Champions League betting – Barcelona vs Arsenal

Barcelona vs Arsenal betting preview, odds and tips

Barcelona

Barcelona’s narrow weekend victory over Real Zaragoza at the Nou Camp will have definitely raised spirits for the Catalan giants. They are now 10 points clear of closest rivals Real Madrid in La Liga and will be looking to this game to show that the first leg really was just a fluke. Barca go into this clash as firm favourites to not just win this fixture but to progress and win the competition, they have understandably unfavourable odds of winning at 1.3 on StanJames to win the game.

Pep Guardiola’s side will be missing key man Gerard Pique and will be forced to replace him, meaning that the defensive stability they had in the first leg of the fixture could be lost for this game. Star man Lionel Messi has been on fantastic form this season with 27 goals in all competition and can count himself extremely unlucky that he didn’t walk away with a goal at the Emirates in the 1st leg. The Argentine magician is priced at 1.57 on William Hill to score at any time in the fixture.

Arsenal

Since Arsenal’s miraculous comeback against the Catalonians in the 1st leg Arsenal’s form has been extremely erratic, with draws against Leyton Orient, Sunderland and losses against strugglers Birmingham it’s hard to predict which Arsenal are going to pitch up. Arsene Wenger will be hoping that the Arsenal that played the last 30 minutes when they previously faced Barcelona will be the ones heading to the Nou Camp.

Integral to this will be whether captain fantastic Cesc Fabregas is fit, as well as on form striker Robin Van Persie who caused the Barcelona backline a whole host of problems in the last fixture.  Arsenal will surely be a much more favourable bet if the two players are fit, the odds of Cesc Fabregas opening the scoring are 17.0 on BoyleSports. Arsenal trailed at half time in the last fixture and could be good value to do the same at odds of 51.0 on Bet 365.

Overall it looks like it could be a tight affair and it may come down to extra time, the question will be who can bring on and make the most impact with the fresh legs of substitutes. Barcelona boast Dutch international Ibrahim Affelay on the bench while Arsenal could bring on players like Andrey Asrshavin who is starting to find form again. Whatever happens this is one to watch for sure and is way too close to call.

Highlighter Bets:

Outright Barcelona 1.3 StanJames
Anytime Goalscorer 1.57 William Hill
First Goalscorer Fabregas 17.0 Victor Chandler
Half Time/Full Time Barcelona/Arsenal 51.0 Bet 365

By John Fernandez

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