WHEN Virgil Van Dijk last faced Barcelona he was on the receiving end of a hammering.
The Dutchman was part of a Celtic team battered in a 6-1 group stage rout at the Nou Camp in December 2013.
Fresh from being named PFA Player of the Year, the centre-back returns to the scene in tonight’s Champions League semi-final on a mission to edge Liverpool closer to a second successive final.
Joe Ledley was a team-mate of Van Dijk on that sorry night in Spain and the Welshman recalled that the impressive defender did his best to keep the scoreline down.
Midfielder Ledley who left the Hoops for Crystal Palace in 2014 said: “It would have been more without him!
“We played Barca a few times at that period. We pushed them all the way before Jordi Alba scored to make it 2-1 and then beat them at home.
“But in the 6-1, we weren’t at it at all. Virgil, and credit to him, he was brilliant. It could have been a lot more without him.”
Neymar cut Celtic apart with a hat-trick but the Brazil forward is now with Paris Saint-Germain.
Instead, the Reds’ challenge will be to keep another pair of South Americans quiet in Lionel Messi and ex-Kop striker Luis Suarez.
Ledley, who left Derby in January, is full of admiration for Van Dijk, 27, who has become one of the best defenders in the world but believes Liverpool will have their work cut out tonight.
He added: “Messi drifts in and out of games and you don’t see him at times.
“But he can change a game whenever he wants.
“It will be difficult for Liverpool because Barcelona are a fantastic team. But I’ve not been surprised by the rise of Virgil at all.
“We could see straight away at Celtic how good he was going to be. He was so calm and had everything. He could hit shots, win headers, he’s strong and quick.
“People disrespect Scottish football but he was waiting for the opportunity and Southampton came in.
“I was surprised he went under the radar and other clubs didn’t snap him up as £11.5million was a steal.
“He’s quietly got on with his job and gone from strength to strength. Virgil is still young and Liverpool is a big club to play for but he’s gone there and done his job.
“He’s got the experience of playing for Celtic and that has helped him. He’s just a fantastic player.”
BARCELONA: Pinto, Pique, Correia, Mascherano, Montoya, Busquets (Song), Xavi, Roberto, Sanchez (Tello), Pedro, Neymar (Dongou).
CELTIC: Forster, Ambrose, Lustig, Matthews (Stokes), Van Dijk, Samaras, Brown, Ledley, Boerrighter, Biton (Commons), Pukki (Mulgrew).
Joe Ledley was speaking at a McDonald’s Fun Football Centre a programme designed to introduce children to football. To register go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/funfootball
