Chelsea are 9/5 with Bet365 to win against Barcelona tonight

Chelsea/Barcelona, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Barcelona’s 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid has seen them installed as 13/8 favourites tonight while the hosts are available at 9/5 with Bet365.

Headline trends:

» Chelsea have won their last six Champions League home games against foreign opposition.

» Away-goal chasing Barcelona have scored in 21 consecutive La Liga and Champions League away games.

Posted: May 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Seven number-based stats about Real Madrid/Barcelona

Real/Barca, Saturday 7pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

1 - The number of goalless draws that have occurred in the last 39 league clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

2 - The number of league games Real Madrid have failed to win since Juande Ramos took charge. Their overall Liga record under the former Spurs boss is P19 W17 D1 L1, with the loss coming away to Barca in his first league match.

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3 - The number of wins Real Madrid have claimed from their last four home games against Barcelona.

Posted: May 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

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.

Posted: April 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

In-form Valencia are 3/1 to end Barcelona’s amazing run

Valencia/Barcelona, Sat 9pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Barcelona have won a ridiculous 26 of their 32 La Liga matches this season - more than ten of the last 11 champions have managed in a whole campaign - and have lost just three times. Pep Guardiola’s side have won their last seven league games without conceding a goal and have scored 13 goals in their last three league clashes with Valencia, keeping clean sheets on every occasion. However, here’s why Unai Emery’s side stand a reasonable chance of throwing the title race wide open ahead of next week’s Clasico:

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» Valencia have won their last five matches and have scored three or more goals in three of those games.

» The cash-strapped club have won three of their last four home games against the league leaders.

Posted: April 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 4 Comments

Five stats about Barcelona’s clash with Bayern Munich

Barcelona/Bayern, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 3, Free Bets, Best Odds

These two teams are the highest scorers in this year’s Champions League so this clash has the potential to be the most exciting of this year’s competition so far. Last year’s “dream match” between Barcelona and Manchester United was such a letdown that even Liverpool/Chelsea managed to be more exciting. Hopefully this one won’t go the same way:

1. The two sides last met ten seasons ago in the Champions League group stages. On that occasion Bayern Munich won both ties, triumphing 1-0 at home and 2-1 away. The German side are 28/1 with Boylesports to win by that scoreline tonight.

2. Barcelona are yet to keep a home clean sheet in the tournament proper this season and have conceded five goals in their last two European matches at the Nou Camp.

Posted: April 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Real Madrid are still 4.3 to win La Liga on Betfair

Here are five reasons why Juande Ramos’ side will pip Barcelona

In the space of just three weeks Barcelona’s twelve point advantage at the top of La Liga has cut down to just four. Despite that, Betfair are still offering 4.3 on Real Madrid winning the title. Here are five reasons why you should back them now before it’s too late:

1. Real Madrid have won ten consecutive games since losing to two goals in the last seven minutes away to Barcelona is Ramos’ first game.

2. Barcelona have dropped more points in their last three matches (eight) than they had done throughout the first 22 games of the season (seven).

3. Los Blancos have taken more points than Barcelona from the final thirteen matches of three of the last four seasons. Two years ago the Catalan club were five points clear at this stage but squandered their advantage.

Posted: March 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments