5 Truths: Neymar antics a worry, draw could cost Arsenal, Pep Guardiola greatness

On the day a Spanish court called for Neymar to be sent to prison for two years for his part in a corruption case, the Brazilian forward was found guilty of some dismal conduct by the court of public opinion in Glasgow.

Neymar is a terrific player as he showed with his pass for Lionel Messi's stunning opening goal, but his behaviour leaves a lot to be desired.

Football's version of Justin Bieber was fortunate not to be sent off for appearing to taunt then push the Celtic player Mikael Lustig off the ball. He seemed more content to get wrapped up in his battle with Lustig before finally being hooked for his own good on 77 minutes.

He would have been sent off if he had stayed on with Barca leading 2-0, and the match all but over.

It was a similar story at Celtic Park three years ago when his play-acting led to Scott Brown being sent off. Such theatre leaves a sour taste in the mouth with Celtic fans roundly booing the forward.

You do wonder what will happen to Barca without Messi? Neymar is a huge talent, but he is a long way short of what Messi can provide on such evenings.

It seemed a simple enough mission. Beat Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal would be guaranteed top spot in Group A. This was a PSG team that currently third in Ligue 1 behind Monaco and Nice. Their coach Unai Emery is under increasing pressure. However, Arsenal being Arsenal, they contrived to put PSG in the driving seat to finish top of the group.

Should Arsenal now finish second, they will likely draw one of Europe’s leading lights and an exit at the last 16 stage yet again would be a sorry showing for a European campaign that had promised much.

Expect to see Barcelona wash up at the Emirates early in the New Year.

Under Pep Guardiola, or more properly, when they had Xavi and Andres Iniesta alongside Sergio Busquets, Barcelona could afford a ropey defence because no team could get enough of the ball to get at it. But Xavi has gone and Iniesta, though still wonderful, is past his best. So now, they have a weak spot which is not only obvious, but accessible.

Even tonight, Celtic created one incredible chance and various other decent situations in a 2-0 reverse, none of which they exploited, but a better team, able to compete in midfield and with a superior back four, could well beat them.

At their 2008-201 peak, Lionel Messi was not even the defining facet of their brilliance, but now, and brilliant though his team-mates are, he is.

But as a striker, he will never dictate a game, which is to say that though Barcelona are still the best team in the world, they are eminently beatable.

The Bundesliga is a league that lacks any sort of competition. Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League whenever they came up against decent opposition. Ergo, Pep Guardiola was a fraud who would be found out in the Premier League.

Fast forward three months and Guardiola’s Manchester City are doing just fine in the Premier League and Champions League, while Bayern sit second in both the Bundesliga and their Champions League group.

Carlo Ancelotti, a three-time Champions League winner, is, it goes without saying, one of Europe’s elite coaches. However, with every passing week, Guardiola’s successes at Bayern look all the more exceptional.

Bayern have lost their air of invincibility. They are three points off RB Leipzig in the league with Borussia Dortmund snapping at their heels while they were beaten 3-2 by FC Rostov in the Champions League.

All of a sudden Bayern look frail. They are far more porous at the back and not nearly as terrifying in attack.

Bayern’s hierarchy must hope that their current issues are just teething problems of a new regime because if they are not Bayern could very well end the season empty handed.