off – of a cesna flying low over the park trailing a banner requesting that the bold Messi “call home immediately” ?
When I was 14 ,in 1966, I had a poster on my wall of the Real Madrid team with 6 European Cups in front of them- to me they were gods. The thought of us winning the European Cup was probably as far fetched then as it is now but one year later we had ,incredibly ,done exactly that. I remember the morning of Lisbon which was a Holiday of Obligation ( ie a day off school for younger viewers)and going to the paper shop to buy the souvenir editions of the Record and The Express with colour pull outs which was I think unprecedented except for Saturday editions and looking at the Inter team – the Barca of their day (without the Barca style but just as invincible) and thinking we dont have a hope in hell of beating them. There is magic connected to Celtic lets hope we see some tonight.
BSR
Don’t like that one,it’s a wee bit messi.
Bring on the spanish by the score. HH
Mon the hoops!!!!
(i’ve peaked too early)
BSR
Don’t be fooled by the sunshine. It will be Baltic tonight in those seats up in the gods at the Nou Camp.
SeanBattyCSC
I hear ol’ Bourne is down at Barcelonnetta sniffing out the soup recipes at Bar Fanny
Afternoon All,
Warm but cloudy Barca. Strip on, ticket in pocket and a game to win.
HH
Thats the (working) day over – off home to cook a nice meal for the family,help the little tomassi’s with the homework and settle down for hopefully one of our finest moments in Europe.
Sammi with another late winner will do nicely!!
good luck to everyone over here and over there
COYBIG!!!!!
Let us now rename the deid Orcs “The Old Sevconians”. It sounds like a ladie’s hockey team, and they’re playing like a ladie’s hockey team at the moment. On tonight’s match—there are times when I’m chewing my nails and whistling when the Celts are playing in the SPL. I don’t know what I’ll be like tonight. My Mrs thinks there’s something wrong with me, and covers the dog’s ears to the noise and (sometimes) profanity. I’m nipping out for some Guinness draught. If we’re beat I’ll get steeamed, and if we win I’ll get blootered anyway. It’s a no-lose situation.
Before the draw was made I would’ve taken third place in any group. Now our confidence in this young team is such that a result in the nou camp is being whispered about being possible.
I really don’t fancy our chances, but I wouldn’t fancy any team in the worlds chances in the nou camp.
One thing is for sure, win, lose or draw tonight. This team that Neil has built has the potential to be as good as any Celtic team in recent history.
I loved MON’s team, but his tconsisted of several players, individually costing much more than our total budget for a season.- and Henrik!
I’d still take third place!
Heres an interesting fact. Celtic are the only team in their group who are champions of their country. Is this a sign? Good luck tonight Bhoys. Hail Hail ||Hebcelt
BOURNESOUPRECIPE 1553
Joost gonny no’ dae that?
Makes me jealous-at this rate,I’ll rattle through the seven deadly sins before cot-time.
Speaking of which………..
Enjoy the occasion,folks. Back in just under four hours,but you will be pleased to know it will be to watch the game,not the blog.
With respect,of course,to PAUL67 and everything the blog provides.
Thousands of Celtic fans in Barcelona hoping for any pause, even a pregnant one in ole Messi’s scoring run.
BSR
Your photo will be posted on various MSM websites with the legend:
“Heartless Celtic fans enjoy themselves while Spain is gripped by recession”.
southside
Agree, any European football after Christmas would be tremendous.
I really hope Mrs Messi has a lovely birth, but can she just start getting her 1st contractions about now, 3/4 hours labour and a bouncing healthy baby will deffo put him off. Wont it?
Barcelona, Real Madrid, they will make a Gallas bid but Celtic are the only football team.
Ole Catalunyan gazebo
Can everyone just stop mentioning ‘them’.
This is OUR day.
Win lose or Draw.
Hail Hail ;-)
The lad Messi’s run of good form has to end at some point, right?
Hearing that the Messi baby to be called Nappies
Hoopeddreams
CQN Barca Web Cam
BSR, your photo’s are making me jealous,
but keep it up ;-)
I see the bhoys are all obeying the no drinking in the street ban!
Barcelona may well be the best team in the world just now, but remember they and every other team that has ever won The European Cup or The Champions League will never ever replicate the achievements of The famous Glasgow Celtic on that unforgettable night in Lisbon in 1967, when 11 players all born within a 30 mile radius of Celtic Park became the first non-latin side to lift the big cup. Those bhoys are immortals in my eyes, so whether we win, lose or draw tonight, Barcelona,Chelsea Manchester United or whatever other team you care to mention will never ever replicate that feat.
CFCimmortalscsc
Headtheball
16:17 on 23 October, 2012
The lad Messi’s run of good form has to end at some point, right?
Aye, when he’s about 40.
Hail Hail DBBIA
Where are you watching the game tonight?
Just_a_Bhoys
My photos are making me jealous
BMCUW Thank you for the kind words sir, it was a pleasure to meet with you and other CQN’rs that night and I look forward to some more good nights in the future. I agree the race night will be great and anyone who can should get along to the race night for our wee Celtic Warrior.
I hope tonight we can do ourselves proud and show the world what a fine young team that NFL is building. Right now I would take a draw and be extremely happy.
C’Mon Wee Oscar and C’Mon you Bhoys in Green.
HH
BarcelonaSoupeRecipe
16 large garlic cloves, peeled
3 tb unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large Spanish onion, peeled and finely minced
6 or 8 chicken stock
1 1/2 lb kale, stemmed, washed, and torn into 1-inch pieces
2 medium potatoes, peeled and finely diced
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
1/2 cheavy cream (optional)
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan, add the garlic cloves, and blanch for 2 minutes. In a 4-quart casserole melt the butter with the oil over medium heat. Add the stock, kale, diced potatoes, and blanched garlic cloves and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, partially cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
With a slotted spoon, remove about 2 cups of vegetables from the broth, excluding the garlic cloves, and reserve. Strain the soup into a large bowl. Transfer the drained vegetables to the workbowl of a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
Whisk the pureed vegetables into the strained broth and return to the casserole. Add the reserved 2 cups of cooked vegetables and the optional heavy cream. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and correct the seasoning and serve hot, accompanied by a crusty loaf of bread.
Kale! Kale! The Soup Recipe’s Here
TBB,
Kale! Kale! The Soup Recipe’s Here
PMSL, classic!
The Stadium