Celtic were denied a famous point in the Nou Camp when Jordi Alba struck an injury time winner to sink Neil Lennon’s side.
Before the match the Celtic boss had called for 14 heroes and got that and more as Celtic pushed the worlds most admired club all the way before losing out in the cruelest fashion.
Lennon also asked his players to concentrate for 93 or 94 minutes but finally his side tumbled in the 94th minute when Alba snatched the winner.
There were no major surprises in the Celtic line up with Scott Brown and Georgios Samaras part of a five man midfield while Mikael Lustig and Emilio Izaguirre filled the full-back berths.
Celtic settled quickly happy to concede possession while keeping a high line and looking to break forward at every opportunity.
For 27 minutes Celtic led the famous Catalans as the happy band of visiting supporters celebrated in the top tier of the Nou Camp.
Celtic had looked dangerous every time they had got into the Barca half but nothing could have prepared the watching millions for the never-to-be-forgotten moment in the 18th minute.
Charlie Mulgrew’s free kick deep into the penalty box was touched on by Georgios Samaras before breaking off Javier Mascherano and rolling past Victor Valdez into the net.
Lionel Messi failed to hit the target from two thirty yard free-kicks but with half time approaching Messi and Xavi opened up the Celtic defence with Iniesta finding the net with a low shot into the net at Fraser Forster’s front post.
Eight minutes into the second half an inswinging corner from Mulgrew caused panic in the six yard box with Hooper’s glancing header slipping past the post.
On the hour mark skipper Scott Brown was replaced by Kris Commons as the visitors stuck to their task, defending doggedly and pushing forward at every opportunity
Midway through the second half Barca looked certain to take the lead when Pedro set up Messi 6 yards from goal but from point blank range Forster beat away the magicians’ shot.
Forster surpassed that save in the 75th minute with a brilliant instinctive block from a header after Xavi had flicked a ball over the Celtic defence.
Despite being forced further and further back the pace of substitutes James Forrest and Kris Commons was a regular threat to the home side alongwith the movement of Gary Hooper.
Just as the fourth official indicated for four minutes of stoppage time David Villa sent a snap shot from 18 yards off the Celtic post but with just 70 seconds left to play full back Alba poked the ball past Foster to snatch victory.
CELTIC: Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Brown (Commons 62), Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew (Kayal 76); Samaras (Forrest 41), Hooper
SUBS: Zaulska, Matthews, Rogne, Miku
BARCELONA: Valdés; Adriano, Mascherano, Bartra, Alba; Song, Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Alexis.
We had ride our luck especially in the 2nd half. Felt our substitutions weren’t right….we should have used Matthews pace & Miku was for me the straight replacement for Samaras.
Put in a huge effort though and came so close to snatching a point. Some tremendous performances and great experience for all the players. we kept our shape although our ball retention was poor, could have worked for throw-ins a bit smarter. But we can take a lot of confidence from the game.
Nothing but pride for this attempt on the home turf of the best club side the world has ever seen or is ever likely to see.
Additional concentration for thirty seconds in each half could have meant a 1-0 victory.
Hail Hail Bhoys. We are proud of you.
I want to get fuckin ripped into sevco…
great effort against a world class team,cant understand why WATT wasnt even on the bench,ideal replacement for sammy.
David murray to star on Robocop 5 as robocop
A great performance by the bhoys tonight, so proud of them! We have came so close to a marvelous result. This group of players WILL get better!