Petrov's not daunted by Nou Camp task

Stilian Petrov declared today that Celtic would not fear going to the Nou Camp in three weeks’ time for their next daunting Champions League game.

The Bulgarian star believes they can draw inspiration from their famous goalless draw in the Catalan capital last season which sent Barcelona crashing out of the UEFA Cup.

Frank Rijkaard has since spent millions of pounds on new players – including Parkhead legend Henrik Larsson – and beaten the Scottish side 3-1 in Glasgow.

Ronaldinho is also in great form having blasted the winner against AC Milan last night to put them level on nine points with the Italians at the top of Group F.

But Celtic are now back in with a shout of staying in Europe beyond Christmas with their win over Shakhtar Donetsk and Petrov believes another glory night is not beyond them.

“We know Barcelona are a good team with some great players,” he told the Press Association. “But we are now back in with a shout and we have nothing to fear.

“We will try to do our best when we go there and we only have to remember how well we played there in the UEFA Cup and also at Parkhead here in the Champions League.

“We know how hard it is going to be but we are at our best when nobody expects us to get anything from the game.

“We have got three points now and we will be going over there for the three points. That’s easier said than done but there’s no reason why we can’t go there and shock them.”

But Petrov admits that the return of Chris Sutton will be vital to their hopes of getting another famous result in the Nou Camp.

The versatile English star has been out with a chest and shoulder problem but he should be back in time for the testing trip to Catalonia.

“We hope we have everybody fit for that one,” said Petrov. “We have a few injuries at the minute and it would be better for us to go there at full strength.

“Chris (Sutton) is a big player for us and when he plays he gives us a big lift and we will need him over there.”

Petrov is convinced that Celtic will use their win over Shakhtar Donetsk as the springboard to finish third in Champions League Group F and book a UEFA Cup place.

However, the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions still have not given up hope of qualifying for the knock-out stages of Europe’s ultimate club competition.

But that looks beyond them with Barcelona and AC Milan six points clear of them with two games remaining and with both having a much better goal difference.

The consolation of a UEFA Cup place beyond Christmas is now their more realistic hope but even that is tough with Donetsk also above them after their 3-0 win in the Ukraine.

Celtic face AC Milan at Parkhead after the Barca trip but Petrov is confident that they can pick up more points than the eastern Europeans.

“We are looking forward in the competition now and I think we can get results from our next two games and finish above Shakhtar,” he concluded.

“We have not been keeping too many clean sheets in the past few weeks and it’s very important to that in our next two games.

“Hopefully we have turned the corner now with this one but we will still need to work hard to make sure that the mistakes don’t creep back.”