Celtic v Barcelona: Time to be brave and try to expose visitors’ weakness

AS HEARTBREAKING as it was for the large pockets of Celtic fans dotted around the Nou Camp and all those watching at home to stomach, Barcelona’s 94th-minute winner against the Scottish champions two weeks ago came as little surprise to those who have watched the Catalans’ partly stunning, partly stuttering start to the season.

Based purely on results, the transition from Pep Guardiola to Tito Vilanova in the Barça hotseat couldn’t have gone better. The four-time European champions are on course to cruise through to the last-16 of the Champions League once more and have amassed an eight-point lead over Real Madrid thanks to the best start to a Spanish league season.

However, in true champion’s style, a lot of those victories have been achieved after coming from behind and scoring late on. As well as Celtic, Real Madrid, Osasuna, Sevilla and Spartak Moscow have all gone ahead only to be eventually overcome, whilst a staggering 39 per cent of Barca’s 46 goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes.

Chief among those firing late on has been David Villa, whose return to form has been the significant development in the past couple of weeks. The threat on Celtic’s goal a fortnight ago was instantly increased when Spain’s all-time record goalscorer replaced Alexis Sánchez and almost immediately smacked a shot off the post. He has also been on target in each of Barca’s three games since.

His threat allied to the perpetual danger provided by Lionel Messi, Pedro, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Cesc Fàbregas, back up the theory that existed during the Guardiola era that, far from the conventional wisdom of defending with everyone behind the ball, as Celtic and almost every other team that has travelled to the Nou Camp have tried, the real way to hurt Barça is to 
expose their weaknesses which, more than ever this season, have come at the back.

A combination of bad luck with injuries and a questionable transfer policy has meant that Vilanova has regularly lined up without a recognised centre-back in his side.

It leaves Neil Lennon with an interesting dilemma. Barcelona will always dominate possession but, should his side solely retreat as they did in the Catalan capital, they face the almost certain eventuality of being broken down.

On the other hand, retaining a threat further up the field gambles on glory at the risk of taking a heavy beating as so many have against one of the best club sides the world has seen. Many termed Celtic brave for their showing 14 days 
ago, but being really brave would be taking the chance to expose Barça’s soft underbelly on home soil.