Barcelona seek to complete the job at Nou Camp and advance into the Semi Final as they host Manchester United in the 2nd leg of the Champions League Quarter Final.
The 1st leg at Old Trafford was quite evenly contested, however an early Barcelona gona had earned them a big 0-1 away win which means that they’ll begin the 2nd leg with a lead at Nou Camp and it’ll be a massive task to achieve for the visitors from Manchester if they want to advance.
Barcelona are entering this game on great form, in fact they have been consistently playing well for months now as they haven’t lost in 18 consecutive games. Barca did draw with Huesca at the weekend, but they didn’t field any 1st team players in that game so they could be fresh here. Barca had won 9 of 10 games (1D) scoring 29 goals prior to that Huesca game and that is just a near flawless run of form which Barca definitely hit at the right time of the season.
Man Utd have not been on good form meanwhile. Ever since their win at PSG, United went on to lose the next 4 of 6 games (2W) and although they bounced back with a 2-1 win against West Ham at the weekend they looked far from impressive and should’ve dropped points there. United’s poor run of form is definitely something that is a worry as they come to Nou Camp which is one of the toughest away places to play in if not the toughest in the world.
Barcelona’s form at Nou Camp is fantastic. Just one defeat overall this season, but lately they’ve been especially great here having won 5 consecutive games scoring 13 goals and just conceding 2 in this 5 game home win streak. Barcelona have also been very good at Nou Camp in the Champions League with a 3W 1D 0L record beating PSV 4-0, Inter 2-0, Lyon 5-1 with lone draw coming against Tottenham 1-1 which by the way didn’t affect them as Barca had already clinched 1st spot in the Group before that game and rested some 1st team player.
Man Utd’s away form has been very poor recently. Ironically they won all of their first 9 under Solskjaer which was their longest win streak on their travels ever, however ever since they beat PSG to make it 9 straight away games they went on to lose all of their next 3 away games twice to Wolves losing 2-1 both times and once to Arsenal 2-0.
Man Utd have however done better, in fact MUCH BETTER in the Champions League away from home than at Old Trafford which is quite strange as United have won 3 of their 4 away European games (1L) compared to just 1 win from 5 home games including grabbing wins at Juventus when they came back from a 1-0 deficit winning 1-2 with 2 late goals and famously against PSG when they turned around a 2-0 aggregate deficit with a 1-3 win so United are no strangers at making turnarounds away at big grounds this season in Europe, however Nou Camp will for sure be the toughest place to pull off a come back and if they do it it’d be quite an incredible story.
Lionel Messi is of course the man to watch for Barcelona. Though he didn’t score or assist against Man Utd in the 1st leg which is very rare, he still has been by far the best player in the world this season in all competitions and his recent form has just unreal as he has scored 10 and assisted 3 in his last 7 games. Messi does have the most goal contributions in the Champions League with 11 (8G 3A) so expect him to have a much better performance than in the 1st leg.
For Man Utd, Paul Pogba is the man that simply HAS to be watched and HAS to deliver. Pogba is their best player on his day and his recent run of poor form has been a worry although he had a good performance most recently as he scored a brace at the weekend against West Ham which should do well for his confidence. Pogba has not had a great campaign in Europe, but this is a player that has throughout his career played a lot of big games and had some masterclasses. Man Utd will need their star man to deliver if they want to have any sort of a chance at Nou Camp.
Looking at history at Nou Camp, these sides are meeting in this stadium for the first time since 2008. Barcelona are unbeaten in each of the 3 UCL meetings at Nou Camp against Man Utd although 2 of them had ended in draws (each of last 2), however A LOT has changed since these past meetings in the 90s/00s at Nou Camp and Barcelona have definitely elevated into a better club than Man Utd right now. Furthermore, Barcelona could knock Man Utd out of the Champions League for the 3rd consecutive time as they previously beat them in 2009 and 2011, both times in the Final.
Barcelona are clear by far favourites to win here offered at 1.38 whereas Man Utd are a long shot to win offered at 8.50 with Draw tipped at 5.50. Furthermore, Barcelona are favoured to advance at a very low 1.09 whereas Man Utd again are a long shot at 7.50. With a lead and being at home you can understand why Barcelona are such big favourites, however United have done some amazing things as long shot underdogs this year, just look at PSG away so you can’t look at this tie as it already is over as we’ve seen in the previous round, but it is very unlikely that Barcelona will blow this considering how much better they’re playing and the simple facts that they are at home and overall have a superior side. Odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Barcelona: There are no serious injury concerns for Barca who are expected to play their best team. Barca rested a lot of the 1st team regulars at the weekend at Huesca so expect it to be a relatively fresh team.
Manchester United: Alexis Sanchez and Nemanja Matic are both available, however Eric Bailly and Ander Herrera and Antonio Valencia are all out and Luke Shaw is suspended and will also miss the clash.
Betting Stats (UCL Based)
Barcelona have covered 50% of their total goal overs at home in the UCL this season (2-2).
Barcelona have only covered 25% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in the UCL this season (1-3).
Barcelona average 1.5 bookings per game at home in the UCL this season (6 bookings in 4 games).
Messi is Barcelona’s top scorer at Nou Camp in UCL this season with 5 home European goals despite only making 2 starts at home in the Champions League this season (1 app from the bench), was injured for the other.
Barcelona have covered 75% of their Handicaps at home in the UCL this season (3-1).
Barcelona have covered 75% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the UCL this season (3-1-0).
Man Utd have covered 75% of their total goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (3-1-0).
Man Utd have covered 50% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (2-1-1).
Man Utd average 2 bookings per game away from home in the UCL this season (8 bookings in 4 games).
Man Utd have 3 tied top scorers away from home in the UCL this season in Rashford, Lukaku and Pogba who all have 2 away European goals each this season.
Man Utd have covered 75% of their Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (3-1).
Man Utd have covered 75% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (3-1).
KICK OFF – 16th April 2019 – 8pm UK Time
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