Barcelona beckon as Celtic stroll past Hearts

By Roddy Forsyth

Celtic sustained their momentum prior to Wednesday's Champions League knockout stage tie with Barcelona when they earned victory over Hearts at Parkhead yesterday. The win also brought Gordon Strachan's players to within a point of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League.

The high tempo style which demolished Kilmarnock and Aberdeen in succession was again in evidence as Celtic, with Paul Hartley dropped to the bench and replaced by Massimo Donati, threatened to overwhelm the Tynecastle side in the opening 15 minutes. Shunsuke Nakamura came within a fraction of opening the scoring when he delivered an exquisite free kick that left Steve Banks stranded, but the ball rebounded from the far post, struck Scott McDonald and looped into the arms of the grateful goalkeeper.
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Banks, though, was beaten when the mercurial Aiden McGeady delivered a hanging cross which fell between the keeper and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, who stretched out his right leg to nick the ball across the line. Hearts, though, dug in and should have levelled before the break when Andy Driver's low shot was tipped by Artur Boruc into the path of Andrius Velicka, who shot towards the empty net but was confounded by the narrow angle as the ball struck the side rigging.

That was sufficient to indicate that Celtic would need another goal to be safe and it arrived five minutes into the second half after Nakamura had forced Banks into a parry for a corner kick which the Japanese midfield player took himself. He planted his delivery on the head of the unmarked Scott McDonald, who netted his 24th of the season.

Hearts continued to make opportunities but lacked conviction - Driver particularly - and they were punished again when Scott Brown, who is suspended for Wednesday's game, supplied Andreas Hinkel for a slashing third goal.

Although Strachan was extremely satisfied with the manner of victory, the Celtic manager cautioned that his players would have to be canny against Barca. "We can't run about like headless chickens and get picked off," said Strachan.

"We have to make sure we have no fear when we have the ball and we do have fear when we've lost it. The fans will have to understand that they will have the ball at times because along with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal they are among the best at keeping it.

"And we can't expect players like Shunsuke Nakamura or Aiden McGeady to over-run Barcelona. What we have to ensure is that we take advantage of their moments of magic. Barca are potential winners of the Champions League."

Strachan had more high praise for their Catalan visitors. He said: "I haven't seen them personally but we have built up our usual collection of DVDs and we know how good a side they are. In the past a manager would have had to get away and have a look at the opposition but there just isn't time now and I don't think Frank Rijkaard has been to see us.

"I really like Andres Iniesta. I like everything about the way he plays and he is first class. Xavi as well. Then there's Carles Puyol and Rafael Marquez who I saw about nine years ago when I was at Coventry City.

"I said to Coventry chairman Bryan Richardson: 'Let's get him.' But he had already signed for Monaco for about £5m! Yet we are playing well and the lads who have come in are making me think. The difference recently has been in our finishing which has been excellent.

"But even before that, I told them they were playing well and to listen to no-one but me. They believe in what we are doing. Now, clearly, the home game with Barcelona is the key. With our home and away record in Europe it has to be."

Taken from telegraph.co.uk