Neil Lenon enjoyed the perfect spying mission last night as he watched Barcelona beat Deportivo 5-4 to maintain top spot in La Liga.
Rather than settle back for a Saturday night with Sky Sports the Celtic boss jetted out to norther Spain to take in a first hand look at Tuesday’s fabled opponents.
The Celtic boss joined 32,000 fans packed in to the Municipal de Raizor Stadium as Barca raced into a three goal lead within 20 minutes with Jordi Alba, Tello and Lionel Messi on target.
A rout looked to be on the cards but third bottom of the table Deportivo had other ideas and pulled two goals back before Messi struck again just before half time.
Deportivo pulled the scoreline back to 3-4 two minutes into the second half through Pizzi but Messi completed his 15th La Liga hat-trick in the 77th minute but an own goal from Alba in the 79th minute set up a thrilling finish as Deportivo chased an unlikely fifth goal.
Amid the drama Javier Mascherano was sent off for the visitors forcing Barca coach Tito Vilanova into replacing Cesc Fabregas with Xavi.
“Our opening 20 minutes were spectacular, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Barça play this way,” Vilanova said. “We had the game controlled and we were playing at a very high level.
“We even had the chance to make it 0-4, but then the penalty was called. From that point on, the game got a bit crazy.”
Messi took his tally for 2012 to a mind boggling 59 for club and country, one more than he achieved in 2010 with two months of goal grabbing still to come.
“Statistics are only numbers,” the Argentinian said. “I’m only concerned with winning the three points whenever possible.
“It’s always important to win after international breaks because we come back tired and it’s difficult to win the matches.”
CLICK HERE for Rangers Tax Case verdict made
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook
Go get them Celtic,this is our time!
I’d like to see us cause them a few problems rather than sit back and let them pick us off and go down without a real fight.
Let them know they will have a real game on their hands when they visit Glasgow…nothing to lose bhoys…no-one else will pick up points in Spain.
Tried and failed method clearly doesn’t work so why not take them by surprise from the off.
I’m just pleased to be playing in champions league, that said I trust Lenny and our young team to have a go at Barca, we’ll need some luck on the night and let’s be honest they’ll not be an honest mistake Scottish official on the park so we’ve got a chance.
IF the Celts play same as in Moscow,imo,we can get a draw at least.Our young team play with no fear.COYBIG