There are two matches taking place in the Champions League on Tuesday night and although Benfica v Dortmund has the potential to be a very entertaining game, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the clash between PSG and Barcelona that dominated the attention on the night.
These two sides met each other 4 times in the 2014/15 season and each of those games was very entertaining with at least 4 goals being scored on 3 of those occasions. Barcelona came out the overall victors in those matches, winning 3 out of the 4 games and eventually progressing further in the competition.
Things have changed a little since them, though. Barcelona may still have the most dangerous forward line in world football but they aren’t dominating matches in the way we’ve seen from them in the past. This could be Luis Enrique’s last season in charge at the Camp Nou as the supporters faith in him seems to be slowly eroding. On the other side of the coin, PSG have started to impose themselves on the French league and the purchase of German international Julian Draxler is looking inspired as they are yet to lose a game since the turn of the year.
PSG will be missing Thiago Motta (suspended) and new signing Goncalo Guedes (cup-tied) for this game but Marco Verrati is back and should play in this one which will help bring a measure of control back to the side in Motta’s absence.
Controlling midfield will be difficult though as Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets are expected to be in the starting line-up after suffering recent injuries. With Ivan Rakitic in midfield and the trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar up front, this is a formidable Barcelona side.
I believe this match will be decided in the second leg and although we’ve seen a lot of goals from these two in the past I suspect this will not be the goal-fest that some are predicting.
With BetVictor offering odds of 3.6 on the draw I’m tempted by the value on offer and will be placing a modest stake on that being the end result. I’m staying away from the handicap or the goal markets offered by green listed bookmakers, as I just don’t see anything that both has value and also fits the way I think this game is going to go.
With attacking talent on both sides in this one this has the potential to be a great match but at the same time each side could be doing their best to contain the other which would ruin it as a spectacle.
So with just the one bet on the game I will be able to sit back and (hopefully) enjoy the match without having to worry about whether enough goals are being scored or if the handicap is going to be covered.
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