Celtic will know they will have to stop one man if they are stand any chance of getting a result against Barcelona in their Champions League game Tuesday at the Camp Nou.
Lionel Messi, if humanly possible, is getting better and better as every game goes on, hitting stratospheric form in both international and club front.
The Argentine wonder's hat-trick against Deportivo was instrumental in their 5-4 victory at the weekend and the Barcelona forward is not showing any signs of slowing down.
"We have to play compact, with high intensity, very concentrated," Celtic coach Neil Lennon said. "We need a great performance until the end. We can try to stop balls reaching Messi. Better teams and better coaches than myself have tried to stop him and failed, so we shall see what we can do."
So far no team in the world has been able to stop Messi from bringing his magic onto the pitch, and as much as Barcelona are made up of other international superstars like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Villa, they would be a beatable team without their talisman Messi.
"We haven't designed a plan of attack because it depends who plays for Barcelona," Lennon added. "We know what Barcelona can do -- we have to play our best possible match. We will field the strongest team possible.
"We got a good result in our last Champions League match so we have nothing to lose. We're not here on holiday or for the tourist attractions. It'll be a tough 90 minutes for us but it will be for them too.
"There's always pressure for any game. We have grown as a team over the last year. We haven't really prepared any differently for this game. Our previous results take the pressure away from us, but there's always pressure in the Champions League."
Barcelona have been far from convincing in their two games so far - eking out a win against Spartak Moscow, thanks to who else but Messi and then needing a thoroughly professional performance against a tough Benfica side.
However, the former Champions League winners know what it takes to progress from the Group stages, and manager Tito Vilanova will expect nothing less than a win against the Scottish champions.
"Home games are very important in the Champions League," Vilanova said. "If we win this one, we will take a huge step forward. Celtic drew at home to Benfica and beat Spartak and that's a sign they are doing things well.
"Maybe people didn't take Celtic seriously at the start of the season, but we do. Over the years there have been lots of examples of teams who have been written off and were dangerous. Celtic are very quick and good on the counterattack, so we have to take them seriously in the Champions League.
"There are four games left and anything can happen. We will see which two teams qualify. All the games are difficult and Celtic's pace and the fact that they have tall players for set pieces are what worries me the most about them.
"I would prefer to win scoring the most possible goals and not conceding any, but when it comes down to it, I just want to win."
Defenders Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Daniel Alves are ruled out, meaning Alex Song will again partner Javier Masherano, who was sent off against Deportivo at the weekend, at central defense. The duo will need to keep an eye on the danger posed by striker Gary Hooper, even if all eyes will be on the Barcelona firepower going forward.
Expected lineups: Barcelona: Valdes; Montoya, Song, Mascherano, Alba; Xavi, Fabregas, Pedro, Iniesta; Messi; Alexis.
Celtic: Forster; Matthews, Wilson, Mulgrew, Ambrose; Wanyama, Ledley, Kayal; Nouioui, Hooper, Watt.
Prediction: 3-0 to Barcelona
