A week after being voted as The Best fans in the world the Celtic support had their stadium rocking for the visit of Bayern Munich.
The hoops fan had enjoyed a great time in Munich a fortnight earlier, taking in the delights of a stunning city and watching their team play in what appeared to be a space station.
Celtic Park is much more basic but a stadium is only as strong as the fans that fill it and as FIFA acknowledged the supporters that attend are the best in the business.
For visiting players and fans Celtic Park is at the top of their wish list. Barcelona, Madrid and Milan all have their strengths but the old worlde charm of the Glasgow stadium and the raw passion of the fans is something completely different.
The Bayern fans were in place almost an hour before kick off and presented a noisy colourful slice of red amid a sea of green and white.
On the park the two teams did justice to the setting that they were presented with, Celtic lost out but the home fans went home happy that their side had scared a super power and were making steps towards bridging the gap that had looked massive a fortnight earlier.
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE
Welcome to Paradise ????
There’s nothing like it on a #UCL night… pic.twitter.com/rDxen9GIzF
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 31, 2017
It never fails to inspire and is an essential part of the Champions League routine.
Visiting fans, even Liverpool, are taken aback by the passion of the anthem, it’s the scene setter and the song that the players hear as they wait in the tunnel to come out on the pitch.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!
“He has taken his game to a different level tonight.
“Everything he did was brilliant!”
James Forrest, take a bow ???????????? pic.twitter.com/weX8NRGMQX
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 31, 2017
In the end it was fairly simple with two touches needed to create the strike that was celebrated for three minutes.
Celtic had enjoyed plenty of possession but an inspirational flick from James Forrest was met by Callum McGregor’s perfectly timed run and a simple pass into the net.
The fact that it was a home spun goal from the Celtic Academy made it all the better.
IN THE HEAT OF LISBON
“In the heat of Lisbon”, 67???? #CELBAY #CELFCB . Superb, #bestfansintheworld @celticfc @ChampionsLeague @FCBayern pic.twitter.com/TTiwjnHhgo
— Stephen Roberts (@Roberts1521) October 31, 2017
A fairly recent addition to the match menu, with each passing year the legend of the Lisbon Lions grows stronger.
As the phones get switched on pictures are taken and shared through social media.
It has now been a feature of Celtic games for a year, it’ll be around Celtic Park for another 50 years and more.
THE ENTRANCE
???? Just listen to this spine-tingling atmosphere last night pic.twitter.com/jCNAAU3Qa9
— Read Celtic (@ReadCeltic) November 1, 2017
A tense moment as the players wait to come out the tunnel onto the pitch for the preliminaries.
All the preparation is behind them as they prepare for ‘crossing the white line’. Some rise to the occasion but others wilt, fortunately for the hoops it was inspirational for the home players, especially those that have come up through the Academy.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
From the very start it was compelling viewing, Tierney to Forrest to Armstrong and almost the opener.
Sadly it was Bayern that drew first blood with a goal that the Celtic defence would rather forget, fortunately the bhoys bounced back with Forrest setting up McGregor’s equaliser.
There was one more twist to come, Bayern regained the lead to finis the Champions League dream- and the launch of a realistic bid at the Europa League.