Watt a night in Paradise

Celtic 2 Barcelona 1

The Kenyan’s 21st-minute goal, followed by an exercise in how to frustrate and defeat the more illustrious, followed by a second from youngster Watt were enough to mean that even when Lionel Messi scored in added time, it did not matter.

It was understandable that Xavi, using the phrase “anti-football” when describing Celtic, took many of the pre-match headlines but lost among the sea of outrage was the fact the Spanish midfielder was praising Neil Lennon’s side and comparing them to Chelsea, who pulled off the ultimate strangling job against the Catalans in last season’s semi-final.

At a raucous Parkhead, Celtic did everything they needed to as Xavi and his mates spent 90 minutes probing around the Scottish side’s penalty area, the only breakthrough came when it was too late to matter.

It was also Xavi who failed to make contact with a Fraser Forster punt to allow Watt, 18, to scamper clear and score a second.

The hosts were not without luck, with Messi, who came with a dummy in his sock to celebrate his first goal after the birth of his son Tiago, and Alexis Sanchez hitting the woodwork in the opening period.

But unlike their 2-1 defeat in the Nou Camp last month, which was undermined by lapses of concentration at the end of each half, they retained their focus.

And this morning they sit just two points behind Group G leaders Barcelona, with their hopes of reaching the knockout phase very much in their own hands ahead of a trip to Benfica and a home game with Spartak Moscow.

The team that set out not to lose scored twice and won.

There was to be no surprise after kick-off, with Javier Mascherano and Marc Bartra standing alongside Giorgios Samaras on halfway, with goalkeeper Victor Valdes 40 yards behind them, and watching the other 18 men play a football match.

It was Barcelona’s pressing as much as their ability to keep possession that established their early dominance, with Mikael Lustig and James Matthews, shoulders hunched, giving the ball away like they had no idea what it was, let alone know what to do with it.

Xavi’s shot was glanced on by Alexis Sanchez but straight to goalkeeper Forster and Messi also lifted a shot over from Jordi Alba’s cross, after Barcelona had sat on the edge of the Celtic box for what felt like several minutes.

But when Celtic finally got out of their own half, they made their chance count. Efe Ambrose’s long throw found its way back to him and his cross was deflected wide.

Charlie Mulgrew sent the resulting corner to the far post and Wanyama rose well above Alba to thump in a header at the far post.

They may have been behind but the visitors were relentless. Daniel Alves had a drive deflected over the bar, Messi drifted in from the right and swapped passes with Andres Iniesta before striking a shot that glanced the bar on the way over.

As usual, Alves was a right-back in name only and he got into space down the right to pull back for Xavi, who again lifted his shot well over the bar.

Just before the break, another ball in from Alves picked out Sanchez and the Chilean’s header came back off the inside of the post.

At the interval the odds on a Barcelona win finally crept above evens and Alves continued to offer a real threat down the right, seeing one dangerous cross deflected to the grateful Forster and another fly viciously past Messi.

Another incursion saw Alves pick out Pedro at the near post and the winger’s header fly just wide of goal before Messi drifted in past Matthews and hit a curling shot that was grabbed by Forster.

Celtic even managed a chance of their own, with Lustig having a header easily saved by Valdes from a Mulgrew cross but at the other end it was non-stop pressure, with Messi threading a pass through for Sanchez, who was denied on two occasions by Forster.

Marc Bartra failed to deal with a long ball forward but then pulled off a block from Mulgrew before Wanyama lashed over after another break into the box.

Forster also threw out a strong arm to deny a bullet of an effort from Messi and then the goalkeeper turned creator with a huge clearance that was missed by Xavi for Watt to break through to double the advantage.

Messi prodded one back in added time after Forster pushed away a Pedro shot but the dummy stayed in the sock.

CELTIC: Forster, Lustig (Watt 72), Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews, Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew, Samaras (Kayal 79), Miku.

BARCELONA: Valdes, Dani Alves, Bartra (Pique 71), Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Song (Fabregas 71), Iniesta, Pedro, Messi, Sanchez (Villa 67).

Ref: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland).