UCL Barcelona vs Porto Odds: Group H’s Top Two Face Off
Barcelona Can Advance With Three Points
Group H’s Top Two Face Off
On Tuesday, Barcelona host Porto in a critical Group H Champions League matchup. Both teams are level, on nine points, while Barcelona lead Porto based on head-to-head. With Shakhtar Donetsk just three points behind, both teams are looking for a result. Barcelona can also clinch a berth in the last 16 with a win on Tuesday. With that in mind, we’ll preview the UCL Barcelona vs Porto odds.
Barcelona vs Porto
Day/Time:
Location: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, Spain
Head-to-Head
In four previous UCL games vs Porto, Barcelona are a perfect 4-0. In October, Ferran Torres scored the game’s only goal as FCB picked up a win in Porto. The pregame Champions League odds listed visiting Barcelona as -120 favorites. Porto haven’t defeated Barcelona since the 1985-86 European Cup, and Barça are 6-3 vs Porto in European competitions, all-time.
Barcelona Hit Rough Patch
The goals haven’t necessarily been pouring in for Barcelona over the last few months. They haven’t scored three goals in a match for over two months and could only manage one goal at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Barça fell behind in the first half as Unai Lopez sent a rocket into the back of the net. Barcelona put in a bunch of crosses in an attempt to equalize, and their headers were most often off-target.
Xavi’s side finally equalized in the 82nd minute as Rayo’s Florian Lejeune scored an own goal. The match finished 1-1, and Barcelona haven’t defeated any team by more than a one-goal margin since a 5-0 win over Antwerp in the Champions League on September 19th. Barça’s last UCL match also finished in a 1-0 loss at Shakhtar Donetsk. In all competitions, Barcelona have won just two of their last five games.
While Gavi tore his ACL a few weeks ago, Frenkie de Jong returned after a two-month absence. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen missed the match at Rayo and is doubtful for Tuesday’s match. If he can’t suit up, expect Iñaki Peña to start in goal once again. Regardless, the UCL Barcelona vs Porto odds list Barcelona as -205 favorites for this one.
Porto’s Evanilson One to Watch
Porto cruised to a 4-0 win in the Taça de Portugal fourth round on Friday. Evanilson scored twice in the match, and the striker has been a key UCL player for Porto this season. On the Matchday 3 Champions League schedule, Evanilson scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Antwerp. Only Rasmus Hojlund and Alvaro Morata have scored more UCL goals than Evanilson this season.
In the Primeira Liga, Porto have only scored 15 goals through 11 matches, but they’ve found the net nine times in four UCL games. They hold a 3-1 record in the group stage and will clinch a knockout stage berth with a win and Shakhtar Donetsk draw or loss vs Antwerp. Only Man City and Atletico Madrid have managed a better goal difference than Porto in the UCL this season.
Coming into Tuesday’s match, Porto are on a three-game winning streak, in all competitions. Sergio Conceicao’s side will be missing Ivan Marcano, while Wendell and Ivan Jaime are doubtful for the match.
Match Analysis & Odds
Barcelona have won their first two Champions League home matches and are 8-1 at home in all competitions. The UCL Barcelona vs Porto odds currently price Barça as one-goal favorites at -125 odds to cover. Barcelona have won their last five matches vs FC Porto, in all competitions, and the hosts are -205 moneyline favorites. Barcelona have relied on Robert Lewandowski for scoring in La Liga but he’s scored just one UCL goal in three appearances. Regardless, he figures to be a key player in this match.
Porto failed to score in the reverse fixture but Porto over 0.5 goals comes in at -160 odds. The visitors are +575 underdogs for this one, and Porto +1 sits at +105. A draw would put both UCL teams in a solid position to qualify for the round of 16 and one is priced at +365. Over 2.5, 3 goals display -115 odds but most of these teams’ group stage goals have come vs Antwerp.
For UCL betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
