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It was hard to feel more disenchanted with football than I did a fortnight ago after Barcelona defeated Celtic 2-1 at the Camp Nou, thanks to a Jordi Alba winner in the 93rd minute.
I said afterwards that I’d rather have lost 8-0 than to go down like that. There it was: plucky little Celtic, against all odds, almost putting the first blemish on Tito Vilanova’s Champions League resume.
But it wasn’t to be. Football often isn’t fair. Fairytales are often a step too far.
Across all sports, there are few emptier feelings than conceding a stoppage time winner. To work so hard for 90+ minutes to be seconds away from a famous result only to have it cruelly snatched away with the last kick of the game is…well, it’s horrifying.
It was the first time I’d trudged off the bed to sleep my pain away since THAT penalty kick in the 2006 World Cup. It was downright depressing.
With no Rangers to contend the SPL this season, there’s not a lot on the plate for Celtic fans. It speaks volumes that they’ve had their worst start to the league campaign in decades and still sit atop the ladder. The Champions League is the only diversion to what will be a pale and non-amusing season.
After a first up home draw to Benfica, I had pencilled in third place in the group and a spot in the second stage of the Europa League as a best case scenario.
Our horrendous away record coupled with having to host Barcelona meant that I could realistically only expect another three or four points from the campaign after that start. Then, some strange things happened.
First, we won in Russia. A 3-2 victory over Spartak Moscow and former Celt Aiden McGeady – a late winner from Gorgeous George Samaras (who has developed into a cult hero at Parkhead) was the method in which Celtic achieved their first EVER away win in Europe.
Indeed, it was only the second time they’d even claimed points away from home!
The first, as a nice segue, was against Barcelona a few seasons ago. A 1-1 draw. But that was not this Barcelona team – a ruthless attacking machine, certainly the best football team I’ve seen in my lifetime and perhaps the best ever.
And it took them 93 minutes to take a lead. I was heartbroken. We were heartbroken. The argument of the effectiveness of ‘Parking the Bus’ reared its ugly head and the bandwagoners and plastics were out in force, condemning Celtic for not coming out and try to go toe to toe with Barcelona…a strategy that would’ve probably seen them lose 10-3.
I’ve always found it funny that there are many misguided souls that love our great game that cannot appreciate defensive football. It has been proven conclusively that this is the only way to beat Barcelona. Chelsea and Inter Milan showed this.
Which is why despite the loss, I felt good about the return fixture. Celtic’s home record in Europe is excellent. In the last few years, we’ve seen famous wins over Manchester United, AC Milan, Benfica and Villareal.
Who could forget Shunsuke Nakamura’s glorious free kick over Edwin van der Sar, or Australia’s own Scott McDonald poking home from a yard out to steal a win against Milan? (Although that game is unfortunately remembered for other reasons entirely).
But as good as some of those teams were, they were not Barcelona. And on the night when Celtic F.C celebrated 125 years of existence, you could sense something special was about to happen.
The game started cagily enough, and as is so often the case, a set piece was Barcelona’s undoing. Jordi Alba, their hero from the last match, looked absolutely lost as Victor Wanyama ghosted in behind him and nodded Celtic in front from a corner.
Still, at this point it looked a question of how long until Barca equalised, not if. First Messi hit the woodwork. Then Alexis Sanchez followed. The barrage continued until the half time whistle brought sweet relief.
The Blaugrana continued the attacking onslaught, Fraser Forster pulled off a string of impressive saves, as he did in the first leg.
Then, with seven minutes to go, a long clearance was missed first by Xavi, then by Mascherano, and 18-year old Tony Watt found himself clean through on goal, and made no mistake.
2-0. I couldn’t believe it. A kid playing for Airdrie United just 18 months ago, scoring the winner against Barcelona in the Champions League. If that’s not a magic moment, I don’t know what is.
As is usually the case with Barcelona, both Alex Song (for two different fouls while already on a yellow) and Javier Mascherano (for pulling down Watt who was through on goal shortly after the second) could’ve been sent off. They weren’t.
Mascherano was particularly lucky, pulling off an arm drag that Ric Flair would’ve been proud of as Watt sprinted through to try and make it 3-0. No foul. No red card.
And when Messi made it 2-1 in stoppage time, I couldn’t help but think of that incident, and was fully expecting a dramatic Barcelona equaliser…because as I said earlier, fairy tales don’t happen very often.
David Villa blazed a shot over the bar. Forster hoofed a goal kick long – and that was it. It was over.
Celtic had beaten the best team in the world, and have given themselves a brilliant chance of making it into the last 16. And if they make it that far, who knows what might happen?
A bit of Parkhead magic was seen last night. With all the turmoil that Scottish football has been thrust into in these last few months, we might see a bit more to come.
The scenes of Rod Stewart crying after the game were amazing.
That’s what this football club means to people. Heart, commitment and passion.
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