Barcelona vs Arsenal Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Mar 14, 2016 @ 02:00 am

Next Wednesday, 16th of March 2016, a slightly fragilized Arsenal will visit Catalunya to measure forces with the all-powerful Barcelona at Camp Nou for the second-leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

Fifteen goals scored in the last three league matches is Barcelona’s recent record at La Liga, as the Catalan team keeps smashing one opponent after another as the weekends go by.

Last Saturday, Luis Enrique’s men hammered an extremely fragile Getafe by 6-0 at Camp Nou with Neymar and Leo Messi running the show once again. The Brazilian forward, who missed last round’s visit to Ipurua, returned in great style, netting two of the six Barcelona’s goal last Saturday.

Barcelona outclassed Arsenal at London in the first-leg match and they have everything in their favour right now to secure a place in the next stage of the competition. For next Wednesday’s match, Luis Enrique will not be able to rely on the services of Piqué, who is currently suspended after picking up a yellow card at London later last month. Rafinha and Sandro will also miss out there due to injury.

As for Arsenal, the English team is not going through a particularly good moment, as they have only won one of their last five competitive matches. After being defeated by Barcelona later last month, the Gunners have been struggling in all domestic competitions. Two consecutive defeats for the English Premier League, first at Old Trafford and one week later at home against Swansea, were a major blow to Arsene Wenger’s team.

Last weekend, for the FA Cup Quarter-finals, Arsenal were surprised at home by a mighty Watford and are now eliminated from the competition.

Arsenal have small chances of success when it comes to defeat Barcelona at Camp Nou next Wednesday, but it is probably still early to throw the towel to the ground. For that particular match, Arsene Wenger, will not be able to rely on the services of Wilshere, Cazorla, Cech, Koscielny and Oxlade Chamberlain, who are all sidelined due to injury.

Barcelona

Stats: W-5 L-0 D-0

Recent Form - WWWWW

Arsenal

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - LWDLL

Possible Line-ups

Barcelona (4-3-3) - ter Stegen - Alves - Mathieu - Mascherano - Alba - Busquets - Rakitic - Iniesta - Neymar - Suárez - Messi

Arsenal (4-2-3-1) - Ospina - Bellerin - Gabriel - Mertesacker - Gibbs - Coquelin - Flamini - Sanchez - Ozil - Campbell - Giroud

Injury List / Suspended Players

Barcelona - Rafinha (inj) - Sandro (inj) - Piqué (sus)

Arsenal - Wilshere (inj) - Rosicky (inj) - Cech (inj) - Cazorla (inj) - Koscielny (inj) - Oxlade Chamberlain (inj)

Head-to-head matches:

League Positions