ARSENAL VS BARCELONA 2010 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BETTING TIPS

There is no doubt that this tie is the pick of the round for those who like their football to be aesthetically pleasing. Both managers have naturally been complimentary of each other’s team in the build-up to this game, hardly surprising given that they both look to play in the same free-flowing and attacking manner.

Free-flowing and attacking they may be, but that does not mean that they abandon their defensive duties. Barcelona in particular – despite common misconception – have a better defensive record than any team in La Liga, English Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and Liga 1 and concede on average just 0.62 goals per game, whilst Arsenal, on average, concede just 1.15 goals per game at The Emirates. Therefore Under 2.5 goals at odds of 2.1 (11/10) with Betfair looks to be the best place to start with tonight’s betting plan.
A lot in this game depends on the fitness of Cesc Fabregas. His importance to Arsenal is so vast that manager Arsene Wenger is willing to wait until the very last minute to decide on whether the Spanish midfield dynamo will play against his former club. Fabregas will undergo a fitness test in the pre-match warm-up and not until then will the manager make a decision. And neither should you when betting on the match odds market in this game. If he does play then the odds of 3.2 (11/5) on Arsenal to win looks tempting, if he is ruled out then a back of Barcelona at 2.5 (6/4) with Betfair has to be the way forward.
Arsenal will also need to pick themselves up from the disappointment of conceding that late goal against Birmingham at the weekend. And although it may not be in their nature I suspect they will do so by trying to keep it relatively tight early on then push on in the second half. Stan James are offering 11/10 that the second half will be the highest scoring 45 minutes and I think that looks like a good value bet.
Away goals are crucial in these two-legged Champions League affairs and Wenger knows that if he can restrain Barcelona at The Emirates then he will be able to give backers of Arsenal to qualify at 3.4 (12/5) plenty to be hopeful about. This game may not be full of goals but it will certainly be a highly entertaining affair.