Celtic 2-3 Barcelona

The Bhoys get a UEFA Champions League lesson from Barcelona, as Messi's class tells

Barcelona are now favourites to advance to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-2 win at Celtic Park. Celtic now have to go to Barcelona in a fortnight and score twice without reply, which would seem on the evidence of this game a most unlikely feat.

Celtic had twice taken the lead through Jan Vennegoor and Barry Robson, but their efforts were cancelled out by Barcelona's Messi and Thierry Henry respectively. Overall Barcelona richly deserved their win as they displayed a footballing masterclass at times. Celtic at varying stages, could not cope with Barcelona's rapid passing and posession football and scored their first goal very much against the run of play. Indeed, after regaining the lead for the second time, Barcelona very quickly scored to get back in the game. Just when the Scottish champions looked set to hold on for a draw, Argentina star Messi grabbed a late winner for Barcelona to inflict Celtic's first Champions League home defeat since 2004.

Overall Barcelona deserved the victory, and are now firm favourites to advance to the last sixteen and indeed will be one of the favourites to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy.