Champions League
2012-02-14 - Bayer Leverkusen vs Barcelona
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League, Last 16 First Leg
Tuesday 14 February 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Bayer Leverkusen
It was ten years ago that Bayer Leverkusen announced themselves on the European stage as they reached the Champions League Final in 2002 only to fall to Real Madrid. Now they will face another Spanish team that are considered the favourites to win the Champions League in the last 16 of the competition.
Leverkusen are perhaps a surprise team to reach this stage of the competition as they had been placed in a group alongside Chelsea and Valencia, with those two teams the favourites to get through. However, the German side surprised Valencia to finish second in the group and have a chance to entertain Barcelona. The team won all 3 home games in the group stage and have now won 7 of their last 8 Champions League games at home.
They will need to raise their game if they are to surprise the Catalan giants in this tie as they have failed to win any of their last 3 games in the Bundesliga and have won just 1 of 4 games since the Winter break. Leverkusen have lost just 1 of their last 6 games at home in all competitions.
Michael Ballack has been ruled out and joins Sidney Sam and Eren Derdiyok on the sidelines. Rene Adler and Tranquillo Barnetta are long-term absentees.
Barcelona
Barcelona received a lot of plaudits last season with some going as far as to declare them the best club team to ever come together (personally I think the Milan sides in the early 90's would have beaten Barcelona in one on one games). They remain the favourites to win the Champions League, but they are 10 points behind Real Madrid in La Liga with rumours abounding that Pep Guardiola will leave his post as manager this Summer.
The Catalan side received a kind draw in the group stage of this competition as they look to become the first side in the Champions League era to retain their title following their success from last season. Barca were drawn with Milan, Plzen and Bate in the first stage, topping that group thanks to a 2-3 win at the San Siro. That meant the team won all 3 away games in the group stage, meaning they have won 5 away games consecutively in the Champions League since last season.
Barcelona had really struggled away from home in Europe, going on a run where they had won 1 of 11 away games in the competitions, but they have now won 6 of their last 7 on their travels. They had been unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions, but lost 3-2 at Osasuna in La Liga at the weekend. That result means Barcelona have failed to win any of their last 3 away games in all competitions.
Pedro made his return to the side on Saturday and should be starting in this one. Sergio Busquets did not play on Saturday, but has travelled to Germany and will need a late fitness test. Ibrahim Afellay and David Villa are long-term absentees.
Head to Head
These two teams met four times in consecutive seasons from 2001/02 to 2002/03 in the group stages of this competitions.
The games at Leverkusen ended with one win apiece, both sides winning the games 2-1.
Prediction
It is a shame that Bayer Leverkusen are not in better form as they may have really tested Barcelona following the latter's defeat at the weekend to Osasuna.
The problem is I don't think Leverkusen have the belief that they can win this game, with the manager talking about how great Barcelona play after watching video of them in action. Robin Dutt has to be careful that his players don't go on the field in awe of Barcelona as they could be punished and put out of the tie before we even get back to the Nou Camp.
However, if Leverkusen have the belief that they can make a game of this, they may have half a chance against a Barcelona team that has not been defending that effectively. The German side will be backed by a loud crowd and they have won all 3 games here already this season in the Champions League so I do expect they will at least cause some problems.
Barcelona look a little short in the market, while the handicaps are tough to read. Instead, I am going to look for both teams to score in this one.
Leverkusen score more often than not at home, only failing to score in 3 of 14 home games this season in all competitions, while Barcelona have conceded in 6 of their last 7 away games. While the Spanish side have been more effective on their travels away from home in this competition over the last year, they had had trouble before that in keeping clean sheets and winning games, so the evens looks worth taking.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Barcelona
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Both Teams to Score @ 2.00
