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UEFA CL: Barcelona vs Liverpool Betting Preview



Barcelona take on Liverpool for the first time in 12 years in what is anticipated to be a cracking Champions League Semi Final tie as two legendary European sides face off for a place in the Final!


Barcelona are entering the Semi Final yet to be unbeaten in the competition and playing some fantastic football. Barca not only thoroughly dominated their Group winning it with 14 points despite really having a tough group with Inter, Spurs and PSV. Then they beat Lyon 5-1 on aggregate and knocked Manchester United out 4-0 on aggregate winning both legs. Barcelona have looked like the favourites that they are to win the competition throughout.


Liverpool have had a sluggish start to the competition, but after eventually progressing from the group that contained PSG, Napoli and Red Star only on goal difference over Napoli for 2nd place, Liverpool have looked flat out unstoppable in the knockouts knocking out Bayern 3-1 on aggregate and then completely demolishing Porto 6-1 on aggregate. As the tournament progressed, Liverpool have continued to improve which is a good sign considering this will be their biggest test yet.


Both teams are entering this game on scintillating form and arguably playing their best football of the season. Barcelona are unbeaten in 22 straight games in all competitions and have won 6 of their last 7 while keeping 6 clean sheets and conceding just one goal in this mini run. Defensively, Barca have especially locked in lately which is big considering they’re about to face one of the most deadly attacks in the world. Barcelona are coming off a 1-0 win against Levante at the weekend in which they clinched the La Liga title and now they can fully focus on Europe and seek hunt for that treble.


Liverpool are also on a very LONG unbeaten run having not lost any of their last 19 games and are currently riding a RED HOT winning streak at 10 straight wins. Liverpool have also been incredible defensively keeping 4 clean sheets from last 5 games and just conceding 1 goal. Going forward they have also been ruthless and have scored 29 goals in the 10 game win streak. Despite all of that form, Liverpool could be in serious danger of winning nothing as they haven’t been able to overtake City domestically so this Champions League campaign could end up being their biggest shot at a trophy this season. On current form, Liverpool have to be confident about advancing as they simply look unbelievable right now.


Barcelona are basically unbeatable at Nou Camp with 1 total defeat across all competitions this season. Barca have won all of their last 8 games in front of their fans conceding just 3 goals. Barcelona have a 4W 1D 0L record here in the Champions League campaign this season having beaten Inter 2-0, Man Utd 3-0, PSV 4-0, Lyon 5-1 while drawing 1-1 with Spurs which was a meaningless game as Barca had already advanced from the Groups and rotated. They have looked flat out unstoppable in front of their fans in the CL. Barca are actually unbeaten in 31 consecutive home Champions League games winning 28 of them dating back to the last few seasons.


Liverpool have been very good away from home lately winning 5 consecutive away games across all competitions including 2 in the Champions League. In the Champions League this season Liverpool have a 2W 0D 3L record which isn’t great, however all 3 losses came in the Group Stages when they lost 2-1 to PSG, 1-0 to Napoli and 2-0 to Red Star. Their away form in Europe improved tremendously in the knockouts as they beat Bayern 1-3 and Porto 1-4 which are two VERY impressive results from Liverpool considering these were seriously tough places to go to and win.


Lionel Messi of course is the man to watch for Barca. He’s the top goal contributor in every competition for them and has 13 of those in the Champions League with 10 goals and 3 assists. Messi loves playing English teams as he has scored 24 goals in 32 apps against such, but haven’t scored against Liverpool who are the only “big 6” BPL side he hasn’t scored against however he hasn’t played them since 2007 and this is really the first time he gets to face them in his prime. Messi is entering this game on scorching hot form having scored 12 goals in his last 9 apps for Barca including at the weekend when he sealed the league title.


For Liverpool, it has to be Sadio Mane as the man to watch. Firmino and Salah are also very dangerous, but Mane has been their best player this season and is the most in form player for the club at the moment. Mane has 11 goals in his last 12 apps and he has scored a brace in his last game against Huddersfield in the league. Furthermore, Sadio Mane has scored in every stage of the UCL since the start of last season so he’s bound to score in either one of these 2 games against Barcelona.


Barcelona and Liverpool are as mentioned facing for the first time since 2007 and then Liverpool surprised Barca who were the defending champions in 06/07 by knocking them out on away goals as Liverpool won 1-2 at Nou Camp, but lost 0-1 at Anfield which didn’t hurt them. Liverpool have actually never lost at Nou Camp in their history as they won twice and drew twice with Barca away from home.


Barcelona have only progressed once in their last 4 Champions League Semi Final ties against English opposition.


Liverpool have progressed in 8 of their 10 total Champions League Semi Final ties only failing to do so in 1965 and 2008.


Barcelona are tipped as bookies favourites to win at 1.93 whereas Liverpool to win is 4.15 with Draw offered at 3.75. Barcelona are also favoured to advance at 1.70 with Liverpool tipped at 2.16. This looks like it’s going to be a very closely contested 2 leg tie as both sides are very closely matched and are playing some sensational football. Expect a cracking fixture between the two teams. Odds are based on Unibet.


Team News


Barcelona: Rafinha is the only player missing for the hosts who otherwise have a full strength squad available.


Liverpool: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned from injury while Roberto Firmino looks likely to return, but there’s no official word yet.


Betting Stats (UCL Based)


Barcelona have covered 40% of their total goal overs at home in UCL this season (2-1-2).


Barcelona have covered 40% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in UCL this season (2-3).


Barcelona average 1.4 bookings per game at home in UCL this season (7 bookings in 5 games).


Lionel Messi is Barcelona’s top scorer at home in UCL with 7 goals at Nou Camp in the competition despite only making 3 starts (1 app off the bench). He has scored 2+ goals in all 3 starts at Nou Camp in this competition.


Barcelona have covered 80% of their Handicaps at home in the UCL this season (4-1).


Barcelona have covered 80% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the UCL this season (4-1-0).


Liverpool have covered 40% of their total goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (2-3).


Liverpool have covered 60% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (3-1-1).


Liverpool average 2.4 bookings per game away from home in the UCL this season (12 bookings in 5 games).


Sadio Mane is Liverpool’s top scorer away from home in UCL with 3 away European goals this season.


Liverpool have covered 40% of their Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (2-3).


Liverpool have covered 40% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (2-3).


 


KICK OFF – 1st May 2019 – 8pm UK Time

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