AC Milan vs Barcelona
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Today’s secondary featured game is the heavyweight clash in Italy between AC Milan and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.
A lot of people are jumping all over AC Milan because the odds on them winning look long and I agree that for a side with as much quality as AC Milan have, they do look long to win this game. However, there’s a reason that they’re long to win this game and it’s because they’re facing what is unequivocally the best side in the world. I mentioned yesterday that I wouldn’t back Basel at Otelul because there were hardly any side in European competition that I’d take to win away from home at 4/5 but Barcelona are one that I would.
AC Milan have classy players and bags of experience – no questions asked. However, they’re a bit predictable for my liking and vulnerable at the back when the correct pressure is applied and I expect it to be applied correctly here. AC Milan have the likes of Pato back to boost their attacking options and they’re no mugs; let’s be quite realistic about that! However, are they really in a position to stop the mighty Barcelona? I’m not sure anyone is, to be honest.
Ok, Barcelona aren’t firing on all cylinders yet but seriously – which side would match them as they are now? Their “below-par” displays are on a par or above the best displays of most sides, to be honest! They miss Iniesta here, which is of course a huge blow, but they’ve not got a bad replacement in Fabregas!! Messi, Villa, Fabregas, Xavi – it’s more than enough to cause a truckload of problems for the hosts. Barcelona move the ball so superbly that it’s hard to do anything but lose against them – what can you do without the ball?
AC Milan upset the odds to get a result at Barcelona earlier in this competition. They took their chance well but realistically, they saw very little of the ball and were largely outplayed. Respect to the Italians for getting a result where few others sides can but let’s be honest and admit that they needed a lot of luck on the night. Will they have that luck again? It’s not impossible but Barcelona are a nightmare to face as you don’t have the ball most of the time and with the firepower at their disposal, the away win interests me at 4/5.
Verdict: Barcelona to win at 4/5.
Wednesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, please find my value tips listed below in no particular order:
BATE Borisov vs Viktoria Plzen – home win at evens.
I like this one a lot! BATE Borisov finally get the chance to showcase how good they actually are at this level against an inexperienced opponent. Viktoria Plzen work hard and do have attacking threats but they’re weak at the back and their inexperience has shown in this competition. They’ve already been to the San Siro and the Nou Camp, Viktoria Plzen, but this is a whole new type of test for them. Instead of hordes of expectant fans, they face a dour trip to a cold, rainy, and unfriendly Minsk stadium where they face a big, strong, physical BATE Borisov side. It’s not appealing, is it? Plzen’s game will be affected by the soggy pitch whereas BATE have no problem playing the long ball or set pieces game – they’ve got lots of big players and a superb deliverer of the ball in Renan Bressan. Kezman is a doubt for this one but BATE are more than good enough and experienced enough to win this one in a composed fashion. Don’t rule out the visitors scoring – that’s their main strength, after all – but to see them do anything but losing this game would surprise me. BATE at evens appeals to me tonight.
Verdict: BATE Borisov to win at evens.
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
UEFA Champions League:
Zenit St.Petersburg vs APOEL Nicosia (6) 1-0
BATE Borisov vs Viktoria Plzen (7) 2-1
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Chelsea (5) 1-1
Valencia CF vs Racing Genk (8) over 2.5 goals
Olympique de Marseille vs Olympiakos Piraeus (6) 1-0
Arsenal vs Bv09 Borussia Dortmund (7) 2-0
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Porto (7) 2-1
AC Milan vs Barcelona (7) over 2.5 goals
Copa Sudamericana:
Vasco da Gama vs Universidad de Chile (5) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Colombian Primera A:
Once Caldas Manizales vs Itagui Ditaires (7) 2-1
Cucuta Deportivo vs Independiente Medellin (5) 1-1
Atletico Huila vs Boyaca Chico (6) 0-0
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Deportivo Cali (7) 2-1
Independiente de Santa Fe Bogota vs Millonarios Bogota (6) 1-0, at least one red card in this game
America de Cali vs Real Cartagena (5) 0-0
La Equidad Bogota v Deportes Tolima (6) 1-1
Envigado vs Deportes Quindio (6) 2-1
Atletico Nacional de Medellin vs Deportivo Pereira (7) 2-1
Ecuadorian Primera A:
Imbabura vs Manta (5) 0-0
Emelec Guayaquil vs El Nacional Quito (7) 2-0
Olmedo Riobamba vs Barcelona Guayaquil (5) 2-1
Deportivo Quito vs Deportivo Cuenca (7) 2-0
LDU Loja vs Espoli Cayambe (6) 1-0
Greek Super League:
AEK Athens vs Levadiakos (7) 2-0
Macedonian First League:
Napredok vs Shkendija 79 (6) 0-1
Rabotnicki Skopje vs Metalurg Skopje (7) 1-2, at least one red card in this game
Paraguayan Division Profesional:
Tacuary vs Cerro Porteno (5) 0-0
3 de Febrero vs Libertad Asuncion (6) 0-1
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Legia Warsaw vs Zaglebie Lubin (7) 2-1
Scottish Premier League:
Celtic vs Dunfermline Athletic (8) 2-0
Singaporean S-League:
Tampines Rovers vs Home United (6) 2-1
Slovakian Cogron Liga:
Trencin vs MSK Zilina (7) 1-2
Senica vs Spartak Trnava (6) 1-0
Slovenian Prva Liga:
Triglav vs Nafta Lendava (6) 1-2
Mura 05 vs Koper (5) 1-1
Rudar Velenje vs Domzale (6) 2-1
Olimpija Ljubljana vs Celje (7) 1-0
Maribor vs Gorica (7) over 2.5 goals
Enjoy your free betting tips!