BARCELONA - Samuel Eto'o knows he and his fellow strikers must lift Barcelona out of their scoring slump.
Barca have struggled in front of goal by their own high standards in 2008 and have scored more than one goal in just one of their last eight league and cup matches - a 2-1 win at Real Zaragoza on Saturday.
"Scoring more goals is really up to the lads up front as we're already creating lots of chances," said Cameroon striker Eto'o, who has not played since returning from the African Nations Cup because of a thigh injury.
But the relative dearth of goals is not a worry for Eto'o as he prepares for the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Celtic on Wednesday.
"Sometimes you just don't score that many goals," he told the club's official website, www.fcbarcelona.com.
"Goals come in spells. Any team and any player can have good spells and bad spells.
"The important thing is not to concede a goal. If we can get some ourselves, then all to the good."
Barcelona v. Celtic: Head-to-Head
Celtic face one of their biggest challenges of the season when they play host to Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Scottish champions will be seeking a positive result against Frank Rijkaard's side ahead of the return leg in the Catalan city on March 4.
Here PA Sport assesses both sides.
FORM
Celtic may be trailing Rangers by four points in the SPL title race but 13 goals from their last three matches suggests they will be on top form when Barca come calling. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Scott McDonald and Andreas Hinkel were all on the scoresheet against an improved Hearts side to secure a vital win on Saturday. Last week, Aiden McGeady was the star of the show as Celtic ran riot with a 5-1 victory at Aberdeen, having also blasted five goals against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup at the beginning of the month.
Barcelona are also playing catch-up in La Liga, with Sunday's 2-1 victory over Real Zaragoza closing the gap on leaders Real Madrid to five points. Ronaldinho came off the bench to claim the winner from the penalty spot to take maximum points from a tough match at La Romareda. Goals from Xavi have also earned a draw with Sevilla and a win over Osasuna in the last few weeks.
THE STORY SO FAR
Despite mixed results, Celtic managed to finish runners-up to AC Milan in the group stages. They had booked their place in Group D with an epic qualifying victory over Spartak Moscow before three home wins against AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk saw them safely through to the knockout stages.
Barca enjoyed a more comfortable route to the last 16 after coming through the group stages unbeaten. They faced the other half of the Old Firm when they were held to a goalless draw by Rangers at Ibrox, before winning comfortably against Walter Smith's men in the Nou Camp. Lyon also claimed a point from the Catalan giants, helping the French champions clinch second place.
EUROPEAN PEDIGREE
Celtic became the first British club to win the European Cup when the Lisbon Lions famously defeated Inter Milan in 1967. Another appearance in the final followed in 1970 but, this time, Celtic were on the losing side as Feyenoord triumphed. More recently, 80,000 Hoops fans descended on Seville for the 2003 UEFA Cup final only to see their team lose out to Jose Mourinho's Porto after extra-time.
Barcelona have twice triumphed in the Champions League. Ronald Koeman netted an extra-time winner against Sampdoria in 1992, before Henrik Larsson came off the bench to set up goals for Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti to inspire a 2-1 win over Arsenal in 2006. Honours also includes lifting the Cup Winners' Cup on four occasions.
Barcelona v. Celtic: Key Battles
Celtic will be eyeing another impressive victory at Parkhead when they face Barcelona in the Champions League tomorrow.
Here is a look at potential key battles in the last-16 match:
SCOTT McDONALD v GABRIEL MILITO
McDonald has already netted 24 goals in an exceptional debut season at Celtic, following his £700,000 summer move from Motherwell. The Australian has seen off the challenge for his place from the likes of Chris Killen and Derek Riordan as well as Maciej Zurawski and Kenny Miller, who have both left the club since his arrival. Barca will be desperate to keep him quiet.
Argentinian Milito is one of the most respected central defenders in the Spanish league, who joined Barcelona from Real Zaragoza last summer. Surprisingly good in the air, considering he is just 5ft 10in tall - but that makes him two inches taller than McDonald.
AIDEN McGEADY v CARLES PUYOL
McGeady has been on scintillating form for Celtic. Like McDonald, he is a candidate for player-of-the-season honours in Scotland. His thrilling wing play on the left ensured Celtic hardly felt the injury-enforced absence of Shunsuke Nakamura earlier in the campaign, and his Champions League performance against Benfica at Parkhead was exceptional. A repeat of that display would be bad news for Barca.
Puyol, who is likely to line up at right-back, is just about the toughest opponent McGeady could meet. He has made a swift return from injury, having at one stage been doubtful for the first leg, and the Barca captain's duel with McGeady could be the crunch battle of the tie. Puyol likes to get forward, and it will be up to McGeady to make sure he rarely gets the chance.
STEPHEN McMANUS v THIERRY HENRY
Captain McManus has played every minute of Celtic's six Champions League games so far, and scored in the home victory against AC Milan. The 25-year-old rarely makes mistakes for club or for country, and Celtic's near-perfect defensive record since Christmas has been in a major way down to his performance.
Celtic will know what to expect from Henry - and from Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi for that matter - but their challenge is to stop the brilliant French striker shattering their European dream. Henry has not been at his very best since joining from Arsenal last summer, but he was on the scoresheet in Saturday's league win against Real Zaragoza and might be coming good at the right stage of the season.
