While the four English entrants in the Champions League pit their wits in their opening fixtures this week, there is the blockbuster Barcelona v AC Milan betting match up which is kind of taking centre stage here and can’t be ignored. These have met before in the Champions League of course, most recently back in the 2005/06 campaign when Barcelona won 1-0 in Milan before holding out for a 0-0 draw in the return fixture. That was in the semi final stage when the likes of Deco, Eto’o and Ronaldinho were in the side for Barca. Andreas Iniesta also played in the match as well. They also met in the 2004/05 campaign too, which saw a win for Milan at the San Siro, before Barcelona got their revenge back at the Nou Camp in the reverse fixture there. There is further history stretching back between these two giants of European football of course (including a win at the Nou Camp for Milan in the 2000/01 group stage), with a total of eleven meetings. You may be a little surprised at the head to head record here as there have been four wins for each and three drawn matches. The last two meetings in Spain have result in a win for Barcelona and a draw, and so AC Milan need to go there and over turn some poor recent history. Barcelona’s home record against AC Milan is not exactly prolific, as they have won two, drawn two and lost one in their five meetings against the Italians. This is something of a massive encounter here between two giants, and both really have a lot to offer. Barcelona of course now have Cesc Fabregas in their midfield, who is hungry for some European success, but Barcelona have lost the services of their new signing of striker Alexis Sanchez who picked up a hamstring problem. Barcelona were relatively quiet in the transfer market over the summer, and that is easy to understand as it is hard to see just where they can actually be improved. That same midfield of Iniesta and Xavi are there pulling the string, and with Lionel Messi being crowed Europe’s very best, they are the still the team to beat. They are the defending Champions, but were slowed by a 2-2 away draw at Real Sociedad on the weekend. That was their second league match of the new season after opening with a 5-0 win over Villareal.
The Serie A season is just one round of matches old, so nothing too much to read into what the Italians may bring. However, they didn’t bolt out of the gates, as they were held at the San Siro by Lazio Roma 2-2. It’s not the start they wanted, and in the Champions League, they really need to pick up their form. They have now not scored in their last three European matches, and their away form in particular was really bad in the tournament. AC Milan won only one of their four away matches in last year’s tournament, so they need to pick up the pace. Having to open against Barcelona in the Nou Camp is not exactly an easy entrance back into the competition. However, an interesting stats for backers of AC Milan, is that they have won all last ten of their previous Match Day One fixtures. But then we can rapidly switch focus back to Barcelona and see that the Catalans have not lost in their last 10 home games in the Champions League now. Only a draw against Real Madrid in the semi final of last year’s competition broke their run of nine consecutive home wins. It really is understating the obvious that they are an ominous side in their own arena. They are the team to beat anywhere they go, and the ease with which they dispatched Manchester United in the final last year, indicates that they are strong favourites to get back there. Real Madrid are starting off as tournament favourites, and again it looks like Real Madrid (who have fired ten goals in their opening two La Liga matches) are going to be their closest challengers.
There is an immense amount of team ties between these two clubs, who are steeped in fantastic history. This is definitely the big match of the opening round, a match which goes beyond pride. Both are still favourite to get through the stage, as BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen are unlikely to cause either of the giants many problems in the group. For your Barcelona v AC Milan betting though, we are looking at the European Champions and how they keep the ball is just remarkable still. The bookies certainly only see one result happening, which is translated in the strong odds below. It is hard to argue against that really and so we may as well take a look at Asian Handicap options for some value. A great price of Evens is at VC Bet is available for a Barcelona -1.75 Asian Handicap, but that will require a three goal winning margin. It is early days in the season and so you could tone it down a little for 8/11 Barcelona -1.5 Asian Handicap at Victor Chandler. Either way decent value.
Barcelona v AC Milan Champions League Betting Odds
Barcelona to win: 3/10 at Totesport
Draw: 9/2 at Bet365
AC Milan: 12/1 at VC Bet
