Barcelona edge out young Celts

Celtic’s u-19 side were unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League.

A very youthful Celtic line up matched their illustrious opponents for the majority of the match but were undone by a 30 yard free kick from Arnaldo Sanabria five minutes from time.

Arnaldo had opened the scoring in the 13th minute but Celtic deservedly levelled early in the second half through Denny Johnstone and could well have taken the lead as they dominated the opening exchanges of the second period.

It won’t be much consolation to the players and coaching staff but there was little to choose from between the two teams for long periods with Celtic setting about the game confidently and far from overawed by their fabled opponents.

As so often happens at this level the Barca goal came seconds after Celtic carved out their first real chance. McMullan sent a great through ball through to Aiden McIllduff which the full-back sent across the Barca goal with the ball eventually scrambled into the hands of keeper Joseph Ondoa.

Straight away the visitors raced up the park with Arnaldo Sanabria cutting in from the right channel to send a low shot across Max Oberschmidt into the far corner of the net.

Despite that loss Celtic stuck doggedly to their task, snapping away at their opponents in midfield with only the only the regular offside decisions preventing them from pushing in on the Barca goal.

McMullan on the left and Henderson playing behind Denny Johnstone looked the most likely of the Celts to cause Barca problems althugh only a 20 yard drive from McMullan in the 40th minute forced Ondoa into action.

Celtic made a determined start to the second half with Ondoa making a great save from a Henderson free kick before Johnstone equalised in the 52nd minute.

Lewis Kidd sent a great ball in across the six yard line but just as the chance looked like going  a begging Johnstone popped up to steer the ball into the back of the net.

There was an extra purpose and belief out Celtic’s play after the break with Eoghan O’Connell almost putting the homeside in front on the hour mark but his header from a corner on the left slipped past the post.

It was all Celtic after the break but Munir Elhaddadi caused a fright with a diagonal effort from 50 yards out that caught Oberschmidt off his line but thankfully his effort slipped past the post.

After a rocky start to the second half Barca began to play their way back into the match with the Celtic defenders having to be on top of their game to keep the score level.

Ten minutes from the final whistle Oberschmidt made a great one-on-one save from Rodrigo Tarin after the rangy midfielder had raced through the Celtic defence.

CELTIC: Oberschmidt: Kidd, O’Connell, Findlay, McIllduff: Thomson (Miller 77), McManus, Lindsay, McMullan; Henderson; Johnstone (McLaren  82)

SUBS: Hart, Breslin, Donnelly, Wardrop, Boyd