He is now hoping for another exciting tussle when the two sides meet again in the east end of Glasgow on November 7 – but with a different result.

Lawwell told the club's website: "It was a tremendous occasion and one that we were delighted to be involved in. The Uefa Champions League is the stage which Celtic strive to compete on, and we have shown this season we deserve our place alongside Europe's elite clubs.

"To play a team of Barcelona's quality, rightly regarded as the best club side in the world, is the toughest football challenge we can face.

"But Neil and his players rose magnificently to that challenge and were desperately unlucky not to get what we all felt would have been a well-deserved point.

"We now look forward to welcoming Barcelona and their fans to Glasgow. As for our own supporters, they have shown once again why they are so special and so important to the club.

"Their backing for the team throughout the match was tremendous and I'm sure they were very proud of the performance the players produced.

"To have so many fans travelling to Barcelona to support the team is a tremendous boost for Neil and the players, and I know it's something they all appreciate."