Celtic prepare for the might of Messi

With Lionel Messi running rampant in attack, Barcelona must tighten their leaky defence against Celtic knowing a win on Tuesday will give them total control of Group G in the European Champions League.

Messi scored his club record 21st career hat trick in Barcelona’s wild 5-4 victory at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, which kept them at the top of the Spanish league alongside Atletico Madrid.

But it’s been a decade since the Catalan team last conceded 11 league goals through the first eight rounds, and Celtic will look to exploit the vulnerability at the Camp Nou after coming off a win at Spartak Moscow.

Spartak host Benfica in the other group match, and the Portuguese club are already facing a must-win scenario after taking only one point from their opening two games.

Barcelona are hopeful centre back Gerard Pique will return from a foot injury with Carles Puyol sidelined and makeshift pair Alex Song and Javier Mascherano unconvincing in a league victory that maintained Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season.

Main man

Messi’s 15 goals – including a league-high 11 – are the main reason Barcelona are unbeaten through 10 games this season.

“Statistics are just a detail, the important thing is that we keep on winning,” Messi said after his 59th goal of the calendar year.

The Argentina forward has already scored 71 goals for club and country in 2012 to leave himself only four shy of matching Pele’s record of 75 in a single year in 1959.

“I don’t know how you can stop him,” said Celtic assistant coach Johan Mjallby, who watched Messi’s performance against Deportivo.

“He doesn’t really play as a recognised striker. We know we can’t switch off for a second. We know they are brilliant going forward.”

Messi’s goals have been aided by Cesc Fabregas, who stepped in to Xavi Hernandez’s usual playmaking role with ease in guiding the attack at Deportivo. The former Arsenal captain has turned into a versatile player for coach Tito Vilanova, who has used him in various positions throughout one of the best starts by any Barcelona coach to a season.

“I’ve always had confidence in my abilities and I’m working really hard,” Fabregas said.

“I’ve felt really comfortable in this system since the start of the season.”

Celtic are coming off their first Champions League away win in 21 matches but Barcelona are unbeaten at home in 17 in the competition. Celtic are winless in 12 trips to Spain although the Scottish team have managed two draws at the Camp Nou in three visits.

Crucial points

Benfica, coming off a draw at Celtic and a home loss to Barcelona, travelled to Moscow without midfield trio Pablo Aimar, Nolito and Carlos Martins, who are all injured. Their absence has made room for midfielder Nico Gaitan’s return.

Benfica are unbeaten in the Portuguese league this season, but their poor form in Europe has earned them only one point and put the team in danger of slipping further behind in the race to reach the next round.

Spartak are doing even worse after their defence gave up leads in two 3-2 losses in the opening games. Spartak are without forward Pavel Yakovlev (right knee), first-choice goalkeeper Andriy Dykan (shoulder), defender Sergei Parshivlyuk (knee) and Brazilian midfielder Romulo (knee).

Backup goalkeeper Sergei Pesyakov is also doubtful because of a foot injury sustained in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Anzi Makhachkala.

“We must beat Benfica to keep alive our chances to continue playing in Europe after the Champions League group stage,” Spartak coach Unai Emery said.

Benfica’s last victory in Russia came in 1996 at Lokomotiv Moscow.