IT’S a big night for Barcelona and Lionel Messi but I can’t see any way back for the Spanish superstars.
They trail AC Milan 2-0 going into tonight’s Champions League second-leg tie and overturning that is a tall order.
I saw Milesey quoting Opta stats yesterday showing that 10 out of 12 sides with a 2-0 first-leg lead at this stage have qualified.
Bookies rate Messi’s men just 1-3 (Coral) to win on the night and to qualify you’ll get 5-4 – but on that stat I want bigger.
Barcelona are branded the best in the world but have lost three of their last five – two to Real Madrid – and maybe their invincibility tag has slipped a little.
Clawing back such a deficit is a big ask and although you can’t write off a side boasting talents such as Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi I’m on Milan to qualify.
Barca have to be wary about being picked off on the break as they push forward and the tie could be settled on away goals. A 3-1 Milan reverse is possible.
The trio of recent defeats suggest stand-in boss Jordi Ruari doesn’t seem to have a Plan B and if Milan maintain the defensive discipline shown in the first leg they should go through.
Tonight’s other tie stands level after Schalke earned a decent 1-1 draw away to Galatasaray.
Since then the Turks’ league form has faded and Schalke are 2-5 to qualify.
The Germans were on a poor run heading to Istanbul but have won three in a row in the Bundesliga since the first leg including a 2-1 home victory against Borussia Dortmund at the weekend.
Galatasaray have won just once in their three games and I fancy Schalke to edge it on the night.
Recommendations
Milan/Schalke to qualify
No comments:
Post a Comment