This Champions League malarkey is becoming about as self-important as sport can get, but Celtic and Barcelona produced two incredible football games in the modest Uefa Cup in 2004.
Barcelona were on the cusp of the greatness which followed. After five years without a league or cup win, they won nine consecutive games, then a club record, before travelling to Celtic Park. Starting the following year, they won eight of the 12 La Liga titles available since, collecting four Champions Leagues along the way.
Celtic won the game 1-0 thanks to an Alan Thompson goal on 59 minutes, but this tells little of the drama which unfolded that night.
Two players were sent off as the teams walked up the tunnel at halftime, Celtic goalkeeper, Rab Douglas, who was by all accounts trying to break-up a fight, and Barcelona’s Motta. Suggestions are that Bobo Balde was the Celtic player involved, but the referee didn’t have the wherewithal to face down Bobo.
At the game, we knew something had happened, but none of us had any details. Then 19-year-old David Marshall emerged for the second half in the goalkeeper’s jersey, a player who had only made one previous professional appearance, in the Scottish Cup against then-lower league St Johnstone.
Four minutes into the second half Saviola was red carded, leaving us with a 10-9 game on a pitch which Barca legend, Hristo Stoichkov referred to as a potato field (it has been a very wet winter).
We have seen many great players at Celtic Park, more than a few from Barcelona, but none have performed as well as Ronaldinho did that night. He put on a performance which was utterly sublime, but despite carving Celtic open repeatedly, neither he nor his team-mates could find a way past the teenage keeper.
A confident performance even saw Marshall leave his area to chip an opponent to find a team-mate with a pass.
Rab was suspended for the return so Martin O’Neill took the opportunity to give David Marshall some game time before heading to the Camp Nou with his novice keeper, hoping to defend a one goal lead. I remember Martin saying “I’ve every confidence David Marshall will be up to the job” at a media conference. “Based on what?”, I thought.
30 seconds into the return leg Marshall dived full length to stop a shot creeping inside the post, as Celtic fans braced themselves for what was clearly going to be 90 minutes of tension.
If Marshall’s first leg performance was full of remarkable calmness and maturity, his performance in the Camp Nou was one of the finest displays by any player in a Celtic shirt. Ever. He simply would not be beaten. Barcelona threw everything in their considerably armoury at him from first to last, to be met by a series of remarkable saves.
Everything we know about football suggests David Marshall’s performances against Barcelona shouldn’t have happened. He was completely unprepared to walk onto Celtic Park at halftime in the first leg, and had little chance to acclimatise for the rigors of Ronaldinho and Co. at the Camp Nou two weeks later, but the episode is now a chapter in our illustrious European history.
So what’s the contemporary relevance for this tale? A week from tonight Brendan Rodgers will choose between Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries to play at the Camp Nou against three of the finest strikers in modern times, de Vries having played one game for the club, Gordon performing below the peak he achieved when he broke into the team two years ago.
This will be Brendan’s biggest call in the months ahead. It’s not an ideal situation, but he should call it early. Just as Martin did 12 years ago, tell the world that whoever is getting the nod he’s going to be perfectly at home at the Camp Nou.
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Good Stuff Jude, Hope Gran gets a big hug from grandson.
THETIMREAPER – LORD NIMMO SMITH ENQUIRY WAS A SHAM NEVER FORGET IT on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:10 PM
CORKCELT on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:59 PM
Development Team win one nil, goal scored by JOSH KERR.
——–
How do you know the boy?
= = = = = = =
C’mon Corkcelt,yi gonna answer the mhan.My nose is getting the better of me here. ;)
Sweden game: why on earth is the stadium only half full?
I don’t know him, just his Grand Dad posting here about him has got me interested in his career.
I like that Portugal strip. far better than that beetroot mess we have.
Bada Bing –
re your friend with the rail section ticket I’m a bit confused with what’s happened here.
I was previously told that the standing section was sold out to season ticket holders. If so, I don’t know how someone ‘new’ managed to buy a ticket for that section? If an existing ticket holder isn’t going, he’d just pass his season card on surely? I’m in the Section and don’t have anything oterh thatn my season card. It is after all just a normal league game.
Separately (but connected) I’ve also been told that for this season at least it is ONLY season ticket holders that can occupy that section. For example if you take the forthcoming Alloa game, the online ticket service shows the sections 109 – 112 as ‘not available / sold out’. The section clearly will not be sold out but, at the same time, Joe Bloggs cannot buy a ticket for those areas.
confusedCSC
Jobo-thanks for reply, we went to TO today and was told he needed the paper ticket too…..hope i don’t panic too many bhoys about this, but the Rail Tickets issue is looking confusing…HH
Wee tip Bhoys if you are decorating in the near future. Check the paint prices at ARGOS compared to B & Q ul save a right few bob!!
If you have a ST for the standing section that’s not a full adult ticket, ie a student or child, you have to buy a ticket like any other concessions for Saturday’s game. You have to take both paper ticket and season ticket card to gain entry.
Let’s not forget that, but for an inexplicable failure of Paddy’s left foot we would have romped the cup game against the team we will be playing on Saturday.
I expect he will rectify that situation this time.
Bada Bing I’m in Section 111 and as far as I’m aware I don’t need a paper ticket. I’ll call the ticket office tomorrow and clarify it.
Still looking for a North Curve spare if any are available.
FAC the Act
KTF
Jobo, my son’s pal has a standing section ticket but as he has just turned 17, he had to get a paper ticket , posted out for some reason, plus he has to take his season ticket with him to the game.
At the Leicester game , my son and I both got paper tickets rather than our cards being updated.
All very confusing for my son and his pals.
VF-thanks, all in all a bit of a mess , maybe bhoys will double check now HH
Bada Bing I can’t see a ticket being required as its a normal game. The paper ticket would be required if a ticket was upgraded and the card is needed to get into the section.
FAC the Act
KTF
Lustig tripped over his own feet at the Holland goal.
Saturdays game will be a tight on. We’ll give them it very tight.
6-0
MWD
Bhoys,
Everyone in the standing area are ST holders but there are concessions in there too. All those with concession ST’s have their ST deactivate for this game. Upgrades were possible and a paper ticket issued however to get into the standing area you need to show your ST as normal.
So in summary the paper ticket gets you through the turnstiles and your ST gets you passed the stewards at the standing area thoroughfare. Logical solution would be to activate the original ST at point of upgrade
Common sense.csc
Great result for Switzerland. Without Senderos as well….
Back at the flat to read the club page about our u20s taking 3pts at East End Park tonight. Great. I went to Greenock and Livingston during this stupid international break and I’m putting my conclusion on the record.
Celtic’s left-hand side were solid on Saturday. McIlduff, McCart, Hendry and Miller locked their side and were never exposed by Livingston. There were issues on the other side of the pitch the management took too long to resolve.
Aiden McIlduff didn’t start tonight. He was a stand up Celt on Saturday.
Bada Bing , that’s why the Swiss got a result lol
Absolutely brilliant winning goal for Bulgaria by ex-Celt Tonev.
Jude , you must be the proudest gandad about tonight.
Well done , Josh.
THE JOHNATRON on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 8:50 PM
Sweden game: why on earth is the stadium only half full?
Ah, an optimist. I thought it was half empty!:-))
Evening/morning all. That`s me just hame. Who`s Macjay fighting wae the night? 1-0 will do for me on Sat. Three points against a wee team.
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:03 PM
Cheers Jude. Didn’t even know Argos did paint!
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME.7.00pm
That young fud , being articulate and well spoken makes him ,very much an exception to the average run of the mill hun.
Still wrong and deluded with the usual sense of entitlement thrown in.
Let’s hope Saturday brings a fresh reality check.
Dallas@9:16
The Leicester game was a separate competition not covered by ST’s that’s why
GLEN
n
NER DID I WORTH CHECKING MRS J SPOTTED IT.
DALLAS DALLAS
YES I AM WEE MALT LATER I THINK.
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2016 9:03 PM
If your looking for ‘professional’ grade paint at a reasonable price The Paint Shed is quite good.
Prestonpans Bhoy, thanks .
I couldn’t figure out why we got a paper ticket each but that would explain it.
In saying that, our season tickets for the Motherwell league cup game , were updated.
All in all, whether we get a paper ticket or our season tickets are updated, all we want is to get into the ground to see our team play.
Dallas,
It’s a Competition which is/can be activated for access, anyway nice to see the blog exchanging views etc without the usual zoomers blowing it up, like the original days of CQN
Will not last, midnight howlers on soon…….
Prestonpansbhoy, I agree.
Posters being civil to each other despite disagreeing can be a rare commodity on here at times.
There are a number of posters I scroll by , there will be others who scroll by mine, but a bit of courtesy and respect is a good thing.
My my what a very civil exchange of views regarding ticketing arrangements for the rail seating sections. And position now fully understood I think – both me and my Bhoy have full price adult season tickets so Saturday, for us, is just like any other league game. As, of course, it should be.
Oh and VFR800A8, I’m in 111 too. If there’s a lull in the atmosphere(!) I may start a call/reply chant of “Come on you CQN….”
If I go, that is…… ;-)
Goodnight all and keep this very pleasant atmosphere up.
CQN’s “FICTITIOUS ARTICLE ON RANGERS”…
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=27547
MY PAINTER SWEARS BY JOHNSTONES PAINTS.
NIGHT ALLL
@FAC
FAC will be releasing a statement tomorrow morning at 8.45 regarding the latest attack on our campaign by the Police Service of Scotland.
WC,
I dearly wish that someone in the Same Club camp would take a court action against CQN, for insisting on promoting the Big Lie.
Daft as they are, they are not stupid enough to bring it to the Courts.