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Played
October 24, 2012 12:15 AM IST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: G. Rocchi
Attendance: 77781
October 24, 2012 12:15 AM IST
Camp Nou — Barcelona
Referee: G. Rocchi
Attendance: 77781
Barcelona - Celtic Preview: La Liga giants missing a host of players ahead of Hoops visit
After recording their first ever away win in the Champions League proper, the Bhoys will be looking to continue the trend, but the talent of the Spanish giants may prove too much
By Alex Young
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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BARCELONA
 Valdes Montoya, Song, Mascherano, Alba Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta Alexis, Messi, Villa |
CELTIC
 Forster Lustig, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre Wanyama, Brown Forrest, Ledley, Commons Hooper |
Sergio Busquets will serve the first of a two-match ban for his red card against Benfica, Xavi started the weekend's game against Deportivo on the bench and will likely come into midfield for his fellow Spain international.
Gerard Pique (ankle) and Carles Puyol (elbow) are missing from the heart of the Blaugrana's defence, Alex Song was the latest to partner Javier Mascherano at the back at the weekend, and will likely continue.
Dani Alves (hamstring) is also still working his way back to fitness so youngster Martin Montoya will continue at right-back.
James Forrest (groin) and Scott Brown (hip) pulled out of Scotland's squad for the recent international break and then sat out Celtic's 5-0 win over St Mirren on Saturday with injury concerns, but are expected to feature from the off at Camp Nou.
Kris Commons (hamstring) also missed the league game at the weekend after featuring for the Tartan Army but is expected to regain fitness for the trip to Spain.
Mikael Lustig and Emilio Izaguirre started on the substitutes' bench, with Georgios Samaras missing out altogether, on Saturday after returning from international duty later than his domestic team-mates - but all three are in line for inclusion in the Champions League tie.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 17 Champions League home games (14 wins, three draws).
- They have scored in each of their last 31 home games in the group stages.
- Lionel Messi (pictured, right) has been the outright top scorer in each of the last four editions of the Champions League: he netted nine goals in 2008-09, eight in 2009-10, 12 in 2010-11 and 14 last season.
- Messi has netted 53 goals in the Champions League, only Raul (71) and Ruud Van Nistelrooy (56) have more to their name.
- Celtic have won just one of their last 27 away games in Europe (W1 D6 L20) - their 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow in matchday two.
- Neil Lennon's charges have never had a player sent off in a Champions League match.
- Celtic have failed to score in five of their last nine Champions League matches.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Barcelona 3-0 Celtic
- 17.59 %
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Barcelona 3-1 Celtic
- 14.17 %
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Barcelona 4-1 Celtic
- 11.94 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 08-Nov-2012 | Celtic 2 - Barcelona 1 |
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| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | 24-Oct-2012 | Barcelona 2 - Celtic 1 |
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Barcelona
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| 20-May-2013 | Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1 | LIGA |
| 12-May-2013 | Atletico de Madrid 1 - Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
| 06-May-2013 | Barcelona 4 - Betis 2 | LIGA |
| 02-May-2013 | Barcelona 0 - Bayern 3 | UCL |
| 27-Apr-2013 | Athletic Bilbao 2 - Barcelona 2 | LIGA |
Celtic
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| 07-Mar-2013 | Juventus 2 - Celtic 0 | UCL |
| 13-Feb-2013 | Celtic 0 - Juventus 3 | UCL |
| 06-Dec-2012 | Celtic 2 - Spartak 1 | UCL |
| 21-Nov-2012 | Benfica 2 - Celtic 1 | UCL |
| 08-Nov-2012 | Celtic 2 - Barcelona 1 | UCL |
| 1 | Víctor Valdés | Goalkeeper |
| 32 | Bartra | Defender |
| 18 | Jordi Alba | Defender |
| 21 | Adriano | Defender |
| 6 | Xavi | Midfielder |
| 8 | Andrés Iniesta Luján | Midfielder |
| 14 | Javier Mascherano | Midfielder |
| 25 | Alex Song | Midfielder |
| 9 | Alexis Sánchez | Striker |
| 10 | Lionel Messi | Striker |
| 17 | Pedro | Striker |
| 13 | José Pinto Colorado | Goalkeeper |
| 35 | Montoya | Defender |
| 4 | Cesc Fàbregas | Midfielder |
| 34 | Jonathan Dos Santos | Midfielder |
| 30 | Sergi Roberto | Midfielder |
| 7 | David Villa | Striker |
| 37 | Tello | Striker |
| 1 | Fraser Forster | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | E. Izaguirre | Defender |
| - | E. Ambrose | Defender |
| 6 | Kelvin Wilson | Defender |
| 21 | Charles Mulgrew | Defender |
| 2 | M. Lustig | Defender |
| 8 | Scott Brown | Midfielder |
| 16 | Joe Ledley | Midfielder |
| 67 | Victor Wanyama | Midfielder |
| 9 | Georgios Samaras | Striker |
| 88 | Gary Hooper | Striker |
| 24 | Lukasz Zaluska | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Adam Matthews | Defender |
| 25 | Thomas Rogne | Defender |
| 15 | Kris Commons | Midfielder |
| 33 | Beram Kayal | Midfielder |
| 49 | James Forrest | Midfielder |
| 7 | Miku | Striker |
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |