Barcelona v Liverpool Betting Tips: Can the Reds nick an away goal?
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Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t get it overthe line against Ajax last night. Now it’s Liverpool’s turn as they faceBarcelona at Camp Nou in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The Reds have fond memories of Catalonia. They remain the only English side to register a win at the historic stadium. Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise were the heroes back in 2007.
Who will cast themselves into the limelight this evening? We’ve previewed the titanic tussle in our Champions League Betting Tips.
Match Odds
Both sides are in brilliant form. But Barca have a magnificent record at Camp Nou. Bayern Munich are the only side to win at the ground inside 90 minutes in the Champions League since 2009. They’re 20/23 to edge it.
Liverpoolsorted out their European away day blues in Munich and Porto. We have them downat 29/10, with a first-leg drawpriced at 13/5.
Across the tie as a whole Barca are still the favourites at 4/6, against 11/10 for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp will go to win in Catalonia but an away goal is the most important thing. A 2-1 Barca success is 7/1.
Talking Tactics
How do youstop Messi’s magic? That’s the task facing Liverpool tonight. A midfield threeof Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Naby Keita will have to cut off the supply line from Ivan Rakitic to start with.
Then it’sdown to Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip to soak up an excess in thecentre. Down the flanks, TrentAlexander-Arnold and Andy Robertsonwill have to pick and choose their attacking forays or risk getting caught out.
It won’t behard for their concentration to slip in Catalonia. But hold it all together andthe triumvirate of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane will give them a fantasticchance of getting that crucial away goal.
Manchester United got plenty of joy against Sergi Roberto in the last round. Nelson Semedo may be drafted in to cover Liverpool’s pace, while Jordi Alba is consistency personified on the left.
Goalscorer Odds
There’s no shortage of potential goalscorers in either side. So we’ve got Both Teams to Score at 6/10. Messi has opened the scoring in three of Barca’s five CL home matches so far. He’s 5/2 to do so again here.
Alternatively, the Argentine is 7/2 for his fifth brace of this year’s competition. Suarez is 13/10 to net Anytime against his former club, while fellow ex-Red Philippe Coutinho is 13/5 Anytime or 15/2 to Score Last off the bench.
Salah is 23/10 to continue his good form in front of goal for the visitors, a price he shares with Mane, who is also 13/2 to Score First. Alternatively, van Dijk is a 12/1 chance Anytime.
Barca aren’t always adept at defending at set-pieces, so it would be no surprise to see the big Dutchman rise highest from a corner or a free-kick.
Match Info:
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
When: 8:00pm, Wednesday 1st May 2019.
How to Watch: BT Sport 2
All odds and marketscorrect as of date of publication
