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The most anticipated Champions League Last 16 match will feature Arsenal and Barcelona, with the Gunners knowing that a positive results at Emirates is mandatory if they are to stand a chance in the reverse leg.
Arsenal is not playing particularly well right now. They won just 3 times in the last 8 matches and none of those wins was impressive in terms of level of football. The last second win against Leicester was expected to give them a big morale boost, but Arsenal failed to defeat a depleted Hull side over the weekend in the FA Cup. Arsenal actually played pretty good and was clearly unlucky not to win, but there still can`t be no excuse for not beating a weakened Championship team at home – even if Arsenal also rested some players.
Barcelona is on the back of a 2-1 victory over Las Palmas in La Liga, their 13th win in the last 14 matches in all competitions. It was definitely one of their worst recent performances, especially considering they did not rest players – but they claimed the three points and surely had this game against Arsenal in mind. Barca is playing some amazing football right now and it’s hard to see anybody beating them this season.
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Team news & lineups:
Arsenal continues to miss Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky and Arteta, while Gabriel is doubtful. Barcelona will have to do without Rafinha.
Arsenal: Cech – Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal – Coquelin, Ramsey – Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez – Giroud
Barcelona: Ter Stegen – Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba – Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta – Messi, Suárez, Neymar
Arsenal played a lot of similar games in the last years and always approached them in a defensive manner, putting men behind the ball and trying to hit on the break. It usually worked, including the game against Bayern this season, which Arsenal won 2-0 at home. In the past six years they met Barcelona twice in the UCL knockout stage – results at home being 2-2 in 2010 and 2-1 in 2011.
I will take a risks and bet on a match with few goals here. It will definitely be a safe and cautious approach by Arsenal, so hopefully that will translate in a low scoring match. My tip will be under 2,75 goals, with excellent odds at 1xBet. Reasonable stakes though. Prediction: Arsenal – Barcelona 1-1.
Pick: under 2,75 goals
Odds: 2.33 @ 1xBet
Stake: 6
Possible profit: 7.98
Event date: 23 February
