Barcelona travel to the Jan Breydel Stadion to take on Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night in what promises to be an entertaining affair.
Barcelona won their Champions League opener 1-2 at St James’ Park, but were on the other end of that scoreline on MD2 when hosting an injury-hit PSG side.
Hansi Flick’s men did respond in emphatic fashion next time out though, thrashing Greek champions Olympiakos 6-1 to move up into ninth in the league phase table.
The Blaugrana also bounced back from their El Clasico defeat at the weekend by defeating newly-promoted Elche 3-1, but they still remain five points behind Real Madrid in the La Liga table.
Club Brugge made a winning start to their Champions League league phase campaign, as they thrashed Monaco 4-1 at home.
However, Nicky Hayen’s men have gone on to each of their next two league phase fixtures away at both Atalanta and Bayern Munich, leaving them in 20th position in the table.
The Blauw-Zwart’s 2-1 win at home to Dender at the weekend was their fifth consecutive league victory, but they remain in second position, three points behind reigning champions Union Saint-Gilloise.
How the bookies view it: Barca favourites
Barcelona are favourites to claim their third victory in the league phase this season, with BOYLE Sports pricing an away victory at just 4/9.
Club Brugge are 9/2 to make it consecutive home wins in this competition with the same firm, whilst the draw is 15/4.
Head to head: Catalans unbeaten in four meetings
These two clubs met on four occasions at the turn of the century in both the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, with Barcelona winning three and drawing one of the four meetings (W3-D1-L0).
Players to watch: More magic from Marcus?
Marcus Rashford has made a positive impact for Barcelona since joining on loan from Manchester United in the summer, scoring six goals across his 14 La Liga and Champions League appearances. Four of those strikes have arrived in the Champions League – including a stunning brace at Newcastle – and the England international is 11/10 at BOYLE Sports to find the target again.
Predicted line-ups:
Club Brugge will be without Simon Mignolet, Lukas Reis and Raphael Onyedika through injury.
Hansi Flick will be unable to call upon Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, Gavi, Pedri and Raphina who are all injured.
Club Brugge: Jackers, Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys, Tresoldi, Stankovic, Vanaken, Forbs, Tzolis, Vermant
Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Araujo, Garcia, Balde, Casado, De Jong, Fermin, Yamal, Rashford, Ferran
Anything else catch the eye?
This has all the makings to be an entertaining encounter in Brugge on Wednesday night, and we should see goals, which is why Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals only pays 8/13.
Club Brugge's previous six continental clashes have averaged a whopping 4.50 goals per game, with Over 3.5 Goals paying out in five (83%) of them.
Barca’s opening 14 La Liga and Champions League fixtures this season have averaged 3.86, with Over 3.5 Goals paying out in six (43%) of them – including in three of their last five – and a repeat pays 4/5 at BOYLE Sports which appeals to me here.
GambleAware