Champions League: FC Barcelona vs. VFB Stuttgart

Defending European champions FC Barcelona take a 1-1 draw into the return leg of their tie against VFB Stuttgart at Campu Nou. Barcelona hopes home strength will give them the edge in this match but that is not all they will need to rely on. Their stars need to really step up.

Barcelona have to be mindful of the fact that home soil advantage didn’t work for Sevilla, their Primera counterparts that fell to CSKA Moskva yesterday after also taking a 1-1 draw into the second leg. Barcelona have to seize control of this match early and not let up until time runs out on the clock or they might well be sitting on their laurels for the remainder of the season watching the Champions League on the telly.

Naturally, Stuttgart will hope to deal the same fate to Barcelona, CSKA Moskva dealt to Sevilla in Tuesday’s R16 matches. Easier said than done because Barcelona are the defending European champions and it would be hard to imagine them capitulating easily. To beat Barcelona, Stuttgart will really have to outplay the Spaniards. I am not sure they have it in them to do so. Stranger things have happened though. And didn’t they manage to neutralize Barcelona in the first leg – something to think about.

Soccer Betting Line:

FC Barcelona -2 +125 -500 3 O -125 U +105 2½ O -105 U -115 Draw +550
VfB Stuttgart +2 -145 +1200 3 O -125 U +105 ½ O -115 U -105 Draw +550

Half Time Line:

FC Barcelona -½ -160 -160 1½ O +130 U -150 Draw +175
VfB Stuttgart +½ +140 +750 1½ O +130 U -150 Draw +175

To Score First: FC Barcelona -500 VfB Stuttgart +300

To Qualify: FC Barcelona -1400 VfB Stuttgart +650

Match Time: 03:45 PM EAST Wednesday March 17, 2010

Verdict: The market is overwhelmingly one-sided on this match and soccer bettors looking to back Barcelona might feel confident theirs is the correct play as such. Barcelona are whopping -500 favourites to win outright as well a -160 favourites to snag the early lead into the locker room. Overall, they are the outrageous -1400 favourites to qualify. All this is an endorsement if ever I saw one.

Having said that I think there is money to be had for those soccer bettors looking to buck the trend. We have already seen some surprise results in the last 16 with Inter beating Chelsea and CSKA Moskva beating Sevilla. Both these results should encourage Stuttgart to believe a bit more than the market does. Can they take the confidence to the pitch and show up the defending champions.

For many, Stuttgart beating Barcelona would be unthinkable. The market certainly has taken such a position listing Stuttgart at +1200 to win outright as well as +750 to take the early lead into the Locker room. Where there is some consideration, very tiny mind, is the futures market that lists Stuttgart at +650. This is a large price tag but a correct indicator and when keeping in mind, they are very much in this match it, unlikely it does not seem anymore.

Conservative bettors should stick with Barca but for those looking for excitement, I say go with Stuttgart on the futures market at the very least and perhaps even to score first at +300. It will be important for Stuttgart to start well and fast and getting the first goal in would be a real stimulus for them. I fancy the totals at Over 3 -125 in this match. And I have to admit the +1200 price is tempting on Stuttgart to win outright. It is a long shot bet though so don’t go betting the farm on it.

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