FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Tuesday 24th February 2009
Lyon v Barcelona
OVER 2.5 goals @ 2.00
As we have already mentioned in our Champions League blog, Europe’s premier club competition is back and we have the pleasure of watching some truly cracking games this week. On Tuesday night French champions Lyon play against one of Europe’s most famous sides in Spanish runners-up Barcelona.
Over the last few years Lyon have completely dominated the French game and have won an unprecedented 7 French titles in a row. Despite all their domestic success Lyon have never got past the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Although they always seem to be able to get to the knock out phases they rarely have enough about them to make that extra push and make it all the way to the final. Their problem has always been that they have very good players but not enough great players.
Barca on the other hand have great players in abundance. From the legend that is Thierry Henry to arguably the greatest player in the world right now in Lionel Messi (pictured left). These two great attackers are joined in the Barca front line by the prolific Cameroonian hot shot Samuel Eto’o. All three players are modern day greats however, that does not mean that the Catalonian giants are infallible. Though great going forward their defensive cover is far from perfect.
Lyon and in particular their star forward Karim Benzema (pictured below) will be looking to do 
damage to Victor Valdes’s goal from the off on Tuesday night. The young striker was rested for Lyon’s last league game so he shluld be in tip top form and Carles Puyol the Barca captain will know that he’s been in a game.
Lyon as the home team will look to get a win to give them a chance in the return leg whilst Barca only know one way of playing and that is to attack attack attack. With this in mind we’re going for there being over 2.5 goals in this one available at odds of 2.00.
Highlights from the last time Barca visited Stade Gerland in the Champions League back in 2007- Final score that night was 2-2
RECENT FORM TABLE
|
LYON |
|
BARCELONA |
||||
|
Nancy |
0-2 |
Lyon |
|
Barcelona |
1-2 |
Espanyol |
|
Lyon |
3-1 |
Le Havre |
|
Betis |
2-2 |
Barcelona |
|
Nice |
1-3 |
Lyon |
|
Barcelona |
3-1 |
Gijon |
|
Lyon |
1-1 |
St.Etienne |
|
Barcelona |
2-0 |
Mallorca |
|
Lyon |
1-0 |
Marseille |
|
Santander |
1-2 |
Barcelona |
