Manchester City may be the team to beat in the Premier League, but they have not been playing like it.
Barcelona vs. Manchester City odds, Champions League betting preview
Barcelona is a huge Champions League favorite against visiting Manchester City. See the latest odds and prediction.
Laurence Griffiths
So when Champions League odds went up this week for their midweek match with Barcelona, oddsmakers were quick to install Barca as a huge favorite.
Man City sits in third place in the EPL nine points behind Chelsea even though they have played three fewer matches than the Blues. However, they were shocked at home in their last match losing to Wigan in the FA Cup quarterfinals and they lost at home to Barcelona in the first leg of this tie. (See FA Cup betting lines).
Barcelona was also shocked in their last match, losing on the road to a Valladolid club that is battling to stay out of the relegation zone. However, they have a two-goal cushion facing Manchester City in this Champions League encounter where they are soccer betting lines favorites.
Midweek, sportsboooks monitored by OddsShark.com had Barcelona as Champions League betting favorites posted at -188 with Manchester City at +500 and a draw line of +380.
Even though Man City lost 2-0 at home to Barcelona in the first leg of the tie they did not play badly. Their defense was solid only giving up a goal on a 2nd half penalty and then one very late in the match.
However, down 2-0 they will have to abandon their defensive scheme of the first leg and get back to playing attacking soccer.
Sergio Agüero is back in the City lineup after missing time with an injury and he and Yaya Touré, who have combined for 28 goals this season in La Liga play, have a big task carrying the offense against the Barca defense.
Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Pedro have combined for 35 goals this season and all were blanked in their last match. If they can get a good start to the match with the first goal this tie is all, but over.
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Gerard Piqué may have to lead the Barcelona offense, as Carles Puyol is nicked up and may not play in this match.
Vincent Kompany should be back in the starting lineup for City and his play will be important for the visiting club.
Man City is the big betting underdog in this match and they have a tall hill to climb, but Barcelona is not in top form with two losses in their last three matches. On top of that one of those matches was at home.
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