Liam Miller and Chris Sutton scored the second half goals to give Celtic a well deserved win over French side Lyon.
On the back of the thrilling road to Seville Celtic found themselves back in the Champions League and paired with Bayern Munich, Lyon and Anderlecht.
Following a hard luck story in Munich Martin O’Neill’s side knew that they had to take full points from the French champions to stand a chance of progressing to the last 16.
Miller was the only addition to the Seville side, starring in the centre of midfield and instantly forming a great understanding with Henrik Larsson.
After an evebly matched first half marked by a penalty miss from Alan Thompson Celtic dominated the second period.
Midway through the second half Miller replaced Hartson, Sutton moved into attack and within 10 minutes the substitute completed a great flowing move by heading a Larsson cross into the net at the far post.
Celtic’s superiority was emphasised when Sutton put the hoops 2-0 up but a 3-2 defeat in the final group match away to Lyon meant that the Martin O’Neill’s side finished third in the group leading to a UEFA Cup campaign that ended away to Vilareal after an epic triumph over Barcelona.
CELTIC: Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Agathe, Lennon, Sutton, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Hartson (Miller 64).
Subs Not Used:- Douglas, Gray, Sylla, Petta, Maloney, Kennedy.Â
Lyon:Â Coupet, Deflandre, Edmilson, Muller, Reveillere, Govou (Malouda 79), Diarra, Dhorasoo (Luyindula 74), Juninho, Carriere (Essien 63), Elber.
Subs Not Used:-Â Vercoutre, Sartre, Berthod, Viale.Â
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Massimo Donati scored a dramatic 89th minute winner to set up Celtic for Champions League qualification for the second year running.
Having beaten AC Milan and Benfica earlier in the group Gordon Strachan’s side knew that a win was required against the Ukranian’s.
The omens looked bleak when Brandao gave the visitors a fourth minute lead with Celtic losing Lee Naylor and John Kennedy to injury during the first half.
On the stroke of half time Jiri Jarosik levelled the scores with the second half turning into an epic struggle as Celtic chased the winner.
With time running out a cut-back from Aiden McGeady fell perfectly for Donati whose low shot across goal found the far corner of the net as Celtic repeated their last gasp winner over AC Milan when Scott McDonald scored in the 88th minute.
In the final group match Celtic lost 1-0 away to AC Milan but thanks to a Benfica win away to Shakhtar Strachan’s side went through to the last 16 where they lost out 4-2 to Barcelona on aggregate.
Celtic: Boruc, Caldwell, Kennedy (Pressley 41), McManus, Naylor (Donati 16), McGeady, Scott Brown, Hartley, Jarosik, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 79).
Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, Caddis.
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Chigrinsky, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho (Yezerskiy 83), Hubschman, Lewandowski, Jadson, Lucarelli (Gladkiy 88), Brandao.
Subs Not Used: Shust, Duljaj, Vukic, Shevchuk, Beylyk.
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Champions League holders AC Milan were taken down a peg or two as a last gasp goal from Scott McDonald earned Celtic a famous win.
After losing the opening group match away to Shakhtar Donetsk the home side were up against it as Carlo Ancelotti brought his superstars back to Glasgow having knocked Celtic out of the Champions League last 16 the previous season.
There was little between the teams until Stephen McManus netted from close range in the 62nd minute but Milan equalised six minutes later through a soft penalty converted by Kaka.
Celtic put everything into the remainder of the match including throwing on Shunsuke Nakamura and Chris Killen. In the last minute ‘keeper Dida fumbled a shot from Gary Caldwell with McDonald popping up to bury the rebound.
Following the goal a supporter raced onto the park and pushed Dida to the ground with that incident dominating the aftermath of the game rather than Celtic’s victory.
Celtic qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the second year running but went out 4-2 on aggregate to Barcelona.
Celtic: Boruc, Perrier Doumbe (Kennedy 79), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, McGeady (Nakamura 85), Hartley, Donati, Jarosik (Killen 84), Scott Brown, McDonald. Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Riordan, Sno, O’Dea.
AC Milan: Dida (Kalac 90), Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Jankulovski, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf (Gourcuff 55), Kaka, Inzaghi (Gilardino 76). Subs Not Used: Emerson, Simic, Favalli, Brocchi.
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After a narrow 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford expectation was in the air at Celtic Park as Alex Ferguson returned to his native city.
Home wins over FC Copenhagen and Benfica had given Celtic hopes of qualification but surely an SPL side would be swept aside by the Premiership superstars who included Wayne Rooney and Christian Ronaldo in their line up.
A goal-less forst half added to the tension of the night when Jiro Jarosik won a free kick 30 yards from goal with 10 minutes left to play.
Shunsuke Nakamura had scored from a free-kick at Old Trafford but surely Edwin van der Saar wouldn’t be beaten for a second time?
Nakamura stepped up and sent his shit high into the night air and dipping dramatically under the crossbar for a goal celebrated from Glasgow to Tokyo and many places inbetween with Celtic beating the most followed team in Asia pushing the club dramatically into the spotlight.
The drama wasn’t completed with the visitors being awarded a soft penalty-kick after Shaun Maloney was judged to have used a hand blocking a free-kick. Come the hour come the man and Artur Boruc saved the penalty from Louis Saha.
At the final whistle there was some confusion as to whether or not Celtic had qualified but with three points more than Manchester United and an aggregate score of 3-3 in the head-to-head Gordon Strachan’s side were assured a place in the last 16 ahead of their final group match away to Copenhagen.
Celtic:Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura (Miller 85), Gravesen, Lennon, Sno (Jarosik 46), Vennegoor of Hesselink, Zurawski (Maloney 46).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Wilson, McGeady, O’Dea.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze (Evra 87), Ronaldo, Carrick (O’Shea 87), Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Brown, Richardson, Fletcher, Silvestre.
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The fairytale year of 2012 took an incredible turn as Neil Lennon’s side dumped Barcelona 2-1 on a night no-one present will ever forget.
Following a narrow stoppage time defeat in the Nou Camp two weeks earlier there were some grounds for confidence among the home supporters in the build-up to the game.
Injuries to Gary Hooper, Emilio Izaguirre and Scott Brown put a dampener on the build up but following a fantastic tifo display celebrating Celtic’s 125th birthday the home side settled confidently into the game despite the expected lack of possession.
Midway through the first half Celtic won their first corner with Charlie Mulgrew’s perfect delivery headed into the net at the back post by Victor Wanyama.
The clock ticked down slowly through the second half but Celtic stood firm with Fraser Forster in inspired form whenever Barcelona got close to goal.
Eight minutes from time Tony Watt latched onto a long clearance from Forster, steadied himself then shot past Victor Valdez to put Celtic 2-0 up on the world’s greatest side.
In stoppage time Lionel Messi scored for the visitors but despite a nervy four minutes the home side held out to give them a great chance of making it through to the last 16 of the tournament.
CELTIC: Forster; Lustig (Watt 70), Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Miku; Samaras (Kayal 78)
Subs not used: Zaluska, McCourt, Herron, Fraser
BARCELONA: Valdes; Alves, Bartra (Pique 70), Mascherano, Alba; Song (Fabregas 70); Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro (Villa 65), Messi, Alexis
Subs not used: Pinto, Montoya, Dos Santos, Tello
Tut tut Joe, Celtic 4-3 Juventus, a shocking omission?
It’s all about opinions, we’re spoiled for choice. Juve were already through and the win didn’t effect the group finishing in third place despite 9 points.
Joe
One of the best shit I have ever seen.
The fact you picked a game with Judas Miller in the team. Nah, not for me.
Cant rule a match out just because of one player & this was probably our most impressive performance over 90 mins – we actually played Lyons off the park that night & they had & have a CL record we can only envy
Joe think u’ve probably got them all spot on agree with your comments re Juve game personally wud hav placed Lyons higher up just for overall performance but the top 5 yer spot on.
Man U for me, before the Barca game, was probs most satisfying due to being routinely dismissed by everyone in media england & scotland incl former cellic players like paddy crerand.
This game definitely makes my list you, mainly because it was once again a night when the team on the pitch and the supporters in the stand were united to defeat the opposition.
I remember Celtic playing so well for about 70mins with nothing to show for it, wave after wave of attack pegged Lyon back. Just shortly before the 1st goal Celtic saw another flowing move have Lyon panicking in defence and managing to scramble it away. The fans responded with the usual roar of encouragement, but perhaps sensing that the team were going to need a little extra something to this night the roar lingered then began to build, growing until it was a crescendo of noise. A single voice big enough to banish tired legs and carry the players forward once more. My memory tells me we scored from he very next attack and the place went berko as always.
Suttons goal for me also stands out as it typified him as a celtic legend and the O’Neil teams’ never say die attitude. Taking a throw in on the half way line then busting a gut to get into the box to thunder Larsson’s perfect cross home. I’m sure as soon as he picked the ball up to take the throw he’d made his mind up he was going to score.
Miller’s introduction played a huge part, shame he threw it all away shortly after…
What about Celtic 3 Benfica 0?
Until last Wednesday night, the 4-3 Juve game was the most memorable night I’ve ever had at Celtic Pk, and there have been a right few. Definitely well above a win over Shakhtar – if for nothing else than the unforgettable site of Lubo absolutely running the show against various Euro superstars. His nutmeg on compatriot Pavel Nedved even left his ‘victim’ smiling.