Barcelona v Bayer Leverkusen: Spaniards to show no mercy
Published:This tie was all but wrapped up in Germany and now all that remains to be seen is the extent of Leverkusen’s defeat at the Nou Camp, and you can back the Spaniards to win by a three-goal margin at 4/1.
Barcelona are unbeaten at home since September 2010 and so a price of just 1/7 for a home win comes as little surprise.
And though Bayer Leverkusen have won all three domestic fixtures since their first-leg defeat, odds of 14/1 for an away win reflect the size of the task.
Leverkusen haven’t won away from home in this season’s Champions League, losing 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, 3-1 in Valencia and securing a none too impressive 1-1 draw in Genk.
They should, however, at least restore some pride with a goal. Pep Guardiola’s side have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 matches in all competitions. A Barcelona win in which both sides score is worth 7/4.
At the opposite end, Barcelona find the net with alarming regularity. They have scored 15 in their last five fixtures in league and cup, and have netted three or more in five of their seven Champions League fixtures this season. The Catalan giants are 11/8 to put at least four past Leverkusen.
In the goalscorer stakes, it’s best to steer clear of Lionel Messi, who, for very obvious reasons, doesn’t represent much value.
That is unless you back him to score his seventh hat-trick of another prolific campaign at 4/1.
Elsewhere, Xavi is a more interesting 8/1 to net the opener. The midfielder has scored four in his last eight appearances for the club, and has 10 for the season to date.
Alexis Sanchez scored the opener in the first leg and has ten goals in his previous 13 outings. The 23-year-old is 11/4 to break the deadlock for a second time.
