Barcelona v AC Milan Betting Preview
The Spaniards find themselves with a bit of a mountain to climb after suffering a huge blow in the first leg at the San Siro. The mighty Catalans were outsmarted in a 2-0 defeat and the now the tournament favourites are on the brink of crashing out. Can they rally themselves? AC Milan may have to find themselves on the back foot for long periods of this one at the Nou Camp, but will their collective hard work see them survive?
Barcelona v AC Milan Betting Odds at online bookmaker Unibet
Barcelona 2/7, Draw 5/1, AC Milan 8/1
Barcelona v AC Milan Recommended Bet:
If ever they need to call on their home form in Europe, then this will be the time to do so. Barcelona haven’t lost a home match at the Nou Camp in European competition for over three years now. Only on four previous occasions in the Champions League have teams overturned more than a one goal deficit from the first leg to make it through to the next round. No side has ever salvaged a two goal first leg defeat without the help of an away goal before. So Barcelona are in unknown territory here, that is for sure. this is really going to be a massive test of Barcelona’s credentials here. You feel though that if they get through this, then they will probably go all of the way. When they met in last season’s quarter final, Barcelona won the home leg 3-1 after a 0-0 draw at the San Siro. Even that wouldn’t be enough for the Catalans.
As well as beating Milan in last season’s quarter finals, they also beat the Italians in the 2005/06 semi finals. The two sides have met 16 times before, with Barcelona winning six and Milan five of the meetings. At home against AC Milan, Barcelona have recorded a W3 D3 L1 record. There were also two thrilling group stage matches in the 2011/12 Champions League, which produced a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp and a 3-2 win for Barca at the San Siro. Barcelona are looking for their sixth successive quarter final appearance and are unbeaten in 19 UEFA Champions League home matches, winning fifteen of them. Their overall record against Italian visitors is W11 D4 L2. The ball is firmly in the court of the Italians here though, who can play defence and hit hard on the break. AC Milan have already lost on Spanish soil this season already, going down 1-0 at Malaga in the group stage.
Milan’s win in the first leg snapped a run of seven games without a win against Barcelona. Their overall record against teams from Spain away from home is W4 D6 L13 so they have struggled. AC Milan have won 36 out of 41 UEFA competition ties after winning the first leg at home. Twelve times out of thirteen they have gotten the job done after winning the first leg 2-0 at home. They are a side in decent form, unbeaten in their last eight league matches in Serie A. A two nil lead is massive at this stage, especially with the threat of scoring an away goal themselves. If that happens that will probably kill off this tie. Barcelona’s defence hasn’t been great at all lately, so there will be chances. The Italians though go as firm favourites to lose the match on Tuesday night, but can they hold on and do enough to muscle their way through?
AC Milan To Qualify is trading at 8/11 with online bookmaker Unibet.
Form
Barcelona WLWLLW, AC Milan DWWDWW
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