UEFA Champions League betting - Stuttgart vs Barcelona

European champions Barcelona travel to Stuttgart tonight, as they continue their defence of the Champions League. Barca came through top in a tough group, with Inter Milan and Rubin Kazan providing stern opposition. Since their last European match, Barca have been in fine form, winning the Club World Championship and staying at the top of La Liga.

Stuttgart qualified from their group at the expense of Rangers, finishing second to Sevilla. They had a terrible start in the Bundesliga, but despite having a recent rejuvenation in form, they are still way down in ninth place. Their domestic form is very good though, and they have won six of their last seven league games.

Stuttgart thrashed FC Koln 5-1 in their weekend game, with Cacau scoring four of the goals. Barca also ran out as comfortable winners, with their 4-0 win over Racing Santander.

Pep Guardiola`s side are heavy favourites for the game, priced at 4/6 (bet £60 to make £40 profit). Stuttgart are best priced at 5/1 with Betfair, and the draw is priced at 3/1 with Victor Chandler.

As well as being favourites for the match, Barca are massive favourites to qualify from the tie. The best price for them to qualify is 1/9 with Totesport, but they are generally shorter than that. Stuttgart can be backed at 8/1 with Betfair.

The favourite scoreline for the match is a 1-0 win for Barca, which is at 7/1. A 1-1 draw is also at 7/1 with Sky Bet, and a 2-1 Barca win is an 8/1 shot with Ladbrokes. A 2-0 win can also be backed at 8/1. A goalless draw is at a standout price of 12/1 with William Hill, and 3-1 and 3-0 wins for Barca are at 14/1 and 16/1 respectively.  The German side`s best hope is a 1-0 win which is at a massive 20/1 with Betfair.

Barca are 9/5 to be winning at half time and full time, and this seems to be quite a generous price, considering their goal scoring prowess. Draw / Barca is at 7/2, and draw / draw is at 11/2. Stuttgart / Stuttgart is at 11/1, and draw / Stuttgart is at 12/1.

European and World Player of the year Lionel Messi is the favourite to score first in the match, priced at 9/2. He won the Champions League golden boot last season, and is currently leading the La Liga scoring charts with 16 goals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the 5/1 second favourite to score first, and has netted eleven times in La Liga. Thierry Henry and Bojan are both at 7/1.

Stuttgart`s best bet to open the scoring is giant Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak at 8/1, followed by four goal hero Cacau at 9/1. Ciprian Marica is next at 10/1.

Los Cules became the first team ever to win six trophies in a calendar year last year, and they are the 3/1 favourites to win the flagship European trophy for a second season running. Stuttgart, due to their illustrious opposition, are the rank outsiders for competition and are 250/1 to win.

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