More goals expected at the Camp Nou

9Apr 2013

Bajnokok Ligája

James Horncastle previews Wednesday's Champions League matches and believes we'll see at least four more goals when Barcelona host PSG at the Camp Nou...

Barcelona v PSG

Wednesday 19:45, live on Sky Sports 2

After last week's 2-2 draw with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic told Canal+ that his coach Carlo Ancelotti already had a plan for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. "Ibra has put me under a lot of pressure," laughed the Italian when told about what his player had said.

He wouldn't elaborate in great detail on any strategy, but did add "we have to score two goals in Barcelona so our attitude will be the same, as in the first leg". Ancelotti's right. While one would be enough for PSG, it bears remembering that only Benfica have stopped Barcelona from scoring at the Camp Nou this season.

Whether Lionel Messi plays or not following the injury he picked up in France last week - and the suspicion is that he will make an appearance - the firepower available to the Catalans is such that PSG's defence is once again likely to come under severe scrutiny.

Even if he has scored 45% of their goals in La Liga this season, Barcelona aren't a one-man team. In the six games that they've had to do without Messi since 2007-08, they have won five and only lost once. Saturday's 5-0 thrashing of an admittedly weak and relegation-threatened Mallorca offered another timely reminder of what they are capable of in his absence too.

Still, you also fancy PSG to score at the Camp Nou. They have found two goals in each of their last three Champions League away games, including against Valencia at Mestalla. Given Barcelona's problems at the back with Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Adriano all out injured, and young Marc Bartra set to partner Gerard Pique in defence, there's plenty of encouragement there for PSG.

Why not back the game to finish Over 3.5 Goals at 2.4?

Recommended Bet

Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.4

Juventus v Bayern Munich

Wednesday 19:45, live on Sky Sports 4

Wednesday night's other quarter-final has Juventus hoping that Bayern Munich did not resist the urge to party over the weekend after winning the Bundesliga following victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

A hangover, however, seems unlikely after their president Uli Hoeness said: "There'll be no beer shower on the pitch, only a toast and that's it. It's a shame we have to restrain ourselves in triumph, but if we were to throw away the other two titles, we'd be stupid."

Bayern take a 2-0 lead to Turin and the market has them favourites to qualify for the semi-final at 1.11. Juventus shouldn't be written off, though. Their first leg performance was so uncharacteristic of the team Antonio Conte has built over the last 18 months that you can't imagine they and in particular Gigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo will be as poor again.

It won't be easy. Arturo Vidal and Stephan Lichtsteiner are both suspended, but Mirko Vucinic, who looked lively when he came on in Munich and scored twice against Pescara on Saturday, is fully fit again and has announced his intention to "go to war" against Bayern.

An early goal might put the frighteners up Bayern. For all their dominance and control last week, they are a team prone to blackouts - think away to BATE Borisov and at home to Arsenal this season.

Those results, particularly the latter, may well serve as a wake-up call to ensure Bayern don't let something similar happen to them again. So back the draw at 3.5.

Recommended Bet

Back The Draw @ 3.5