GLASGOW — FC Barcelona could finally field its feared "Fantastic Four" strike force against Celtic in their Champions League match Wednesday.
Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho are all available for selection in Glasgow as coach Frank Rijkaard looks to avoid going out in the first elimination round for the second straight season.
The quartet, kept apart by a string of injuries and Eto’o playing in the African Cup of Nations, could help the team break out of a recent scoring slump. A 2-1 victory at Zaragoza last Saturday marked the first time in eight games that Barcelona scored more than one goal.
"We have been criticized for a lack of goals, but I think there is no need to worry," midfielder Deco said. "We need to be more clinical with our chances but it is a matter of time.
"It is also a factor that we’ve never had all our forwards available. There is always someone injured or away. Now Samuel Eto’o is back, Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry are fine, and Ronaldinho is regaining his form."
Eto’o missed the Zaragoza game with an injury, and the Cameroon striker wasn’t unhappy with how his fellow forwards performed while he was away on international duty.
"Scoring more goals is really up to the lads up front as we’re already creating lots of chances," said Eto’o, who missed the Zaragoza game with an injury. "Goals come in spells.
"Any team and any player can have good spells and bad spells."
The abundance of available forwards could give Rijkaard a selection headache as he seeks a balanced attack to avoid a repeat of last year’s loss to Liverpool at the same stage.
"We should learn our lesson from that defeat," Deco said. "These ties are decided over two games, not one.
"We took too many chances in the first leg against Liverpool because we were playing at home, and forgot we could still win away."
With poor away form leaving Barcelona trailing Spanish leader Real Madrid by five points, Deco is targeting European glory.
"The Champions League is our big dream," said Deco, who won the European Cup with Barcelona in 2006. "It would be fantastic to win it again, but I’m not ruling out catching Real Madrid in the league either."
Barcelona beat Celtic 3-1 in Glasgow in the 2004 group stage, a year after losing 1-0 in the UEFA Cup. The Spanish team also played Rangers twice in the group stage.
"We’re pretty used to the Scottish style," Deco said. "They are aggressive, fight for every ball, and put pressure on you by getting a lot of crosses into the box."
It is no easy task to beat Celtic at Parkhead. For a second season, Celtic advanced from the group stage by winning its three home games, including against defending champion AC Milan. In fact, the 2004 loss to Barcelona is Celtic’s only defeat in its last 33 European games at Parkhead.
"Our home form in the Champions League has been fantastic — as good as anyone’s," midfielder Paul Hartley said. "We’re going into a game against Barcelona who are a quality team, but at home we’re as strong as anyone and we can beat any one of them on our day."