Celtic face Barcelona on Wednesday night in what will likely be the Bhoys’ biggest game of the entire season. These nights are woven into the fabric of the club’s identity. They are what supporters live for and what the club aims for.
That said, it couldn’t be tougher. Recently overseeing a 7-0 thrashing in Barcelona, nobody knows that better than Brendan Rodgers.
Team selection and tactics are key and while we can’t claim to know what tricks and tactical subtleties will be deployed by Rodgers on the night, we have an idea of what team stands the best chance of getting a result should all of them be fit and able.
This is our Celtic XI that could do the impossible and beat Barcelona…
GK: Craig Gordon
This is probably the easiest choice of the lot. After a period earlier this season when it looked like Dorus de Vries may take his spot between the sticks for Celtic, Gordon has had a resurgence and has reclaimed the position as his own.
Despite shipping three goals against Manchester City, the goalkeeper put on an excellent display that night to keep the scores as they were.
On his night, his shot stopping is second to none and that will be required on Wednesday. Fraser Forster famously frustrated Barcelona and Gordon will be looking to tap into that history and have a night of his own that could be written into Celtic folklore.
RB: Mikael Lustig
This is Mikael Lustig’s sixth campaign in Celtic colours and one of his best yet. His performances at the back are consistent domestically, his mentality enough for him to raise his game against European competition.
He’ll be key on the counter-attack too, he has pace and his direct running will needed to get at the Barcelona full-backs.
Most crucial though will be his experience. He is the only player currently playing regularly for Celtic that started that massive 2-1 win against Barcelona in 2012. He knows what it takes to get the job done against the Catalan giants.
CB: Kolo Toure
Again experience is the key here. Despite not playing as much as you’d expect for Celtic, with injuries playing their part early in the season, when fit Kolo Toure is undoubtedly the most assured in this position for the Hoops.
He oozes calmness and composure and if he’s shaken off those fitness issues ahead of Wednesday night would be our first choice in the heart of the Celtic defence.
He’s seen it all in the game and has been to the ultimate destination in this competition, starting the 2006 Champions League final for Arsenal against Barcelona. Can he produce one more top class performance and be the star man for Celtic?
CB: Erik Sviatchenko
With 19 appearances already, no central defender has played more games for the Hoops this season than the Danish international. Despite having only joined in January, Sviatchenko already feels like a part of the furniture at Celtic, even taking the captain’s armband on rare occasions that Brown hasn’t featured.
He gets what Celtic are all about and has proven to be a big game player with excellent performances in the Glasgow derbies and away to Borussia Monchengladbach. He’ll need to play to a new standard if he’s to keep Messi and co. out on Wednesday.
LB: Emilio Izaguirre
If not for a freak ankle injury training, this position would almost certainly be filled by the sensational Kieran Tierney. However, it’s easy to forget just how much experience Emilio Izaguirre has for Celtic.
He’s made 240 appearances for the Hoops since joining in 2010 and with 43 of those coming in Europe, only Scott Brown and James Forrest have played more in continental competition in this squad.
He’ll need to be more disciplined than we’ve seen domestically, with his tendency to get a little lost on attacking duties, leaving huge amounts of space at the back. Still, with Tierney out he’s definitely the best option.
CM: Scott Brown
Who else would marshal the Celtic midfield if not Scott Brown? The captain has captured the best form of his career with the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, stepping up to the plate in Europe in a way we haven’t seen previously.
According to official UEFA statistics, he has a higher pass completion percentage than any other British based player in the competition with 96% reaching his teammates.
We’re expecting he’ll be deployed just in front of the defence, a lot deeper than seen in league action. He is he key to Celtic success on Wednesday, if he plays well, the likelihood is that the rest of his team will follow.
CM: Stuart Armstrong
Stuart Armstrong’s energy and ability to get forward into the final third has been a refreshing sight in the Celtic team in the last month. He’s been given the nod over Nir Bitton more often than not recently and has taken his chance with some fantastic displays.
He’s shown before he can do the business for Celtic in Europe with a huge goal and performance against Inter Milan in 2015.
With the passion and noise levels from the crowd likely reaching new highs, we’ve seen over the past 15 years that this can inspire Scottish players most of all. Can Armstrong raise his game the match the best club football has to offer?
RM/RW: James Forrest
The fashionable choice in this position tends to be young Patrick Roberts but in James Forrest, we reckon Celtic will find more joy.
There’s no doubting Roberts has ability but his awareness of teammates around him has been found lacking this season, in comparison to Forrest who has linked up very well with the hooped players around him.
His pace and directness on the counter-attack can cause most teams problems and with 5 goals to his name already this season has shown a clinical edge we haven’t seen in previous campaigns.
CAM: Tom Rogic
Most people are giving the plaudits to Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair this season but flying under the radar with consistently great performances is attacking midfielder Tom Rogic.
He’s having his best season in Celtic colours with 8 goals to his name in 20 appearances. Despite the goalscoring, his ability to pick a pass while crowded by defenders is perhaps is biggest asset and if he plays well on Wednesday it’s likely to result in chances for Dembele and Sinclair.
LM/LW: Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair has proven himself to still be a player of a high calibre since moving from a struggling Aston Villa side in the summer.
With 10 goals in 21 appearances for the Hoops, only Moussa Dembele has scored more this season. Despite none of those coming in Europe, he has been a key performer in Champions League matches so far.
While the score was still 1-0 in the Nou Camp, Scott Sinclair was one of the few Celtic players that looked like he could cause Barcelona problems and if the Bhoys can get the ball to him on Wednesday there’s every chance magic could happen.
ST: Moussa Dembele
Moussa Dembele has been nothing short of a sensation this season, scoring 16 goals in 25 appearances. Despite the ability of Leigh Griffiths, he is a certainty to lead the Celtic attack against Barcelona.
His 3 goals so far in Group C have kept Celtic’s slim hopes of European football after Christmas alive. The two he scored against Manchester City were of the highest quality against a star studded defence and if he can find that clinical edge against Barcelona then anything can happen.