Our betting expert expects a Barcelona win in this clash of two European giants, although both teams should score.
Barcelona vs PSG Exclusive Bet Builder: Was 9/2, Now 5/1
All odds are courtesy of bet365, correct at the time of publishing and subject to change.
Barca to see off the reigning champions
Injuries mean that neither of these sides will be at full strength on Wednesday night, although it’s PSG who have been hit hardest. They’ll be without their regular front three, with Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all sidelined. That trio registered 16 goals in last season’s competition, accounting for 42% of the team’s total.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are doing well, with seven wins out of eight in all competitions this term. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong were key factors in their Champions League win at Newcastle a fortnight ago, with both completing over 90% of their passes.
Lamine Yamal returned to fitness at the weekend, but they’d been scoring freely even without him in La Liga. With an xG of 15.8, Barca have created more expected goals than any other team in Europe’s big five leagues this term. Their 21-goal return is only bettered by Bayern Munich.
- Barcelona vs PSG Bet Builder Tip 1:Barcelona to win at odds of 8/11 on bet365
Expect goals at the Estadi Olimpic
Raphinha is a notable absentee for the hosts, but that should create another opportunity for Marcus Rashford, who scored a brace at St James’ Park. With in-form Ferran Torres competing with Robert Lewandowski up top, Barcelona still have plenty of attacking options.
They do have weak points at the back, with PSG capable of exploiting their high line. All of Barca’s last four Champions League matches have seen both teams score. Overall, 73% of their European games since the appointment of Flick have produced goals at each end.
Despite their fitness issues, there should be at least one goal for the reigning champions in this one. PSG have only failed to score in one of their last 12 Champions League matches. That was their home fixture against Liverpool last term, when they had 27 shots, but somehow failed to convert any of them.
- Barcelona vs PSG Bet Builder Tip 2: Both teams to score at odds of 2/5 on bet365
Throw-in count to rise
Barcelona have taken 19.6 throw-ins per game on average in La Liga this term. That sees them rank seventh in the Spanish top flight, and they’ve had significantly more than the two Madrid clubs.
There were also 39 throw-ins across the 90 minutes in their Champions League opener against Newcastle, 20 of which went the way of the Spanish champions.
PSG also rank in the top half of Ligue 1 for throw-ins taken, with 17.0 on average in their domestic matches. If this match follows the trend of recent Barca games, with PSG in or around their season average, we should see at least 35 throw-ins. There's an implied probability of 50% of that happening.
- Barcelona vs PSG Bet Builder Tip 3: Over 34.5 throw-ins at odds of 1/1 on bet365