From Rangers’ point of view the best part of it all was that Celtic would return from Seville knackered with just two days’ rest before they had to play the last game of the season in a showcase match which would decide whether the Premiership trophy wore blue or green ribbons.
Indeed, so wound up were some sections of the Ibrox following, they actively supported Porto. The Grapes bar in Glasgow formed a Porto Supporters Club and displayed as much, possibly more, fervour than the genuine article.
At one Rangers’ bar the billboard outside boasted: “Tonight, 7.45pm; The Bill live.”
Backing did come from some Rangers sources. Manager Alex McLeish let it be known that he had called Celts boss Martin O’Neill personally to wish him and the team success.
Support came, too, from politicians. MSPs passed a motion of congratulations. Prime Minister Tony Blair wished them success at Question Time in the House of Commons. Labour Party Chairman and Leader of the House of Commons John Reid skipped parliamentary duties to make the trip. Challenged about Reid’s absence at a time of political turmoil, Lord Chancellor Lord “Derry” Irvine dismissed criticism, saying simply: “John’s on a pilgrimage.”
Given the level of expectation, there was always the prospect that the match itself might fail to live up to its billing. It didn’t. As the crowds went their own ways, some to the stadium, others to one of the two giant screens erected for the purpose in Seville and yet others to whichever bar they had selected, the teams knew what was expected of them. And they delivered.
When Porto first breached Celtic’s defences to put the ball past Rab Douglas, Celtic’s hordes were momentarily silenced. When The King, Larsson, equalised decimeters melted. When Porto again took the lead, Celtic’s support somehow managed to become even more vocal, urging their team to ever-greater efforts. When Larsson equalised again, thousands of women offered to bear his child.
That Celtic were tough was in no doubt. That Porto displayed an alarming propensity to fall over like schoolgirls was obvious to all. But this was Europe, not the SPL. A titanic effort against a side displaying a certain type of class against Celtic’s classy brawn saw the teams finish their 90 minutes level. An extra 30 minutes of toil awaited both teams. Celtic’s support, by now almost hoarse, roared the team on and waved the flags with hidden reserves of energy.
