Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
They have lost just one of their last 11 matches, winning nine, and have scored more league goals than anybody in Spain: seven more than second-placed Real Madrid and more than twice as many as Athletic Bilbao in fifth, Atlético Madrid in fourth and Sevilla in third. When they played Sevilla, they put four past them. They stuck four more past Celta and five past Betis, Valencia and Real Valladolid.
In Lionel Messi, they have a player who has scored 115 over the last four La Liga seasons.
And win in the Champions League on Wednesday night and they will have qualified from the competition’s hardest group with a game to spare.
So, in many ways, isn’t it incredible that Barcelona are being criticised at many a turn?
Talking Points
While they will no doubt continue to produce Champions League highlights, I certainly would not back them to win the competition.
Yet they could have done little more than they have so far.
Undefeated, they lead Group F ahead of Internazionale and this week’s opponents, Borussia Dortmund.
The stats are in their favour too.
Barcelona are unbeaten in 34 Champions League home matches, a run that started in September 2013 – a 5-1 defeat of Lyon in last season’s last 16 eclipsed the previous competition record of 29 set by Bayern Munich between March 1998 and April 2002.
The Catalans have also won their last three matches against German clubs at the Camp Nou, scoring nine goals and conceding only one, and are unbeaten in 28 matches at home (won 24, drawn four) since a 4-3 loss against Real Betis just over a year ago in La Liga.
In contrast, Dortmund have managed only three victories in their last 14 European away matches (drawn four, lost seven), although all of those wins have come in their last six matches in this competition.
They have won just once in 15 previous visits to Spain and that solitary success was a 1-0 victory at Atlético Madrid in the 1996/97 UEFA Champions League group stage, courtesy of a Stefan Reuter goal – the season they went on to lift the trophy.
Domestically, they have had a largely miserable time in the Bundesliga in recent weeks and have 20 points from their first 12 Bundesliga games this season, ten less than at the same stage of 2018/19.
They did, at least, display some fighting spirit last weekend, coming back from three goals down at half-time to draw 3-3 at home to minnows Paderborn as Axel Witsel and captain Marco Reus scored late goals to salvage a point.
He apologised to fans afterwards and said the players, not manager Lucien Favre, should shoulder the responsibility.
If Dortmund surprise us all and defeat Barcelona, they will seal their spot in the last 16 but few can see that happening.
Frontman Paco Alcácer, who scored 10 ten goals in 37 Liga appearance for Barcelona between 2016 and 2018, winning the domestic double in addition to the Copa del Rey, is out through injury.
On the other side, it will certainly be interesting to see if Ousmane Dembélé, who made 32 Bundesliga appearances, scoring six times, for Dortmund before joining Barcelona two years ago fares.
So, there’s pressure on both clubs, despite very different financial budgets and different expectations.
That should make this tense if nothing else.
History
For two clubs with such pedigree, it may surprise you to learn these sides have only met three times competitively.
In 1997 they faced each other in the two-legged UEFA Super Cup when Dortmund were European champions and Barca had lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup under the tutelage of the late Sir Bobby Robson.
Barcelona were too strong over two legs, winning the first leg at home 2-0, thanks to goals from Luis Enrique and a Rivaldo penalty.
They also took the lead in the second leg in Germany through Giovanni.
While Jorg Heinrich equalised on the night, Barca held on for a 3-1 aggregate success.
Their other meeting was in September in this competition, a goalless draw when there were few attacking fireworks on display in the Signal Iduna Park.Barcelona only escaped with a point that night courtesy of Marc-André terStegen’s penalty save from Reus.
Betting Tip
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Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund | Barcelona First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11 |
| November 28, 04:00 (GMT+8) |
For all their supposed issues, there’s not many teams in world football who wouldn’t want the problems Barcelona have.
The SBOBET Champions League betting odds back them up as they are available 1X2 @ 1.55, First Half 1X2 @ 2.10, Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.21 and First Half Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.11.
Dortmund, on the other hand, have very generous odds. If they perform at their best, who wouldn’t fancy a flutter on them 1X2 @ 5.60, First Half 1X2 @ 4.80, Asian Handicap + 1.00 @ 2.00 and First Half Asian Handicap + 0.25 @ 2.21.
A repeat of the goalless draw two months ago – correct score 0-0 – will pay out @ 18.50.
If there’s to be a re-run of their only previous clash in Spain, 21 years ago – correct score 2-0 – you can find odds of @ 9.00.
Dortmund or Draw – Double Chance – @ 2.35 and total goal 2-3 @ 2.10 are worth looking at.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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