CELTIC vs BARCELONA – match preview and line-up

Celtic will be welcoming FC Barcelona on home soil for the 2^nd match of the Champions League group stage tonight.

Since Celtic will be playing at home, it is expected that they will make use of home advantage to frustrate Barca and maybe steal a win, just like they did last year where Victor Wanyama and Tony Watts both saw the goal post for Celtic, winning 2-1.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon may settle for 4-5-1 formation, choking up the midfield to probably deny Barca midfield play, putting up star forward Georgios Samaras who scored a hattrick in their last domestic league fixture against Kilmarnock

In the absence of Carles Puyol, Barca’s unsolved defense problem will be tested by Samaras seeing youngster Bartra paired with Gerard Pique in action.

Barca will be without four times Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi due to injury, and Neymar is prepared to fit into Messi’s shoes in tonight’s clash. The Argentine scored a hat trick in Barca’s opener to the Champions League campaign against Ajax.

Messi joins the likes of Jordi Alba, Afellay, Isaac Cuenca and Carles Puyol on the side line.

Celtic- expected line-up

Forster; Izaguirre, Ambrose, Lustig, Dijk; Pukki, Mulgrew, Commons, Browns, Stokes; Samaras

FC Barcelona – expected line-up

Valdes; Adriano, Batra, Pique, Alves, Busquets, Iniesta, Fabregas; Sanchez Pedro, Neymar