Celtic-Barça: Pre-Preview

By: JT | February 19th, 2008

Its impossible to deny that there are significant similarities between The Celtic Football Club and FC Barcelona.

The footballing success domestically and in Europe, a playing style that revolutionized the game in the late 60’s and into the 70’s, tremendous and unwavering fan support, heated rivalries with the other sporting power in their countries and the cultural significance of the club to their supporters around the world, just to name a few.

The lovefest between the clubs continues today as Barca president Joan Laporta praised Celtic and their fans, calling them the “best traveling supporters in the world”. Midfield lynchpin Xavi also lauded Celtic Park’s “special atmosphere” ahead of tomorrow’s Round of 16 Champions League clash.

Its tremendous to receive compliments of that nature from a president who helped rejuvenate the sleeping giant that Barcelona had become in the early 2000’s and a player who has won everything in club football. It won’t win them any leniency on the pitch though.

When you talk Celtic-Barca, you inevitably think of one man, Henrik Larsson. The centerpiece of many a Celtic championship run and a key cog in Barca’s 2006 European Champions, its understandable that he feels a bit conflicted over this matchup. He thinks the best place for clubs of this stature to meet is the Champs League final, and he’s just hoping tomorrow nite produces some quality football. I’m with The King on the latter, as for the former, well…maybe next year.

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is suspended for the first leg, and right-back Andreas Hinkel is cup-tied after his January move from Sevilla. Both will be sorely missed. Paul Hartley is the best guess at right-back and new Bhoy Barry Robson is likely to partner Massimo Donati in the center of the park, although Evander Sno is a remote possibility as well. Celtic have no real injury concerns.

Samuel Eto’o is back in the Barcelona squad after returning from the African Cup of Nations with a slight knock at the expense of young sensation Bojan Krkic. Eto’o, Thierry Henry, and Lionel Messi are named in a squad together for only the second time this term. Gianluca Zambrotta and Edmilson are also not in the traveling squad. Leaving two World Cup winners at home is a sign of the frightening depth that Barca possess.

Barca coach Frank Rijkaard is banned for this match following his sending off against Lyon in the group stage. Eto’o jumped to his manager’s defense, wondering how it is possible to question a man who has won so much for the club, and I have to agree. Rijkaard hasn’t magically become a poor coach over nite. Imagine having to deal with a new collection of massive egos every season and being tasked with molding them into a winning collective. It’s just not as easy as people seem to think.

The form of Aiden McGeady appears to be a key talking point ahead of this match. The Irish international has every facet of his game clicking at the moment, and sees his future after Celtic in Spain. I’m not even thinking about those days, but if it happens, La Liga would be the place for him, no doubt.

Messi admires the winger as well, piling on the compliments, calling Aideninho a “natural talent, who can create a brilliant piece of play in the blink of an eye.” That’s extraordinarily high praise considering the source.

While not digging too far into the match preview that I’ll post tomorrow, The Daily Mail has courteously put together some key matchups ahead of the clash.

The back on forth on the left-wing between McGeady and Carles Puyol will be a key in my opinion as well. Everything good Celtic have done of late has gone through McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura, who switch wings during the match. Puyol loves getting forward, and the quality that the four players, including Eric Abidal on Barca’s left, carry out their dual responsibilities with will be crucial to the outcome.

Get ready people, the hour is near…