Second-placed Barcelona will hope victory at Benfica in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, coupled with a few other results going their way on Matchday Seven, confirm their place in the top eight of the League Phase.
Contents |
Tip | Current Odds |
Barcelona to win | |
Raphinha to score anytime | |
Over 3.5 goals |
Barcelona to win - 19/20
Barcelona have won five of their six UEFA Champions League games this season to sit second behind leaders Liverpool in the table with two games of the League Phase to play.
The Catalan giants know a victory over Benfica should be enough to secure a place in the top eight, which would guarantee them in a spot in the last 16, ahead of a home clash with Atalanta later this month.
Hansi Flick has already won silverware this season after his side beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup Final and they should stay on course for European glory with a win at the Estádio do SL Benfica on Tuesday.
Barca are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, but were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe in La Liga on Saturday, extending their winless run in the Spanish top-flight to four matches.
In Europe they have been impressive this term, bouncing back from a shock Matchday One defeat to Monaco to beat Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Red Star Belgrade, Brest and Borussia Dortmund, with the 3-2 success in Germany last time out confirming they have at least secured a place in the knockout phase play-offs.
The hosts, meanwhile, are 15th in the UEFA Champions League table with two games to play in the League Phase and are still in with a chance of making the top eight as well as they're only three points behind current eighth-placed Lille.
However, with a tough trip to Juventus still to come after the Barca clash, the Portuguese giants' future participation in the competition hangs in the balance.
With three wins from six so far, Benfica will hope they have done enough to finish in the top 24, but with just three points separating 12 teams there remains plenty of uncertainty heading into Matchday Seven.
Benfica approach Tuesday's big tie in fine form, winning their last four games, a run which includes a victory on penalties over Sporting to lift the Portuguese League Cup.
They have enjoyed some fine moments in this season's UEFA Champions League, notably when beating Atletico Madrid 4-0 at home in October, but defeats to Bayern and Feyenoord, plus a frustrating home goalless draw with Bologna on Matchday Six have hampered their chances of progression.
Raphinha to score anytime - 7/4
Raphinha has had a stellar campaign for Barca, netting 20 goals in just 29 appearances in all competitions.
The Brazil international has struck six times in the UEFA Champions League, including a dazzling hat-trick against Bayern in the headline 4-1 win, while he was also on target in the 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund last month.
The 28-year-old failed to add to his La Liga tally in the draw at Getafe on Saturday but did find the back of the net in his previous two games, scoring one in the Super Cup triumph over Real Madrid and one in the 5-1 Copa del Rey win over Real Betis.
Raphinha will provide plenty of attacking threat against Benfica as he looks to support Robert Lewandowski in the final third.
Over 3.5 goals - 11/10
This clash should feature plenty of goals as two teams who have been involved in several high-scoring games recently go head-to-head.
Three of Barca's last five matches have had at least four goals in, while Benfica's last two have also contained four goals or more.
In the UEFA Champions League this season, four of Barcelona's six games have ended with at least four goals in, while the same can be said for half of Benfica's outings in the competition.
Prediction | BetSie Supercomputer % | Odds | Odds % |
Barcelona to win | 45.2% | 51.3% | |
Barcelona win 3-1 | N/A | 7.7% |
Benfica | 30.3% |
Draw | 24.5% |
Barcelona | 45.2% |
The odds suggest that Barcelona have a 51.3% chance of beating Benfica on Tuesday night, while the BetSie Supercomputer believes there is just a 45.2% chance of that happening.
The BetSie Supercomputer believes that Benfica have a 30.3% chance of winning their upcoming game against Barcelona.
A 3-1 victory for Barcelona has a 7.7% chance of happening according to the betting odds.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team: Trubin; Araujo, Otamendi, Silva, Fernandez; Martins, Luis; Akturkoglu, Kokcu, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team: Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.