REPORTS coming out of Spain yesterday suggested that prosecutors want Neymar jailed for his part in a corruption case relating to his transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013. Last night in Glasgow, some Celtic fans probably thought that was too good for him. They felt he was getting away with murder.

Perhaps, as Parkhead's new public enemy No 1 trudged at a snail's pace off up the tunnel last night, having angered the good people of Dalmarnock with antics including a running feud with Mikael Lustig which continued after both men received a booking, that warm Spanish jail cell didn't look like so bad an idea. Invective poured down on him, as at least one drink thrown from the stands had as he prepared to take a corner in front of the Green Brigade.

That famous victory back in November 2012 fell upon the 125th anniversary of Celtic's formation. Unfortunately it was their misfortune last night to encounter Lionel Messi closing in on a personal milestone of his own. Since the inception of the Champions League, Celtic have scored 56 goals in the group stages and beyond.

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The two goals he steered in with that wand of a left foot last night means that Messi has already got 92 all to himself, as he races arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, with 95, to become the first man to the century mark. He may have been compared to the Loch Ness Monster in Tuesday's press conference but this kind of thing is hardly out of the ordinary when it comes to this little legend.

Barcelona' call themselves more than a club. Last night they were more than a match for Celtic. Regardless of their recent poor form, they march on as group winners, while this defeat, coupled with a draw for Borussia Moenchengladbach means that Celtic's visit to Manchester on the final matchday will be of academic interest only.

Celtic paid homage to Catalonia four years on from one of the most memorable nights in their history, whether their visitors had wanted reminded about it or not. Two pipers led the visitors' team bus along the Celtic way pre-match, with under fire SFA chief executive Stewart Regan and former manager Ronny Deila one of the visiting dignitaries in the East End of Glasgow for the occasion.

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Lustig was the surprise lone survivor from the November 2012 starting line-up , with Jozo Simunovic given a big Champions League chance at centre back, regardless of Sunday's looming League Cup final. Messi, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba were the tortured souls who survived in last night's Barca line-up, but so momentous was that night that it tends to overshadow the fact that the club's three meetings since then have seen Barcelona win all three, scoring 14 goals to Celtic's one, including a 1-0 win here in October 2013, a match which saw Scott Brown sent off.

Neymar took his place alongside Messi and former Brendan Rodgers' favourite Luis Suarez in Barca's much-vaunted striking trident. If they were the box office, the best frontline ever assembled, even the bit part players in this Barcelona team are serious operators. Andre Gomes, the brawny midfielder who lined up on the left side of midfield, is fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugual while right back Sergi Roberto has four La Liga titles under his belt and is a full, current Spanish internationalist.

Trying to establish which of these two teams had moved on, and by how much, since that day in November 2012 was diverting if ultimately fruitless, while Brendan Rodgers offered a variation of Neil Lennon's game plan. He asked his players to bravely press high in the hope of catching Barcelona's back four overplaying. At times it almost worked.

A clearance clattered off Moussa Dembele and past the post, while some better decision making by Scott Sinclair in decent positions could have given Callum McGregor a tap-in or breached Barcelona's offside trap. As much as Celtic fans expected him to do more about Neymar, Italian referee Daniele Orsato letting the game flow was another good sign, even when Brown slid in on Sergio Busquets early on.

Celtic had scored at the right times back in 2012 but they couldn't repeat the feat here, with Javier Mascherano, a man who apparently can't defend, perfect in a one-on-one against Dembele. instead thatthree-man strikeforce worked its magic. Neymar, not just acquired of pantomime villain status, curled in a sweet pass and Messi attacked the space and fired in an instant half-volleyed finish at Craig Gordon's near post.

Read more: Moussa Dembele: I am 100% committed to staying at Celtic to take on next season's Champions League

There was plenty to admire about this Celtic performance, but chances were few. A first half Dembele strike was claimed by Ter Stegen, then the same man couldn't get enough pace on a clipped cross from substitute James Forrest and the German again saved well.

By contrast, Barcelona could have been big winners by the end. Suarez headed too close to Gordon from a piece of right-footed Messi magic, but then used all his cleverness to roll Emilio Izaguirre from a Sergi Roberto pass. The Honduran was caught wrong side and wrestled him to the ground. He had been done up like a kipper and after an age of waiting Messi kept his nerve from the spot to wrongfoot Gordon.

The closing stages were enlivened by some wasteful Barcelona finishing and Neymar's battle with both Lustig and officialdom. It all made for a rather unecessary end to the match, but when all was said and done Barca march on and Celtic's bid for European football after Christmas is over. It was fun while it lasted.