Barcelona v Chelsea Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 14th August 7.45pm
It is really hard to see how Chelsea can put things together for 90 minutes, with a need for them to get a goal in this tie, to progress. The Blues are just not at their best, and while they deserve a lot of credit for their performance in the first leg, they are likely to slip out of the competition at the Nou Camp. Barcelona are unbeaten in 24 European games there.
Barcelona News and Form
Lionel Messi pounced on a Chelsea mistake to give the Spaniards a 1-1 result at Stamford Bridge in the first leg. Lionel Messi is the 11/5 first goalscorer favourite at bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 9:43 p.m. on March 12th, 2018) for this one. They have been in the round of sixteen in the Champions League every season since 2004/05 season and they have triumphed on eleven of those occasions. One of the times they didn’t get past this stage was against Chelsea in 2005 and the other against Liverpool. Last season they were in a much worse situation than they are here, having lost 4-0 at PSG in the first leg of their round of sixteen contest, but produced that stunning 6-1 second leg home victory. Barcelona won all three of their group stage matches, scoring eight goals and conceding just the one. Barcelona to win to nil at bet365 is at 7/5 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 9:43 p.m. on March 12th, 2018). They are currently now unbeaten in 24 European home games (W22 D2) with the two draws in there both in quarter-final ties. Barcelona’s home record against English opponents is W19 D11 L2 and they have won the last four in a row, a well as six of the last seven. Barcelona have won 13 of their 23 two-legged ties with English clubs.
Chelsea News and Form
Tactically and performance-wise, Chelsea did really well at home against Barcelona but then undid all of their positives by giving away a sloppy goal through a mistake. Chelsea are W8 L4 from their previous twelve visits to the round of sixteen in the Champions League and have lost their last two attempts. Their record from ten previous two-legged ties against Spanish sides Chelsea are W4 L6. They collected four points off Atletico Madrid in the group stage though as a positive, drawing at home and winning away. Chelsea have picked up just the five wins in their last eleven fixtures on the road now (D3 L3) in Europe, but have won two of their last three. Chelsea have won four of the six UEFA competition ties in which they drew the home first leg. The issue is going to be game management for them. They have to come up with a goal but that will just leave them exposed at the back. With them having won just one of their last four games in all competitions, they aren’t exactly running in hot, confident form. They have drawn their last four at Barcelona though and in the bet365 correct score market, a 1-1 draw is at 15/2 with the shortest priced option a Barcelona 1-0 at 6/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 9:43 p.m. on March 12th, 2018). Chelsea’s record away to Spanish clubs is W4 D7 L5.
Barcelona v Chelsea Head to Head
These two have contested thirteen previous Champions League matches and from those, it is Chelsea who holds a 4-3 lead with six drawn matches now. This is the third time they have met in the round of sixteen and the most recent clash before this season, saw Chelsea win 1-0 on aggregate in the 2011/12 semi-finals. Chelsea have put together a four-match unbeaten streak of form at the Nou Camp which isn’t too shabby at all.
Barcelona v Chelsea Betting Odds*
Barcelona 4/9, Draw 15/4, Chelsea 7/1* (Betting Odds taken at 9:43 p.m. on March 12th, 2018)
Barcelona v Chelsea Predictions
Somehow Chelsea have to come up with a goal at the Nou Camp and that is going to be a tough thing to pull off for them. Their efforts in the first leg were great but overall Chelsea are not in great form, so this could end up being routine for the Catalans who are appealing to go and win this to nil.
