Tune in at 2:45 PM ET as Barcelona takes on Celtic. Rob Sturney will be liveblogging for your enjoyment.
I'm Rob Sturney here with The Score's ongoing coverage of the Champions League. Today we have a fine Group G match up between Barcelona and Celtic from Nou Camp.
Already today in Group G, Spartak Moscow beat Benfica 2-1. Barcelona leads the group with 6 points and Celtic has 4. These teams will meet again in a fortnight's time.
Lineups: Barcelona: Valdes, Bartra, Mascherano, Adriano, Alba; Song, Xavi, Iniesta; Alexis, Messi, Pedro
Celtic: Forster, Ambrose, Wilson, Lustig, Izaguirre; Brown, Wanyama, Ledley, Samaras, Mulgrew; Hooper
Tito Vilanova has had many injuries to deal with, especially in the defense. Puyol, Alves, Abidal and Pique are all injured and Busquets suspended. Fabregas and Villa are on the bench to begin today.
Neil Lennon has found that Forrest is still not match fit from his groin injury and Commons hasn't fully recovered from a hamstring injury; however, both players made the trip to Spain. Lassad and McGeouch did not.
Barcelona are in a 4-3-3 and Celtic assume a 4-5-1 shape with Hooper at the tip of the spear.
The Catalans beat Benfica 2-0 on the last match day and narrowly squeaked out a 5-4 win against Deportivo La Coruna, with Messi's hat trick sparing their blushes.
Celtic's late winner from Samaras made the difference against Spartak in Moscow as the Bhoys ran out 3-2 victors. They beat St. Mirren 5-0 over the weekend in the SPL.
Yes, it'll be interesting to see how Bartra does in central defense today.
Chelsea is away to Shakhtar today and Man United host Braga. Tomorrow Arsenal host Schalke and Man City is away at Ajax.
Barcelona and Celtic are league leaders in their respective countries.
Barca bench: Pinto, Montoya, Fabregas, Villa, Dos Santos, Roberto, Tello
So Vilanova has some defensive concerns, but they've got the tiki-taka up front. Will we see Villa and Fabregas come in later?
We're not far from seeing the teams enter the green stage of Nou Camp.
Celtic sports their green and white hoops, with Forster in all yellow. Barca look to be in their traditional blue and dark red.
Xavi and Brown exchange pennants. Brown's hip hasn't kept him out.
Right. We're ready to roll in Barcelona. Barca will be attacking from left to right in the first half. Left to right. Celtic will kick us off.
Hi, Ann. Lots of Blaugrana dudes missing today.
Valdes looks to be in red with black shorts, by the way.
1 min: Barca captures the ball and begin their hypnotic short passing. Mascherano coughs up the ball, but the Catalans soon have it back.
2 min: Iniesta had brilliant vision to find Alexis heading into the box but the Chilean couldn't slip it into the net.
A big stage for the young defender.
3 min: So Barcelona nearly score right off the gun. Fantastic stuff from Iniesta. Now they're back on the hunt before Brown fouls. The free kick is taken as a pass.
4 min: Barca probed the left side but couldn't make the lane they wanted. A long ball meant for Hooper is controlled by Valdes and sent forward into the fray once more.
5 min: The patience and purpose of the Blaugrana is impressive to see. So far they are controlling possession. Not a surprise. They probe the Celtic defense and finally Ambrose had to let it go through the byline. Corner Barca from the far flag.
6 min: It's played short. They know their strengths. Izaguirre slides it out of bounds for Barca to go back to work.
7 min: Barcelona play it through their defense but the move loses shape when the pass goes forward and the very yellow Forster bangs it down the pitch. Brown fouls as Celtic attempts to make room in front of the Barca box.
8 min: Adriano can't pull it down on the near touchline without the ball going out. Once more the 1967 European Champions lose possession straight away.
9 min: Xavi strides forward and then Alba gets the lay off from Alexis. Alba's cross can't be converted. Mesmerizing stuff.
10 min: It's early, of course, but Barca has 88% possession.
Barca reverse play and take time busting out of the middle of the park. However, Celtic have the throw in.
11 min: I see that Braga leads Man United 1-0 early.
Xavi can't reach Pedro up front with a typically ambitious Barca pass.
12 min: Celtic thread together some neat passes and Mulgrew nearly has room for a chance on goal. It ends up as a goal kick for Valdes.
