Free Bet FinderFree Bet FinderBetting questions and answers since 2004

PSG vs Barcelona Betting 02/04/13

Football02/04/2013
  • April 02, 2013
  • Jack Teague

PSG vs Barcelona Betting Preview

With no English teams in the quarter finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1996 attention turns to the big guns of Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Turkey to battle it out as the final eight. Tuesday night promises to play host to the first leg of one of the best Champions League match ups in recent years. The wealth and glamour of Paris Saint-Germain face the skill and experience of Barcelona in a clash of major importance. Before the draw many saw PSG as underdogs to lift the trophy, having brushed all aside both in France and in Europe, but now they will have to prove themselves against the greatest team of the modern era, who overcame a 2-0 deficit to knock out AC Milan in the last 16.

PSG's Recent Results:

PSG 1-0 Montpellier ( Gameiro ) St. Etienne 2-2 PSG ( Pastore, Ibrahimovic (pen) ) PSG 2-1 Nancy ( Ibrahimovic (x2) ) PSG 1-1 Valencia ( Lavezzi )

PSG have been the team to beat in Europe this season after splashing cash on the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Gregory van der Wiel and Lucas. Their acquisition of David Beckham has also captured the headlines and many see the club as the rising power in European football.

So far PSG have won all but two games in Europe this season, their only loss coming away to Porto back in October and their only draw coming at home to Valencia in the second leg of the last 16 match up. It's a similar story in France as well, having won 18 of 30 matches, 7 points clear of Marseille with a goal difference of +34.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been the stand out player this season since his move from AC Milan in the summer. He has bagged 25 goals in Ligue 1 and a further 6 in other competitions, making him one of the most prolific scorers in world football, alongside Messi and Ronaldo. However, it has been Lavezzi who has proved to be their top goal scorer in Europe having netted a total of five times, more than double the amount of any of his team mates, including Ibrahimovic. Lavezzi is best priced at 10/3 with Blue Square and Coral.

Barcelona's Recent Results:

Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona ( Tello, Messi ) Barcelona 3-1 Vallecano ( Villa, Messi (x2) ) Barcelona 4-0 AC Milan ( Messi (x2), Villa, Alba ) Barcelona 2-0 La Coruna ( Sanchez, Messi )

Barcelona haven't been at their best in the Champions League this season, losing games away from home to both Celtic and AC Milan, as well as a draw at home to Benfica. However, they proved exactly why they are considered by many to be the best team in the world to come back from a 2-0 first leg deficit against Milan and win 4-2 on aggregate.

Despite heading for a 22 nd La Liga title this season, they have slipped in recent weeks with a couple of losses to rivals Real Madrid, both in the league and cup, as well as a draw at the weekend to Celta Vigo after conceding an 88 th minute equaliser.

Messi scored his 19 th consecutive league goal at the weekend, making him the first player to score against every team in the league in a row. His goal tally now sits at 56 from 41 matches in all competitions, including two sublime goals against AC Milan in the last match. Xavi has the joint second most assists in the competition with four making the Xavi-Messi combination seem the most likely, assuming Xavi starts after a recent injury. Messi is best priced at 3/1 with Paddy Power to score first, Xavi 14/1 for the first goal assist with Boylesports, whilst anytime Messi is 7/10 with Bet Victor and Xavi is 9/2 to assist any goal with Boylesports.

There is no doubting the goal scoring presence of both teams but with Barcelona struggling away from home in the Champions League and PSG's strong defensive record it could be a case of both teams cancelling each other out. Under 2.5 goals in the game is 11/10 wit h Bet Victor and Paddy Power.

The clubs met at the start of the season in a friendly that ended 2-2 and was won on penalties by Barcelona. That meeting alone shows the close nature of the two sides and could be a sign of things to come over the two legs. Barcelona threw away a 2-0 lead in that game and could be forced onto the back foot again if they take a first half lead. PSG are 11/2 with William Hill to win or draw from behind , a Barcelona/Draw half time/full time bet is 17/1 with Bet Victor and the second half to be the highest scoring half is 11/10 with Bet Victor .

Hopefully this game will live up to the hype and go down as one of the best quarter final ties of recent years. If both teams play to the standard we have come to see then it should be a game full of excitement and should set up the second leg with a finely poised aggregate score. With that in mind, expect a tight game, maybe separated by one goal but more than likely a draw.

Prediction: PSG 1-1 Barcelona - Best priced at 15/2 with Bet Victor

  • Jack Teague Jack is a sports writer covering football, cricket and NFL, and provides readers of Free Bet Finder with regular winning tips. Follow me
  • PSG vs Barcelona Betting 02/04/13 Apr 2, 2013 | No Comments
  • Aston Villa vs Liverpool Betting 31/03/13 Mar 31, 2013 | No Comments
  • San Marino vs England Betting 22/03/13 Mar 22, 2013 | No Comments
  • Sunderland vs Norwich Betting 17/03/13 Mar 16, 2013 | No Comments