Barcelona vs Celtic preview - Barca look to race past Celtic
Posted Wednesday, December 11, 2013 by PA
Barcelona coach Tata Martino believes speed will be key to beating Celtic in their final Champions League fixture at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
While the Hoops are guaranteed to finish bottom of Group H, the Catalan side need a point to finish top the section after losing at Ajax in their last European game.
Barca have 10 points from five games with AC Milan second on eight points ahead of their game against Ajax, who are one point further back.
Martino, quoted on the club's official website, told a media conference: "This is an important game in all aspects - we have to finish top, we have to win and put in a good performance. For us, every game is tough and each one has consequences."
Barca scraped through 2-1 against Neil Lennon's side in their group game at the Nou Camp last year thanks to a last-gasp Jordi Alba goal.
And they were held for 75 minutes at Celtic Park earlier this season before Cesc Fabregas headed the only goal against a home side who had been reduced to 10 men following Scott Brown's kick at Neymar.
Martino said: "We have to be accurate and fast in our build-up and in moving the ball around. We'll be playing in a 30-yard strip of pitch and we need to keep up the pressing too to stop Celtic hitting us on the break."
Midfielder Sergio Busquets warned the Scottish champions that Barca have "learnt our lesson from last year".
"They have their style of playing, which is very different from ours," he said.
"The sooner we get a goal, the better, because they can close down at the back and make it hard for us."
While Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Dani Alves are still sidelined, Xavi and Andres Iniesta will both be fit to face Celtic following injury as will Cristian Tello, although the Catalan club will be without the suspended Fabregas.
Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre picked up his third booking against AC Milan in the last Group H fixture and will miss the game but Lennon welcomes back right-back Adam Matthews, who is contention after recovering from shoulder surgery which kept him out for seven weeks.
Skipper Scott Brown returns after missing the last three European games through suspension, following a clash with Barca star Neymar at Parkhead in October, which interested the local reporters more.
The Hoops boss said after the 1-0 defeat in Glasgow: "I don't think Neymar does himself any favours by the way he behaves at times."
Lennon stood by his comments on ahead of the rematch, although he was liberal in his praise of the Barca star.
He said: "We wont treat Neymar any differently from any of the other 10 or 11 world-class players Barcelona have in their team.
"It was the first time I saw Neymar play live and I was very impressed and I think he will be a wonderful addition to the Barcelona team.
"I think he is very talented but I stand by what I said on the evening, I did think he made more of the contact than necessary.
"However, Scott knows that he is in the wrong and he has served his punishment and I think he is looking very much forward to playing tomorrow.
"I wouldn't say he (Neymar) is doing it all the time at all, I think it was exaggerated in that instance.
"It is not a major criticism of the player. I think he is going to light up the football world over the next five to 10 years."
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