Champions League
2019-04-10 - Manchester United vs FC Barcelona
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : Champions League
10th April 2019 – Kickoff time 21:00 [Manchester, England Time]
Introduction :
No doubt this is the most interesting of the Champions League quarter final matches, more so when you consider the results of Manchester United and Barcelona lately. In recent years Manchester United were in a crisis, while Barcelona has been winning titles in Spain, but they have been waiting for a long time to lift the Champions League trophy and instead it has been arch rivals Real Madrid that has won it the last three season in a row.
Manchester United can only win the Champions League while Barcelona are on course to win two Spanish titles now already.
Manchester United
This will be the last chance for them to win a title this season, and it doesn't come any bigger then the Champions League. It will be a tough hurdle for them given that they have been drawn to meet Barcelona in the quarter finals.
It has to be said that they were not fiven any chance in the last 16, especially after they lost the firstleg at home to PSG by 2-0, but then they defied the odds in the second leg to win by 3-1, to go through on a 3-3 aggregate and that was enough to reach the quarter finals.
In their last four matches in the English Premier League, they lost three and drew one of those games. One of those defeats came in the FA Cup quarter finals against Wolves and it was a terrible disappointment given that they had hoped to go all the way and win that cup. They lost to Arsenal in the league and then Wolverhampton defeated them again in the league in a very similar fashion like they did in the FA Cup. Manager Solskjaer had made several changes in the team and that did not bring the result that he desired.
As for the team news, A. Sanchez is out of the side through injury.
FC Barcelona:
Barcelona are still battling for three titles this season and they are almost assured of the La Liga title after they managed to beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 at home last Saturday and now have 11 points lead at the top over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid. It is unlikely they will drop such a huge lead until the season comes to an end.
They can now focus on the Champions League after they are now on course to defend their La Liga title. They are also in the final of the Copa del Rey and will play the final against Valencia soon as well. Barcelona wants to win the Champions League but standing in their way will be Manchester United, whom they defeated in the final of the Champions League in 2011 by 3-1.
Barcelona still have not lost a match in the Champions League. In the group stage they easily won their group, and their only problems was in the last 16 against Lyon when they missed several easy chances. This season they have lost only four matches in total, so they are a very hard team to beat. Those defeats were two in La Liga and two in the Copa del Rey Cup.
As for the team news their only absentee will be Rafinha, while Dembele is rated slightly doubtful.
Past Meetings:
The last time they met was in the final of the Champions League in 2011 and Barcelona won by 3-1 then.
The Pick:
Go for Manchester United and accept the 1/2 ball Asian Handicap.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Manchester United 1-1 FC Barcelona
