Top Match Tips: Goals expected as Guardiola returns to Barcelona

Heading to the Nou Camp is an unenviable task at the best of times. But Pep Guardiola finds himself in the position of needing a result - at least more than he did a month ago. To no one’s surprise the Catalan started his career in England with a bang - overseeing 10 straight wins. However, a trip to Celtic Park has sent their upward trajectory into a bit of a wobble. They have now gone three games without a win.

Conversely, a few eyebrows were raised when Barcelona lost their first match in any competition since April to newly promoted Alavés and then again to Celta Vigo. Unsurprisingly, those two losses were without Lionel Messi amidst their ranks as he’s battled with a groin injury.

The injury was severe enough that at the time, Barcelona thought he might not be available to welcome his former boss back to Camp Nou. Saturday’s league clash at home to Deportivo La Coruna saw the Argentinian start from the bench. He was brought on mid-way through the second half only to score just 3 minutes into his return. A sign of things to come tonight?

Manchester City seem to still be trying to find their feet in Champions League, failing to win their last 3 games on the road (aside from the qualifier at Steaua Bucuresti). While they have improved with each campaign they’ve participated in, seeing their best ever finish just last season as semi-finalists, they still struggled on the road.

Barcelona continue their dominance in the competition at home. They have not lost a Champions League match at Camp Nou in over three years - to eventual winners Bayern Munich. In fact, they’ve won 16 of their last 17 European matches at home with a draw against Atlético Madrid as the only ‘blemish’.

Pep Guardiola has only traveled to Camp Nou as an opposition manager once before and suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat. He will be out to eradicate the memory of that game and try to at least maintain their position in Group C. He’ll also want to get City back to winning ways before negativity starts to seep into the ranks. The team’s mentality is key if they want to continue to challenge on all fronts.

City need the win tonight moreso than Barcelona - but likely do not quite have enough to see off Luis Enrique’s side. Barcelona are massive favourites with Bet365 - a win has been priced up at 1.55. While mistakes at the back have let City down this season, their frontline continues to excel. They have scored the joint most goals in the Premier League this season and have already scored 7 in their 2 Champions League games this season.

Celtic are the only team in Barcelona’s last 5 Champions League games that have failed to find the back of the net. Not only that, but both teams have scored in the last 12 matches Barcelona have hosted against English sides in the Champions League. Missed penalties aside, expect City to score against the Catalans. You can bet on a Barcelona win with both teams to score at 2.60 with Bet365.

As an added bonus, the Bet365 in-play offer is back, once again available for this week’s big clash between Barcelona and City. The rules are simple. Any new or existing customer can place a bet up to £50 on the game ahead of kick-off to trigger a risk-free in-play bet of the same value. Win the in-play bet and you’ll take the profit, lose and Bet365 will refund the stake to your account.

A little more exciting than the anytime goalscorer market for your in-play bet could be for a Barcelona player to miss a penalty at 15.00. City have been known to make the odd rash decision when facing Barcelona - they’ve seen a man sent off in 3 of their last 4 games against them. Should Barcelona win a penalty from a frantic City defence, there’s no guarantee that they’ll score it. Since the start of last season in La Liga, Barcelona have missed EIGHT penalties — at least twice as many as any other side.