When Did Celtic Beat Barcelona 1?

By Michael Ferguson

When Did Celtic Beat Barcelona 1?

Celtic Football Club’s victory over FC Barcelona is one of the most memorable moments in the club’s history. On November 7, 2012, the Scottish side secured a stunning 2-1 victory over the Spanish giants in a UEFA Champions League group stage match at Celtic Park in Glasgow.

The Match

The atmosphere at Celtic Park was electric as fans packed the stadium to witness this highly anticipated clash. Barcelona, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, and Andres Iniesta, were expected to dominate proceedings. However, Celtic had other plans.

  • First Half:
  • From the first whistle, Celtic showed great determination and defensive resilience. They defended deep and compactly, denying Barcelona any space to exploit their trademark possession-based game.

    Despite Barcelona’s relentless attacks, it was Celtic who took a shock lead in the 21st minute through Victor Wanyama’s powerful header.

  • Second Half:
  • The second half continued in a similar fashion with Barcelona dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities. However, Celtic’s defense held firm with heroic performances from goalkeeper Fraser Forster and center-back pairing Kelvin Wilson and Efe Ambrose.

The Equalizer

As time ticked away, it seemed as though Celtic would hold on for an incredible victory. However, in the 90th minute, Lionel Messi produced a moment of magic to equalize for Barcelona. His left-footed strike found its way past Fraser Forster into the bottom corner of the net, breaking Celtic’s hearts.

The Winner

Just when it seemed like Barcelona had snatched a late draw, Celtic launched one final attack. In the 93rd minute, Tony Watt seized the opportunity and slotted the ball past Victor Valdes to score the winning goal. The crowd erupted in celebration as Celtic secured an unforgettable victory over one of the best teams in the world.

Legacy

Celtic’s triumph over Barcelona will forever be etched in football history. It showcased that even against seemingly insurmountable odds, with determination and resilience, anything is possible. The result served as a reminder that football is not just about individual talent but also about teamwork and belief.

So, whenever you hear about Celtic’s historic victory over Barcelona, remember that it happened on November 7, 2012 – a day that fans will never forget.