Glasgow, Mar 12: 10-man Celtic beat 9-man Barcelona in bad-tempered UEFA cup clash. Ten-man Celtic beat a Barcelona side reduced to nine courtesy of Alan Thompson's second-half strike in the first leg of an ill-tempered UEFA Cup fourth round match in Glasgow on Thursday (March 11). Both teams went down to 10 men after home goalkeeper Robert Douglas and Thiago Motta were red-carded at halftime.

Argentine striker Javier Saviola was then sent off for a late lunge on Thompson four minutes into the second half. The English midfielder made Barcelona pay when he volleyed home the winner on 59 minutes. Celtic -- beaten finalist in last season's UEFA Cup -- will be happy to avoid conceding against a Barcelona side who squandered a number of clear chances. Ronaldinho posed problems as early as the fifth minute with a shot that deflected wide, but an injury-depleted Celtic, without injured strikers Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Shaun Maloney, were keen to make a contest of the evening.


Stephen Pearson was unlucky to thrash a volley wide on 11 minutes but Barcelona wasted three great opportunities to carve out a lead with Saviola and Ronaldinho missing the target when clear on goal.


David Marshall, 19, replaced the sent-off Douglas and was almost picking the ball out of the net when Saviola knocked wide after racing clear on 46 minutes.


That was Saviola's last involvement as three minutes later he was sent off for a late stamp on Thompson.


Barcelona remained dangerous even with nine but Celtic made their advantage count when Stilian Petrov threw a cross into the area for Larsson to head down and Thompson to finish in plenty of space.


Both sides threatened towards the end but Celtic -- who are now 74 matches unbeaten at home -- held firm ahead of the second leg at the Nou Camp on March 25.


Bureau Report