Barcelona - Bayern Munich
08.04 20:45
The whole Spanish public expects that Barcelona finally end the domination that English clubs had in the Champions League in recent years, and get back the title of the best European team to Spain. Catalonian’s quality gives them the right to do that but the way to that trophy is very difficult and shaky. Coach Guardiola is trying to make his players focus exclusively thinking about their today’s rival in order to stay fully concentrated. The crisis that hit Barca in February is gone now, they were already the team we were used to see in March. They recorded four consecutive wins in the championship, while they blew Lyon off in the CL (5:2). It seems Barca is reaching the right form when most needed, and not many fans of this club will be satisfied if they would end this season without both trophies. Club president Laporta was clearly unhappy after the quarterfinals draw in CL because he was hoping for the 2nd leg to be played in Barcelona. This way Barca have to attack right from the start of this clash and try to resolve everything at their home ground. That can be a double-edged sword cause Bayern is also a very good squad. Guardiola announced that he is through with changing the tactics all the time and won’t make any more rotations in his squad and will surely field the strongest possible lineup. Abidal and Milito are out sidelined, but Iniesta, Puyol, Hleb and Toure recovered and will be Guardiola’s options for tonight. He didn’t want to announce the first eleven but his team will most probably look like this: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Marquez, Puyol, Xavi, Toure, Iniesta, Messi, Eto`o, Henry.
Outsiders?
It’s really unusual for Bayern to be the outsider in one match, no matter who the opponent is. The Germans have an excellent team and surely don’t even weal as the weaker rival in this clash. Although they play very inconsistent during the whole season, at moments they’re showing their real quality, which was best felt by Sporting who was literally decapitated in two legs by aggregate score of 12:1. Saturday’s loss to Wolfsburg surely won’t encourage Bayern’s players before this game, but it has to be admitted they played that game already thinking about Barcelona. Coach Klinsmann said he is satisfied that everybody sees Barcelona as the big fav cause that fact will take a bit of pressure of his players’ backs. However, he didn’t miss out to admit Barcelona will prove to be the better side only if they knock Bayern out of CL. Ex-German national team manager believes that every clash is tight in this part of the competition cause only the best teams remained. The tradition is actually on Bayern’s side, cause in the last two mutual games they managed to beat their tonight’s rivals. In the last four clashes between these two sides, Bayern won three times and one match was ended in a draw. Klinsmann pointed out to another very important fact: Barcelona conceded the most goals of all teams that are participating in this year’s quarterfinals – 11 goals in 8 matches. The Germans will build their tactics exactly on this fact. Unfortunately for Klinsmann Bayern will play tonight’s match very weakened. Beside the long-term injured Klose, defender Lucio and Van Buyten also won’t be available for tonight. Their defense will be weakened, but the return of Demichelis to the team will make other defender breathe a bit easier. Toni and Borowski are ready, so is the main player of the Munich club Ribery. The team will look like this: Rensing; Oddo, Demichelis, Breno, Lahm; Schweinsteiger, Van Bommel, Ze Roberto, Ottl; Ribery, Toni.
Fireworks
This is a clash of two most efficient teams in CL. The hosts are big favs to win this match but in my opinion it’s much more certain that a lot of goals will be scored than Barca to win. Barcelona will play completely offensive, their only weaknesses are in a bit slower defense. The Germans will undoubtedly defend but in all their matches from this season they’ve shown they’ve got extraordinary individuals who can score a goal with one move. I think that both nets will be shaken, over 2.5 seems like a very tempting bet. The odds aren’t really too great, so those that like to risk a bit more could even try with the over 3.5.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals, Odds 1.7
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