20th Feb 2018 | Champions League
Superstars With Added Steel
Messi and Suarez are hitting great numbers as usual but the big difference under Valverde is at the other end of the pitch. Chelsea may not have the answers this time.
Barcelona are back in business and treble-hunting but the post-Neymar era is being defined by one perhaps surprising characteristic. Good defending.
The Catalans are 7 points clear at the top of La Liga, through to the Copa del Rey final and well poised in the Champions League, where they conceded just once in their 6 group stage matches.
They’ve also enjoyed 7 clean sheets in their last 10 in La Liga so on Tuesday night the smart money would go on Barcelona to win to nil at best odds of 14/5 with Boylesports.
Chelsea will be relieved to come into this fixture off the back of two better results but West Brom and Hull are not exactly Barcelona. The Blues’ 2018 record overall is pretty poor (W4 D5 L3) and that’s been bolstered by FA Cup results against weaker opponents.
The Londoners may traditionally do well against Messi and co but history counts for little in football as we see constantly.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:10 20th Feb, 2018 but subject to change