Champions League
2009-03-11 - F.C Barcelona vs Olympique Lyonnais
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Analysis:After the exit of Real Madrid yesterday at the hands of Liverpool, Barcelona will be eager to keep the Spanish flag flying in the competition when they welcome the visit of Lyon as the tie is delicately in the balance after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.
After the 1-1 draw against Lyon Barcelona's lead in the La Liga have been cut to four points from twelve points back in early February. Last weekend they managed to stretch the lead back to six points when they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0.
As for Lyon they were beaten last weekend against Lille 2-0 and now they are having just a one point lead from six just two weeks ago. Their cause has not been helped by the injury surrounding key French striker Karim Benzema who is unlikely to be available for this match.
Barcelona too are having injury problems of their own as they are set to miss Captain Carles Puyol for this fixture as he will be out for up to three weeks when he injured his left ankle against Atletic Bilbao.
But Lyon are in a more difficult spot coming into this match as they are without a win in four matches in all competitions now. With Benzema being their latest casualty, they also have the likes of a poor defence conceding an average of two goals per match which was evident in their last three matches. That also came in the 3-2 defeat to Lille in the French Cup in the last 16 just last week.
Barcelona have the highest goal scoring amongst all teams with 19 goals scored in this season's Champions League. And what makes this a gigantic and mammoth task ios the fact that Lyon have failed to beat Barcelona in their last five attempts - losing three of them but did however on two occasions came back from a goal down to draw 2-2 in last season's group stage.
A similar performance would put them through on the away goals rule, but it is hard to see them winning this match.
Take Barcelona and give the 1 ball away here.
Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Barcelona to win 3-1
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
Take Barcelona to win this match.
