EXCLUSIVE By ALISON McCONNELL BATTLE-hardened Georgios Samaras today hurled down a Champions League gauntlet to Celtic’s Group G rivals and declared: We fear no one. The Hoops landed a glamour last 16 draw group when they found themselves paired with Barcelona, Spartak Moscow and Benfica at last night’s draw. The Greek striker said: “We learned a lot from last season in the Europa League and hopefully we can use that to help us in the Champions League. “This is the highest level you can get to as a club and it is a fantastic experience for everyone. It is up to us to show that we are capable of competing against the very best. We should look on it as a great challenge. We are a young team, but we have some good players so it is up to us to make ourselves a tough side to break down.” Samaras is one of the few Celtic players who has already sampled Champions League football at the club. The Greek international was part of Gordon Strachan’s squad when Celtic lost 3-2 to Barcelona in February 2008 and also played for the Hoops side that drew with Man United at Celtic Park the next season. He said: “When they played the Champions League music on Wednesday night you could feel the atmosphere in the ground, it was amazing. The fans got behind us and that is what it is always like on those big Euro nights.” Meanwhile, Emilio Izaguirre is expected to be fit for tomorrow’s SPL game against Hibs at Celtic Park. EXCLUSIVE: By ALISON McCONNELL Celtic striker Georgios Samaras: Bring on Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow
The Hoops landed a glamour draw when they found themselves paired with Barcelona, Spartak Moscow and Benfica – their first opponents at Celtic Park on September 19.
The Greek striker said: "We learned a lot from last season in the Europa League and that can help us in the Champions League.
"This is the highest level you can get to as a club and it is a fantastic experience for everyone. It is up to us to show that we are capable of competing against the
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