Oh Watt a Night – Peak Barcelona fall in Paradise, Coatbridge rookie Celtic’s hero | OneFootball

Celtic on this Day – Peak Barcelona fall in Paradise, Coatbridge rookie Celtic’s hero…

Remember, Remember the 7th of November. Neil Lennon guided his Celtic side to one of the club’s greatest ever European results on this day in 2012…

Neil Lennon ahead of the Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Celtic 2-1 Barcelona – Oh Watt a Night!

Arguably the greatest club side to ever grace the game were beaten at Celtic Park by the world’s greatest club on this day in 2012.

Celtic celebrated their 125th birthday celebrations with a special commemorative mass at St Mary’s Church Hall in the Calton, Glasgow the day previous. As both sets of players emerged from the tunnel, the Green Brigade’s full stadium tifo is up there with the best displays ever seen across any football stadium in the world.

Tony Watt scores! Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Meanwhile, it is up for historical debate whether the win against Barcelona is Celtic’s best European result since Lisbon. With the star-studded Barcelona lineup which included legendary figures of the beautiful game such as Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, all who were in their prime, there is a strong case to be made that it was.

Sadly, Tito Villanova who managed Barcelona the night of Celtic’s iconic result would pass away aged 45 in April 2014 after suffering a relapse of cancer.

To put some perspective on Celtic’s quite brilliant victory, Neil Lennon masterminded the Catalan club’s first Champions League group stage away defeat in six years dismantling quite an astonishing record.

It sometimes goes unnoticed that when reflecting on this game it is easy to forget that Lennon had an injury-hit list. Absent were first team starters like Emilio Izaguirre, Gary Hooper, James Forrest, and skipper Scott Brown.

Victor Wanyama scores the first Celtic goal. Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Victor Wanyama, who made a return to Glasgow’s East End for the Hoops finest Champions League result on Tuesday evening versus RB Leipzig since the Barcelona encounter opened the scoring inside 21 minutes bulleting a header past Victor Valdes. Charlie Mulgrew’s delivery from the corner, like so many of his set-pieces during his time with Celtic was a valuable weapon which the Hoops utilised during that campaign in Europe.

With seven minutes to play, it was Xavi’s error [you read that in Ian Crocker’s accent], that allowed Tony Watt, aged 18, to run through and unforgettably score his first goal at Celtic Park. The decibel levels when Watt netted will be difficult to ever replicate. The roof literally came off. Spine-tingling stuff.

Fraser Forster had the best game of his career. Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

It was only then Celtic boss Neil Lennon famously quipped that he would take a draw. Though, six-time Ballon D’or winner and the greatest player to ever wear a pair of football boots, Lionel Messi, had time to finally score against Celtic after several failed attempts in his career to do so. Unfortunately for the little Argentinian, it was too little, too late.

I will not speculate over Celtic’s ball possession stats that night as it has caused much controversy in recent years. All I know, is that it was not very much. The man of the moment may have been Tony Watt, but it is Fraser Forster that should equally take most of the plaudits.

Victor Wanyama scores the first Celtic goal. Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

‘La Gran Muralla [the great wall]’ as famously labelled by Catalan sports daily newspaper Mundo Deportivo the morning after. The big Englishman had to contend with 14 shots on target from Barca where he provided some breathtaking stops. Truly, the greatest goalkeeping performance I have ever witnessed.

Subsequently, the victory left Celtic sitting second in the group which consisted of the Spanish champions, Benfica and Spartak Moscow. Famously, Neil Lennon’s men would secure qualification for the last 16 in their final group stage match at Celtic Park against Spartak Moscow, defeating the Russians 2-1.

Tony Watt scores! Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Ironically, the two domestic home matches that followed Barcelona were a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone, and then a 1-0 defeat to Inverness. Football, eh? It is a funny old sport.

But, beating Barcelona is my number one best Celtic supporting moment. It will be hard for that result ever to be topped in my lifetime.

Famous quotes post-match:

Marca newspaper: “There is perhaps no greater home pitch advantage in all of football than a Celtic home match at Celtic Park as Barcelona learned the hard way in their Wednesday night Champions League defeat 2-1.”

Tito Villanova: “I don’t like to lose, but if we have to lose, let it be this way. I have been lucky in my career to have been to many grounds, but I have never seen anything like it.”

Xavi: “The stadium was marvellous, the fans, the people, it is an example for everyone.”

Paul Hayward [Daily Telegraph Chief Sportswriter in 2012]: “Somewhere between madness and love, this fanaticism did for Barcelona on a night when the Celtic team and their disciples were indivisible. Money can’t buy you that.”

Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Lionel Messi looking back on the game in April 2015: “The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them. The performances of Fraser Forster against us were talked about for a long time. There was one game in Scotland where he was not human, it is the best goalkeeping performance I have ever seen.”

Neil Lennon, “I haven’t bettered this Barcelona win in my life.”

Fraser Foster and Neil Lennon celebrate. Celtic v Barcelona match in the Champions League on 7 November 2012 at Celtic Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.

Know Your History – Celtic in the Thirties out now!

Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.

Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two by Matt Corr – out now on Celtic Star Books.

Matt Corr’s outstanding new books – Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two, are out now. The quality of the research, writing, imagery and the books themselves, so beautifully presented, make this a perfect gift for Celtic supporters who enjoy reading the inside stories of Celtic. This is the story of a remarkable decade for Celtic and indeed for the world and you will be engrossed by every page in these remarkable books, both available now via Celtic Star Books. Matt will be happy to sign your copies.

Over 50% of the books have already been sold and are today on their way to Celtic supporter around the world. The remaining copies aren’t likely to last that long. Make sure you get your copies, you can order HERE.

Celtic in the Thirties – out now and available from celticstarbooks.com

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW!

More Stories / Latest News

Oh Watt a Night – Peak Barcelona fall in Paradise, Coatbridge rookie Celtic’s hero

Nov 7 2024, 12:56

Kilmarnock v Celtic – Walsh has whistle, plastic pitch stays for another season

Nov 7 2024, 11:27

Better late than never – Kyogo gets Japan squad call-up

Nov 7 2024, 10:22