Betting Update; Barcelona v Celtic with the bookmakers making Barcelona their 3/10 favourites

Added: (Tue Mar 04 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Bookies and punters alike have this match labelled as over before it started as Gordon Strachan’s Bhoys attempt mission impossible at the Nou Camp.

Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, Celtic must score at least twice and hope Barcelona don’t find the net themselves to have any hope of one of pulling off one of the biggest Champions League upsets of all-time. While they are formidable at Parkhead – winning all 3 group games at home – they are still yet to win a Champions League away game in 16 attempts.

Paddy Power are taking no chances and go 1/200 that the Catalans safely continue their quest for a second European Cup in three years.

But unless you fancy Gary Caldwell and co. to achieve the miracle – at 20/1 in places - then market value has to lie elsewhere Frank Rijkaard’s side had a massive La Liga game at the weekend at Atletico Madrid, but went down 4-2 in the Vicente Calderon to stay five points adrift of Real Madrid.

However, that the Dutchman chose to rest Yaya Toure and Lionel Messi for Tuesday’s game is a sign that the Blaugrana will take no chances against Scottish opposition.

Celtic’s one away Champions League draw was at the Nou Camp in 2004, and they couldn’t score in a 0-0 draw against Rangers at Ibrox in November.

Messi bagged a brace in the first leg and found acres of space to run at a hapless Lee Naylor and Paddy Power’s 4/1 on the Argentine to score first is good value.

It’s also hard not to see goals – Celtic will have to give it a go early on and have a chance of sneaking one with the physical presence of Samaras and Venegoor of Hesselink, who scored in the opening tie. But this will leave them more and more exposed to the deadliest counter-attacking side in the game. And unlike Chelsea or Liverpool, Barcelona don’t take their foot off the gas when the job is done – they’ve scored 3 or more goals in no fewer than 12 matches this season.

So the 4/5 on 2 or more goals by Stan James looks the banker of the evening.

Recommended Bets - 2 points, 2 goals or more, 4/5 Stan James Draw
Recommended Bets - 1 point, Lionel Messi to score first, 4/1 Paddy Power Draw

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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