Manager Neil Lennon hopes to give Celtic fans an anniversary present to remember tomorrow night against Barcelona.

Celtic today celebrated their 125th year as Parkhead prepares to host the Catalan giants for a keenly-awaited Champions League Group G encounter.

But Lennon knows it will be no easy task to overcome their star-studded opponents, who are top of the group with nine points from three games, including a 2-1 home win over the Scottish champions last month.

``It is a great occasion for the club today, our anniversary and something we are very proud of,'' Lennon said. ``I think tomorrow night will be a very special evening.

``One, being in the Champions League, two, playing against arguably the best team in the world and three, the anniversary of our club. It is a pivotal year for us, one of celebration.

``How do you solve a problem like Barcelona? You have to play at your very best, you have to be fully concentrated with great intensity and sometimes even then that is not enough.

``But certainly with a full house tomorrow night I am sure the neutrals will enjoy the atmosphere and the energy that our supporters bring and it should be a great night for the club.

``I am hoping that the players do themselves justice on the night.''

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, though, is eager to throw cold water on Celtic's celebrations and guarantee progression for his side tomorrow night.

A Barca win coupled with a Spartak Moscow defeat against Benfica will assure the Primera Division outfit of first place in the section.

Asked at Celtic Park what would he would do if such a scenario unfolded, Vilanova, whose side have still to travel to Moscow before finishing with a home game against Benfica, replied: ``It is probably the most important match in what is left of the year.

``If we qualify and are first in the group we will be able to rest some of our players and use the youth team.''

When challenged on that policy later, in terms of it going against the spirit of competition and thus potentially harming Celtic's qualification chances, Vilanova gave Hoops fans some succour.

``I said the game was really important so that we could qualify and give some players a rest,'' he said.

``But do not worry, the teams that will play in the next games will always be top level because we have always been.

``The fact that some of those players don't play often doesn't mean they don't have an excellent level.

``But the most important thing is that we win tomorrow.''


http://espnfc.com/en/preview/355694/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=3888

Madam sorry for yesterday o!Arsenal will qualify behind schalke but just try and avoid Barca.
We will go out for the three points as usual.
Forza Barca.

Barca will do it again......

Celtic will beg for Messsiiiiiiiiii

``One, being in the Champions League, two, playing against arguably the best team in the world and three, the anniversary of our club. It is a pivotal year for us, one of celebration.

``How do you solve a problem like Barcelona? You have to play at your very best, you have to be fully concentrated with great intensity and sometimes even then that is not enough.[/quote] he said it, i didn't .

Definitely we'l put them to the sword, messi will score a hatrick and surpass Peles goalscoring record in a calendar year Vamos el barca!!! Fellow cules should ff on twitter @Davidcule19 i'l ff back!

Barca we win with 4 0 Song to score

BARCA ALL D WaY

The question remains; Can Messi hack it on a cold, wet night in Scotland?

Time will tell.

GOAL: Celtic 1-0 Barca

Come on Celtic!

@Eifeh, u̶̲̥̅̊ don miss am

HALFTIME: Celtic 1-0 Barcelona. Can Celtic hang on this time?

Come on Celtic, come on Celtic.

CFCfan: HALFTIME: Celtic 1-0 Barcelona. Can Celtic hang on this time?

Come on Celtic, come on Celtic.

on point

Go Barca

Eifeh: Barca we win with 4 0 Song to score

u got the forecast frm tb joshua? hin no do well o

lolu84: @Eifeh, u̶̲̥̅̊ don miss am

ok 4 1

Vilanova might bring on David Villa in the second half. David Villa's direct running could cause problems for the Hoops (Celtic).

Anyway, I'm hoping for an upset today.

This Vilanova guy is gradually making me feel all he's enjoying is the prowess of the squad and not his tactics. Wat tha heck is Fabregas and Villa doing on the bench??

Specializing in one Course or Trying to know many courses, which one is better

Wow,Fraser Forster is having a blinder!!

its 2 nil already

Update: Celtic 2-0 Barcelona !!

Come on Celtic

Eifeh: ok 4 1

you missed this one too.

pls try again

@Efieh, U̶̲̥̅̊ miss A̶̲̥̅̊M̶̲̥̅ totally.

the score is 2- 1 already

celtic won

Yay! Up Celtic.

The men of the match were Forster, Watt and Wanyama and the entire Hoops defense!

frankly , am supsrided barca didnt have it easy against celtic both at nou camp and at celtic. if madrid struggled against dortmund, fair enuf, barca shld have beaten celtic or at least a draw. well the match doesnt count much. the knock out stage is when the real champions league begins.........

CFCfan: Yay! Up Celtic.

The men of the match were Forster, Watt and Wanyama and the entire Hoops defense!

u forgot to add celtic fans, they were amazing as well.

where are the barca fans? wat a quiet thread

Baka fans,hwmarket na