Watt a night for Celtic as Tony Watt seals win over Barcelona

Celtic delivered one of the finest European results in the club’s history last night with a 2-1 victory over Spanish giants Barcelona.

A day after Celtic officially recognised the 125th anniversary of their foundation, the Scottish club celebrated one of their proudest moments thanks to a magnificent goal from Tony Watt, on his debut for the green and white side on their own turf.

Victor Wanyama scored the opener when he rose magnificently to head past Victor Valdes from a corner on 21 minutes. Barcelona pressed for an equaliser, however, 18-year-old Tony Watt , making his Champions League debut came off the bench to slide the ball past Valdes to give Celtic a two goal cushion in the closing minutes.

Lionel Messi tapped home in injury time, but Celtic held on to inflict Barca’s first defeat of the season.

The win leaves Celtic second in Group G on seven points, three ahead of next opponents Benfica and four better off than Spartak Moscow, who visit Glasgow on the final matchday.

Celtic went into the match hindered by the absence of captain Scott Brown, Gary Hooper, and Emilio Izaguirre.

The Catalan giants first opportunity of the game six minutes in, but Fraser Forster dealt easily with Xavi’s shot despite a touch from Alexis Sanchez just in front of the keeper.

Messi blazed over the bar from a promising position moments later as the pattern of play was quickly established.

Alex Song picked up an early booking for pulling back Miku and a second late challenge on the same player almost cost him his place on the field after just 18 minutes.

Few inside Celtic Park had cause to debate that for long as the home side snatched the opening goal three minutes later.

The source, as in the game at Camp Nou, was a Charlie Mulgrew set-piece – this time a corner from the right.

His deep delivery was met forcefully by Wanyama, who outjumped Jordi Alba – the man whose late winner broke Celtic hearts two weeks ago – and headed high past Valdes to send the crowd into raptures.

The manner of the goal again highlighted an aerial vulnerability in the otherwise practically flawless Barcelona make-up.

They quickly resumed their relentless probing of the Celtic defence, almost finding an equaliser as Messi played a one-two with Andres Iniesta before rifling a shot off the top of the crossbar.

The frame of the goal came to Celtic’s rescue again as Alexis got on the end of a Dani Alves cross only to see his header come back off the post.

And then Kelvin Wilson scrambled the ball off the line as an Alba cross caused hearts to flutter in the stands.

Nonetheless, unlike in the previous meeting, Celtic held onto their lead until half-time and it was fully 11 minutes into the second period before Forster was meaningfully called into action, diving to his right to stop a curling Messi effort.

Celtic, who last featured in the group phase in 2008, made Valdes work from another corner, though Mikael Lustig’s header lacked the power to really test him.

Forster, sublime in Camp Nou, reproduced that form on the hour mark as he got down quickly to push away Alexis’s well-struck shot from 10 yards and the keeper was promptly back to his feet to deny the Chilean on the rebound as well.

Marc Bartra almost gifted Celtic a second goal, waiting on Valdes to come and deal with a cross ball. When the keeper chose to stay on his line, Mulgrew looked poised to volley past him, but Bartra recovered to block the shot.

The Celtic fans bayed for a red card for Song midway through the half for another foul on Miku, but the referee again let him off.

Forster pulled off another outstanding stop to scoop yet another Messi shot up and away and the Argentine also saw a free kick comfortably held with eight minutes remaining.

The keeper dispatched the ball upfield, Xavi failed to cut it out and Watt showed composure beyond his years to bury it past Valdes.

Celtic fans were whistling at deafening levels for referee Bjorn Kuipers to end the game, perhaps mindful of losing a 2-0 lead in the final few minutes at Dundee United on Sunday.

And Messi ensured a nervy final few minutes as he scored at the start of injury time, following up after Forster had saved superbly again, but Tito Vilanova’s side could not find another goal and Celtic and their supporters were left to celebrate long into the night.