Champions League: Rodgers – Celtic could beat Barca if we had Messi

Messi dispatched it coolly-are his penalty woes over?-and Barcelona had the lead they maintained until the end.

However, Moussa Dembele, who has scored three goals in the group stage games, is nearly certain to lead the line for the home side.

“They have good qualities and we have to be at our very best to make sure we are containing that but also to go ahead and try to dominate the game and win the match”. “To have a good team everything starts there”.

The victory in Scotland gave Barça 12 points from five games and ensured they can not now be caught by second place Manchester City, who are four points behind. I think that this time the Catalans win the owners and no home ground, no fans, no help to avoid defeat.

“It was a very hard group and it was great to finish first with a game to spare”.

And former Liverpool manager Rodgers, speaking after the loss in Glasgow, was asked if Celtic would have a chance of upsetting Luis Enrique’s heavyweights should Messi temporarily swap sides.

“In the league, Tom Rogic has been doing phenomenally well, he’s been scoring lots of goals, but at the [Champions League] level he’s failed to shine a little bit more, in terms of scoring goals or creating”.

Celtic lost Scott Sinclair to injury at the break but his replacement James Forrest created Celtic’s best opportunity when he picked out Dembele with a cross but the in-form French forward sent a tame header straight to ter Stegen.

“I think that he’s leaning into Emilio Izaguirre, who is trying to fight for his space”. “Mika is experienced and I thought he was excellent”.

Celtic had chances in the game but fell behind to well worked goal between Neymar and Messi. I still watched the game and I obviously still wanted the lads to win and get the points on the board.

Celtic beat off interest from a number of Premier League clubs to sign Dembele from Fulham in the summer, but the player’s suitors have continued to keep tabs on his progress in Scotland.