Barcelona to win big against Plzen in Champions League
Published:Barcelona beat BATE Borisov 5-0 in their last Champions League fixture at the Nou Camp and a similar result can be expected when they host Viktoria Plzen next in Group H.
Pep Guardiola’s team are unbeaten in 11 Champions League home games and they are likely to put out a strong team as they battle for early supremacy in the group with chief rivals AC Milan.
However, with little value in any of the markets, with Barcelona 1/20 in the Champions League odds to win and Lionel Messi just 3/1 to score a hat-trick, the best bet may prove the 7/2 that Pedro is the first goalscorer.
AC Milan should also ensure that there are two comfortable home wins in Group H as they entertain BATE.
Milan are 1/5 to triumph, but there are reasons to suggest that BATE have the capabilities of claiming an unlikely result.
BATE are unbeaten in their last four European away games and drew with Juventus on their last trip to Italy in 2009.
It is 14/1 that BATE beat Milan, with the draw perhaps worthy of some consideration at 11/2, especially as the Serie A champions have won just two of their last nine European home games.
Meanwhile, in Group G, Shakhtar will know the importance of a home success over Zenit if they harbour hopes of reaching the quarter finals of the competition again.
Shakhtar prop up the group after two games, but are 1/1 to beat Zenit and the Russians have lost their last three European away games.
Zenit are 11/4 to secure victory, with the draw priced at 12/5.
Porto beat Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League group stages in 2010 and are 3/10 to repeat this victory, with Apoel 9/1 to secure a first ever victory for a Cypriot side against Portuguese opposition.
