Champions League/Group F/Barcelona v Celtic: Celtic manager Martin O'Neill last night accused the Rangers supporters of racially abusing Neil Lennon during Saturday's Old Firm derby.

The Northern Irishman's outburst was triggered by a question over his own post-match actions after the 2-0 defeat at Ibrox.

O'Neill was criticised for being "provocative" after he led Lennon to the travelling contingent and repeatedly punched the air following the stormy match.

O'Neill said: "What should I regret? I go to the away fans every fortnight with the players and nothing has been said before.

"I think this is the first time we have been beaten away from home in 18 months and nobody has picked up on that at all."

He claimed: "I applauded the crowd because the support was fantastic - and because Neil Lennon was abused from start to finish I think I had a right to show some support.

"He was verbally abused in a racial and sectarian manner.

"Neil Lennon was subjected to this from start to finish - and it reached an incredible crescendo at the end."

Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton were sent off in the stormy weekend showdown while Lennon can count himself fortunate not to have faced an early bath himself.

But O'Neill has made a staunch defence of the influential trio ahead of tonight's Champions League Group F clash with Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

He said: "These players have been good enough in the last couple of years and will continue to be good enough in the future."

Celtic are in danger of crashing out of Europe altogether as they lie bottom of the group with the same points as Shakhtar Donetsk but with a worse goal difference.

O'Neill continued: "I don't think we will not be able to focus.

"The Old Firm game has obviously past and we have an important Champions League game. You play all year to get into this competition so it is pretty easy to play in these games."

Celtic need to repeat their Nou Camp heroics of last season when they earned a draw if they are to leave with at least a point.

Barcelona are flying high after their emphatic 3-0 victory over Real Madrid and O'Neill rates them as the best in Europe.

He concluded: "We face an enormous task tomorrow evening but it is one which I feel we are capable of rising to.

"The Barcelona side are at this minute playing some wonderful football and are seven points clear in the Spanish league which is one of the strongest in the world.

"The task is enormous and they have some fantastic players like Xavi and the best player in the world at this minute in Ronaldinho.

Barcelona have extended Henrik Larsson's contract for an extra year despite the former Celtic striker missing the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury.

"Barcelona want the player to concentrate on recovering from the injury without having to worry about his contractual situation," the Catalan club said on its website yesterday.