Barcelona Shortened for Champions League Repeat
- By A.J. Ryder on August 18, 2011 20:31 GMT
After another El Classico dissolved into near-farcical scenes with red cards being brandished left and right, we have seen the bookmakers declare a distinct amount of confidence in the Catalan Club's ability to retain the Champions League for another year.
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Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid side had been strongly expected to offer a stiff challenge to FC Barcelona but Lionel Messi and Co. were able to put together another impressive victory – snatching a win when the fixture looked to be heading towards extra time.
A clumsy and rather deliberate-looking challenge by Marcelo was inflicted on Cesc Fabregas in the closing minutes of the match and that sparked a full-on punch-up amongst both sides with Barcelona's reserve keeper as usual getting right in the middle of the action.
Mesut Ozil and David Silva were both given red cards, along with Marcelo who saw a straight red. Jose Mourinho is likely in a spot of both after being scene eye-gouging one of the Barcelona staff and then getting a punch in the back in return.
Punters will find Barcelona trading as low as 2/1 for this year's Champions League and you wouldn't fault them for taking those odds if Lionel Messi can stay healthy and Barcelona can continue to get a separate set of rules established for them courtesy of UEFA – at least if you're listening to Jose Mourinho.
Despite just losing out on the Spanish Super Cup, the Galacticos now trade at slightly longer odds with a price of about 5/1 being dangled at the moment. Barca aren't unbeatable it's just that the teams that tend to beat them are the smaller ones catching them on an off-night as opposed to the big important fixtures, where the Catalans seem to always find a way to win.
Manchester United are trading at a 6/1 for Champions League glory with fellow English clubs Chelsea at 7/1 and Manchester City at 9/1.
