In a game that featured sensational goals by both teams, Barca twice rallied from one goal down to beat the Scottish champion.
Celtic led, 2-1, at the half on headers by Dutch striker Vennegoor of Hesselink and Barry Robson, making his Champions League debut, but Barca rallied to win on goals Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, his second of the game.
Messi scored in the first half when he finished off a slick one-two with Ronaldinho. Henry scored on a curling shot around Celtic keeper Artur Boruc to equalize a second time. Messi was fortunate to latch on to a ball in the penalty area but then spun around Gary Caldwell to beat Boruc for the winner.
"They have the best squad in the world." said Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, "and only time will tell if they have the best team in the world."
ROUND OF 16, FIRST LEG:
Feb. 20 in Glasgow
Celtic 2 Barcelona 3. Goals: Vennegoor of Hesselink 16, Robson 38; Messi 18, 79, Henry 52.
Celtic -- Boruc, Caddis (Wilson 61), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Robson, Hartley (Donati, 66), McGead, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Samaras, 56), McDonald.
Barcelona -- Valdes, Puyol, Marquez, Milito, Abidal, Deco (Xavi, 67), Toure, Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldinho (Eto'o, 73), Henry (Gudjohnsen. 88)
Referee: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden).
Att.: 58,345.
Feb. 20 in London
Arsenal 0 AC Milan 0.
Arsenal -- Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Toure (Senderos, 7), Clichy, Eboue (Walcott, 89), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Adebayor, da Silva (Bendtner. 75)
AC Milan -- Kalac, Oddo, Nesta (Jankulovski, 51), Kaladze, Maldini, Seedorf (Emerson, 85), Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Kaka, Alexandre Pato (Gilardino. 77)
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).
Att.: 60,082.
Feb. 20 in Istanbul
Fenerbahce 3 Sevilla 2. Goals: Mateja Kezman 17, Lugano 57, Semih 87; own goal 23, Julien Escude 66
Fenerbahce -- Volkan, Gokhan, Lugano, Edu, Roberto Carlos (Gokcek, 68), Deivid, Selcuk, Mehmet Aurelio, Ugur (Kazim-Richards 78), Alex, Kezman (Semih, 84).
Sevilla -- Palop, Alves, Escude, Dragutinovic, Adriano, Navas, Poulsen, Keita, Duda (Capel, 63), Luis Fabiano, Kanoute.
Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany).
Att.: 49,000.
Feb. 20 in Lyons
Lyon 1 Manchester United 1. Goals: Benzema 54; Tevez 87.
Lyon -- Coupet, Reveillere, Boumsong, Squillaci, Grosso, Clerc (Ben Arfa, 78), Kallstrom, Toulalan, Juninho (Bodmer, 75), Govou, Benzema (Fred, 83).
Manchester United -- van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Scholes (Tevez, 65), Hargreaves (Carrick, 78), Anderson; Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs (Nani, 65).
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
Att.: 39,230.
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