Strachan leaves out McDonald for Barca game

Celtic’s top scorer Scott McDonald was the surprise omission for the second leg of the Parkhead side’s Champions League last-16 tie with Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

The Scottish champions had to pull back a 3-2 deficit from the first game in Glasgow but manager Gordon Strachan started with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in a lone striker’s role with Paul Hartley added to a five-man midfield.

Mark Wilson, recently recovered from a knee operation, replaced cup-tied right-back Andreas Hinkel for his first start since last September.

Lionel Messi returned to the Barca line-up after starting on the bench for the 4-2 La Liga defeat by Atletico Madrid at the weekend.

Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho, Toure Yaya, Xavi, Deco, Messi, Eto’o, Ronaldinho.

Subs: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Iniesta, Henry, Edmilson, Abidal, Bojan.

Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Hartley, Donati, McGeady, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs: Mark Brown, Samaras, Sno, Pressley, Robson, McDonald, O’Dea.

Referee: Pieter Vink (Holland)