Barcelona prepares to host Borussia Dortmund in UEFA Champions League Group F play on Wednesday. The visitors trail Barcelona by just a point in group play, with Inter Milan behind them in third place. In La Liga play, Barcelona tops the table but has an uncharacteristic three losses already. In Group F play, Barcelona drew with Slavia Prague and with Borussia Dortmund in the reverse fixture. Borussia Dortmund comes in with significant defensive issues, as they have already permitted 18 goals in Bundesliga play and had to dig themselves out of a mammoth 3-0 halftime hole to snatch a 3-3 draw in league play this past weekend. Can Barcelona get the job done at home and take all three points? Or will Borussia Dortmund cash in a huge win and vault into first place in the group? Don’t miss our sports betting preview.
Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund 2019 UCL Spread, Analysis & Pick
- When: Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 4:00 pm ET
- Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: None
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Soccer Odds: Barcelona 8/15 / Draw 7/2 / Borussia Dortmund 19/4
Why should you bet on Borussia Dortmund?
That 3-3 home draw against Paderborn should tell you a lot about the state of Borussia Dortmund right now. Their back line has had significant issues with respect to communication and execution, with the result that they are giving up way too many bad goals right now. In Champions League play, the side has struggled as well, with just three wins in their last nine matches. Despite the fact that their offense is usually productive, they have been blanked in the six matches in their last nine that they did not win.
In their last Champions League match, Borussia Dortmund was able to deliver a victory, with a 3-2 win over Inter Milan. With Paco Alcacer (formerly on Barcelona’s roster) up front at forward, Borussia Dortmund does have the talent and speed to generate scoring chances. However, in their last 12 Champions League matches played away from home, the side has just won three matches. If you like the visitors in this match, then you may see Barcelona taking this a bit easy, as they have done several times in La Liga and Champions League play already, and the visitors fixing their defensive issues.
Why should you put your money on Barcelona?
It is time for Barcelona to put their foot down on the gas pedal at home, as they have won only two Group F games so far. Overall, the Catalans have won five of their last eight matches in Champions League play, with their last two defeats coming against AS Roma and Liverpool. At home, Barcelona has won 30 of their last 34 Champions League matchups, with the other four games ending in draws. They have only been shut out at home one time over that stretch in the Champions League, although that came in a scoreless draw in their last competition match against Slavia Prague.
Barcelona won this past weekend in La Liga play, prevailing on the road, 2-1. Luis Suarez and Arturo Vital picked up the tallies for the visitors, as they possessed for almost 80 percent of the match and put 11 shots on target. That gave them three points in their league table. If you like Barcelona, then you see their offense rolling against a Borussia Dortmund side that has a hard time stopping opposing attackers, and pushing the play from the opening whistle.
Final Score Prediction
That scoreless draw against Slavia Prague was a major setback for Barcelona, but given their overall form across all competitions this season, I don’t think they will have problems at home against a team with as many defensive issues as Borussia Dortmund. The first half will likely feature a back-line gaffe for the visitors and then Barcelona will pull away after the intermission. I predict a final score of Barcelona 3, Borussia Dortmund 1.
