Juventus v Barcelona: Hosts ready to stifle Messi and co
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It’s been over 20 years since Juventus last won the Champions League, but if the Old Lady are to end that rut, they’re going to have to beat Barcelona first.
The Italian outfit lost to Barca in the 2015 final, but there’s plenty of reasons to suggest they can make amends in this last-eight clash.
That’s despite our traders pricing up the Spanish side as favourites to reach the last four at 8/15, with Juve at Evens.
But we do make Massimiliano Allegri’s side 6/4 favourites to claim the first-leg in Turin, with Luis Enrique’s men 9/5 shots.
Juventus have won their last 15 games on home soil, conceding just seven goals in that spell.
They’re unbeaten at home in 13 months, and only Bayern Munich have defeated them on their own patch in the Champions League since March 2004.
So that alone makes a pretty compelling case for Juve to claim the opening contest.
And it’s even more so when you throw in Barcelona’s ropey away form.
The Catalan outfit suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Malaga at the weekend, and it’s now three away defeats in five games.
They’ve fared no better in Europe either, where Barca have won just four of their last 10 away from the Camp Nou.
So we’re leaning towards Juventus to take an advantage over to Spain for the second-leg.
And if you fancy them to produce a similar performance to Paris Saint-Germain’s 4-0 hammering of Barca, then -1 is a 4/1 shot.
Lionel Messi is 4/1 joint favourite to score first, but the form man is Juve’s Gonzalo Higuain.
The Argentine has fired in four goals in his last two games, and sits alongside his international colleague at 4s to break the deadlock.
Plus, check out our Headline Boosts, available from 8am on the day of the game.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
