Chelsea need to repeat their Anfield heroics to get a good result away to Barcelona

Barcelona/Chelsea, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Whereas the thought of Chelsea and Liverpool clashing again in the Champions League this season was greeted gloomily, the fifth pairing of Barcelona and the Blues in ten years has been eagerly anticipated. Hopefully it won’t fail to match expectations like Barca’s semi-final encounters with Manchester United did last season:

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ADVANTAGE BARCELONA?
Chelsea haven’t won a Champions League game at the Nou Camp - losing two and drawing two - and Barcelona have a fantastic home record this season - winning 22, drawing three and losing just two of their 27 games there this season. They have scored in every home match since last year’s semi-final first leg against Manchester United. Chelsea haven’t won any of their last seven Champions League matches on foreign soil. Pep Guardiola’s side are generally available at 8/11.

GOALS
All four of last season’s semi-final matches featured under 2.5 goals (excluding extra-time). However, five of Barcelona’s six Champions League home games this season have contained three or more goals and there has been an average of 4.33 goals in those matches. Six of the previous eight Barcelona/Chelsea Champions League meetings have exceeded the 2.5 goal mark and Guus Hiddink has predicted more of the same. Ladbrokes offer the best price of 21/25 on three or more goals being scored.

DROGBA AND MESSI
Didier Drogba has scored in each of Chelsea’s last five Champions League matches and is 13/5 with Paddy Power to continue that run tonight. Samuel Eto’o is the favourite to score tonight but while he is the top scorer in La Liga he has scored just three Champions League goals so far this season. Leo Messi is the competition’s top scorer with eight goals and he has scored four in his last three European home games. The winger is 7/4 with Ladbrokes to score at any time.

Posted: April 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |