BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Messi-opener could well see me doing somersaults

IT'S a sign of the times that among the list of the Premier League's best goal celebrations there is a player kissing a badge - Steven Gerrard - and one involving Fergie who, let's be honest, is the undisputed worst goal celebrator in the history of football.

Go to the Premier League website for their uninspiring shortlist of ten top goal celebrations, a list that criminally doesn't include Tim Cahill's handcuffs, Robbie Fowler's line sniffing, the look on Arjen Robben's face when he was shown a second yellow for jumping into the crowd and those length-of-the-pitch sprints from G Neville and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Now those were proper celebrations which didn't involve any ridiculous badge kissing, T-shirt revealing, cradle rocking or pathetic dancing (which doesn't include Crouchie, incidentally, but I'm sure he only ever roboed for the benefit of England fans).

I do remember the Barca boys coming up with a classy apoplectic celebration the last time they were at the Bridge. It was teed up perfectly; a goal down, time running out, Chelsea fans roaring, tempers fraying, Iniesta belts home a stunner and cue lots of jumping and frolicking in front of their own army of baying supporters. Brilliant stuff.

I'm not expecting anything too loopy this time around because I'm confident of two things; the first is that Barcelona will win and win easily because they are miles better than Chelsea. The second is that Lionel Messi will open the scoring and his goal celebrations are strictly under-stated.

No Lua Lua somersaults from the little Argentinian though I might be doing a few if he scores first because I'm on at 11-4.