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Football

22nd Mar 2016

Irish football fans could get the chance to see Celtic take on Barcelona in Dublin this year

Messi, Neymar and Carlton Cole

SportsJOE

Just a month after the Republic of Ireland definitely win Euro 2016, Irish fans could well be in for a treat closer to home.

According to a report in The Irish Sun, the Aviva Stadium may host a friendly between Celtic and Barcelona this August.

It’s claimed that the International Champions Cup, featuring the reigning Spanish and Scottish champions, will take place in Europe, the U.S.A. and Australia this year.

Celtic v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League

The precedent for fixtures in the tournament being contested across multiple continents was set last year when games were played in the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, China, England and Italy.

2016’s schedule is set to be confirmed in New York later today and The Irish Sun report that Dublin is a front-runner to host Celtic v Barcelona due to the fact that neither will want to travel outside of Europe ahead of their early fixtures of the 2016-17 season, or in the midst of them in Celtic’s case as their Champions League qualification will get underway in July.

Celtic v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League

And if the monster tie is confirmed, expect tickets to be snapped up quickly as Irish fans will be salivating at the prospect of seeing one of the greatest attacking forces in the world, with Barcelona’s front three not too shabby either.

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