Alistair Johnston believes that if Celtic can pull off a shock win against Bayern Munich in their upcoming Champions League knockout clash, it would be as monumental as the club’s famous victory over Barcelona in 2012.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated tie at Celtic Park, Johnston reflected on how, even as a young football fan in Canada, he vividly remembers the night Celtic stunned the footballing world by beating Lionel Messi’s Barcelona.
“As a kid growing up in Canada, I remember that match,” AJ told RecordSport.
“I wasn’t even a Celtic fan growing up, but I do remember Celtic beating Barcelona at Celtic Park. I remember Victor Wanyama scoring – I knew Tony Watt’s name as a 14-year-old kid! That’s crazy. But it’s what those kinds of nights can do.
“I think that’s something that gives us a little extra oomph in our step. Would it be bigger? I’d leave that to the fans to decide. That Barca team of 2012 was pretty special. That line up will go down as one of the all-time greats.
“I’ve watched a lot of this Bayern team because (Canada teammate) Alfonso Davies is there and they are a really solid squad and a really impressive team. We’re going to have our work cut out but it’s something we are excited about – this is an amazing opportunity.”
Celtic’s victory over Barcelona in 2012 is etched into football folklore, but with a packed Celtic Park behind them, Johnston and his teammates will be aiming to create another unforgettable European night—one that could rival even the famous triumph over Messi and Co.
They received a big boost heading into the match. Celtic had appealed Daizen Maeda’s two-match ban, and UEFA overturned the decision, making the player available for the first leg of the tie after he scored a hat trick at the weekend.
It’s a massive psychological advantage heading into the game with the most on-form players expected to play a role.
The question that remains is where he’ll play. Will his start on the wing, with Idah through the middle, or will his hat trick against Raith make Rodgers think about allowing the Japanese attacker to lead the line again? Time will tell.
