Barcelona v Roma Predictions & Betting Odds – 4th April 2018

Barcelona to build first leg advantage

Barcelona
Barcelona © GEPA pictures

Barcelona v Roma Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 4th April 7.45pm

Barcelona are firm favourites to progress through the semi-finals from their Champions League quarter-final tie. They have home advantage for the first leg which should count for a lot and they will be expected to open up a positive lead. Roma struggled to get the better of Shakhtar Donetsk in the last round, how will they handle the might of the Catalans?

Barcelona News and Form

Barcelona were given a good test by Chelsea in the round of sixteen because the Blues decided to turn up in both legs and attack them. Ultimately it failed, but they made Barcelona look pretty vulnerable and average at times. Anyway, the Catalans got through and are back in the quarter finals again. They have however had some issues recently at this stage of the competition and are looking to avoid a fourth quarter-final defeat in the last five years. This is the 11th consecutive season that they have been to this stage, and last season they were halted in the last eight by Italian opposition in the form of Juventus. Barcelona are W8 L4 in two-legged ties against Italian sides. They were up against Juventus again this season, taking four points off them in the group stage. Lionel Messi is the 9/4 first goalscorer favourite* (Betting Odds taken at 11:53 p.m. on March 30th, 2018)

Barcelona v Roma 2018 Infographic

After their 3-0 home win over Juventus in the group stage, Barcelona’s record at home to Serie A clubs is W15 D6 L2 and they are unbeaten in their last twelve at the Nou Camp against Italian visitors. In the bet365 correct score market a Barcelona 2-0 option is at 6/1 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 11:53 p.m. on March 30th, 2018). Barcelona have produced a W5 D4 L1 record in their last ten games against Italian sides home and away combined. Their home record is superb in Europe, after winning all four home games in his season’s tournament, Barcelona are unbeaten now in 25 Champions League home games (W23 D2). They have won eight of their last ten home knockout matches (D2). Barcelona’s record in European Cup quarter-finals is W14 L5.

Roma News and Form

Roma did not have an easy time of things as they faced Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of sixteen. After losing 2-1 in the Ukraine, Roma held on in an open second leg for a 1-0 win to squeeze through. The Italians have lost each to their last three Champions League quarter-final appearances now. Their record in Spain isn’t anything to write home about either as they are W4 D3 L8 there from previous visits. Roma did take a win at Villarreal last season, but that is their only victory against a Spanish side in their last eight attempts home and away (D2 L5). Their overall away form in the UEFA Champions League is not good, winning only five of their last 23 matches in the competition in a D8 L10 record. They have however won four of their last seven Champions League games which makes for better reading. Looking at their recent form, they are pretty solid at the back and are in decent shape so under 2.5 goals may be worth a look at 8/5 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 11:53 p.m. on March 30th, 2018). But still, despite the Giallorossi having good decent domestic form, their struggles against Shakhtar really and their overall poor way from in this season’s tournament (W1 D1 L2) paint a clear picture of their chances here.
 

 

Barcelona v Roma Head to Head

Barcelona and Roma were paired up most recently in the 2015/16 group stage when they played out a 1-1 draw in Italy before Barcelona stomped all over the Giallorossi back at the Nou Camp, the Spaniards winning 6-1. The only other time these two have met was in the 2001/02 Group Stage with a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp that time before Roma won 3-0 back on home soil.

Barcelona v Roma Betting Odds*

Barcelona 2/9, Draw 19/4, Roma 12/1* (Betting Odds taken at 11:53 p.m. on March 30th, 2018)

Barcelona v Roma Predictions

This should be routine enough for Barcelona on home soil against the Italians who haven’t done a great deal of winning in the Champions League. A comfortable 2-0 home success for the Catalans looks to be around the right mark to shoot for.