Barcelona will want to erase memories of the last week in their game against Xerez tonight. The European and Spanish champions lost 3-1 to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan in their Champions League match, and they drew last weekend against Espanyol.
Pep Guardiola’s side are still a point ahead of Real Madrid in the league, but still face tough away trips to Villareal and Sevilla in coming weeks. Barca still have a chance of making the Champions League final, with the second leg of their tie due to be played at the Nou Camp on Wednesday, and they will be glad of the chance to get back into form against bottom-placed Xerez.
Despite their recent difficulties, Barca are still overwhelming favourites to win against their less glamorous opposition, priced at 2/17 on Betfair (bet $170 to make $20 profit). Xerez are priced at a massive 40/1 with Stan James, and the same firm offer 10/1 on the draw.
A 3-0 win for Barca is the favourite scoreline, priced at 6/1. Victor Chandler offer 13/2 on a 2-0 for Los Cules, and a 4-0 win is at 8/1. Sportingbet have 10/1 on the match finishing 1-0 and 12/1 on the hosts coming out as 5-0 victors. A 1-1 draw is at 23/1 on Betfair, and a repeat of Barca’s goalless draw last week is at 33/1. Paddy Power have 80/1 on Xerez winning 1-0 and 90/1 on the visitors winning 2-1.
On the half time / full time market, Barca / Barca is unsurprisingly the favourite spot, priced at 9/20. Draw / Barca is next, priced at 9/2 with Coral, while draw / draw is at 14/1. Xerez / Barca is at 50/1, and Xerez are 90/1 to be winning at half time and full time.
Barca’s Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi is the favourite to score first, priced at 9/4. The winger has netted 27 times in his 30 matches so far this season, but has been quiet in his last two games, with Barca suffering as a result. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is next most likely to score first, priced at 3/1 with Bet365, followed by Bojan and Thierry Henry, who are both at 9/2. Xavi is a 9/1 shot to do the honours, while Mario Bermejo poses the biggest threat for Xerez, priced at 16/1.
Barca are currently priced at 2/5 to win the league, while Real Madrid are at 9/4 with Sky Bet. Real look to be good value here, as their run in is vastly easier than Barca’s, and they are only one point behind.
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tags: barcelona, betting, ibrahimovic, la liga, messi, odds, score
