Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted the 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League was one of the "proudest nights" of his career.
Victor Wanyama and Tony Watt gave the Scottish champions a surprise 2-0 lead, with the home side then holding onto the win despite Lionel Messi reducing the deficit late on.
"It is right up there as one of the proudest nights of my career," Lennon said. "It was a monumental effort on the (125th) anniversary of the club. I wanted the players to do justice tonight, and they have surpassed that and beaten the best team in the world.
"It was the toughest test of their careers and they came through with flying colours. It was due to teamwork and due to discipline. We knew we could threaten (Jordi) Alba in the air, and Charlie Mulgrew is one of best set-piece takers around. Wanyama was great again as well.
"Then you try and weather the storm and there is not much you can do but we came through it. Watt scored a brilliant second goal and he will go down in the history books. I am not saying this is the pinnacle for this team, there is more to come from them, but the progress has been great.
"It gives us a great chance to qualify. We have got to go to Benfica, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. I want the players to enjoy the moment. It was a special night here. I have never seen an atmosphere as good as that."
The win took Celtic to seven points from four matches, two behind leaders Barcelona, with Benfica, who beat Spartak Moscow on Wednesday, third on four points. The Russian side are bottom with three points.
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova did not lay the blame on his players, instead commending Celtic for sticking to their plan. "There is nothing to blame the players for, on the contrary, we must congratulate their effort to read the game properly from the beginning," he said. "I think we deserved the victory.
"We tried everything until the end. We made a mistake at a set piece and they seized their opportunity. We have only conceded two corners, and they scored from one of them. We must also congratulate Celtic for their good game, for winning and for their spectacular supporters.
"Before their first goal we had a clear chance to score, and I think the game would have been very different. I think we had enough chances to win the match. We have our weapons and we play this way at home or away.
"I think if there are many games like this, we will win the majority, but that was not the case today. If we had won we would be sure to top the group, but there are two games left, and we depend on ourselves.
"The atmosphere in the stadium was spectacular," Vilanova added. "We must congratulate them for their 125 years and hopefully many more to follow."
