#otd #onthisday (28/09/2016)
The twelfth man is a phrase often used to describe the Paradise faithful, but it was never truer than during a well-contested 3-3 draw with Manchester City on September 28, 2016 in the UEFA Champions League group-stages.
Having joined the Sky Blues that summer, manager Pep Guardiola travelled to Glasgow that evening with a 100 per cent win record in the dugout. He left with a point, which, all things considered in the game, was likely a fair result.
Still, Celtic fought for everything up and down the pitch and took the lead three times over the course of 90 minutes. After just three minutes, Moussa Dembele diverted an Erik Sviatchenko header home before Fernandinho pulled level on 11 minutes.
Kieran Tierney forced on own goal from Raheem Sterling on 20 minutes, before the striker made amends with a neat finish eight minutes after that.
The goal of the evening came just after the break, when an acrobatic strike from Dembele put the Hoops in front once more - much to the delight of the home support. That lead would last less than 10 minutes, however, when Spain internationalist Nolito equalised on 55 minutes.
Though pressed deep for long spells of the match, the Scottish champions held their own against a formidable opponent, on European football’s grandest stage.
“As an experience it was a good night, not only for me, for the whole club,” double goalscorer Dembele told the Celtic View afterwards. “We reacted well after the Barcelona game and we showed that if we play well and we give everything and we play forward then we can get something out of these games.
“As soon as I came here I knew we were a good group of lads who are honest, so we always give 100 per cent against any team and we know that if we do that we can cause any team problems. Even if it’s Manchester City or any other team, we’ll play the same way and give ourselves the best chance to get a result and that’s what happened.
“The atmosphere was something special but since the first day I was here people kept telling me to wait until I saw a European night or a game against Rangers. I’ve now played these two games and they have been unbelievable for me.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been surprised by the support because I knew that signing for Celtic with these fanatical supporters that it would be something crazy but you always expect a bit less than what you end up seeing. The fans pushed us forward and we were all together in the game. We were on the pitch but they helped us a lot.”
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