Champions League Betting Group F: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan

Defending European Champions Barcelona might not advance into the knockout stages. Consider this fact for a moment. Hands up who saw this coming? Certainly, nobody saw this coming. Don’t dare say otherwise.

The technically brilliant and sublime classy Spanish outfit has no excuse for disappointing furthermore and that is putting it mildly. They have to be the most underachieving side in this season’s Champions League, holding third spot on five points, level with Rubin Kazan who are second and were considered massive underdogs at the start of the tournament.

Inter Milan can also be said to be underachieving in spite of the fact they are currently at the top of Group F. Hauling six points in four matches cannot be considered a successful campaign. They got lucky really, if anything. The underdogs in this section rose to the occasion and the heavyweights came off average. Hence, the section is a tight cluster on points.

Hence, the clash between Barcelona FC and Inter Milan is a must-win match for both sides. Inter will aim to advance their lead while Barcelona will aim to overhaul Inter and reclaim what they must believe is their rightful place at the top of the group. (If they don’t we have a serious problem).

Soccer Betting Line:

Barcelona -½ -135 -135 2½ O +115 U -135 1½ O -105 U -115 Draw +255
Inter Milan +½ +115 +375 2½ O +115 U -135 1 O +105 U -125 Draw +255

Match Time: 02: 45 PM Eastern Time Tuesday November 24, 2009

Online Soccer Betting Verdict: Barcelona enter this match as the strong favourites and most soccer bettors are hoping whatever brain cramp they might have been suffering from up to this point is behind them. It simply cannot happen that the best European club would not advance into the knockout stages and at least try to defend its title. Or can it?

Inter Milan recently snapped a hex in Champions League when they beat Dynamo Kyiv on the away on match day four. Prior to the victory, all the more dramatic as the winning goal came in the dying moments of the match, Inter Milan had not won a European match in over 12 months. The negative trend continued through the first three matches of this season’s European campaign as they drew against Barcelona, Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kyiv.

Now that Inter have finally won a European match they will be looking to extend that run to two consecutive wins. Asked before the start of the championships what their chances against Barcelona might be, one would have thought slim. Given how Barcelona has been struggling to play convincingly on the European stage, one has to concede the Italians do have a real chance. Hence, I would consider Inter Milan the value play; that and their odds are a damn sight more attractive in my opinion.

Soccer Free Picks: Inter Milan +375 | Inter Over 1 goal +105 | Over 2.5 goals +115