Barcelona A Football Certainty To Win The Champions League in 2012

Published December 21, 2011 | By Richard

Many people argue that there is no such thing as a certainty in sport, especially football but there are always exceptions to the rule and Barcelona winning the Champions League in 2012 looks just as good as a football certainty as you could find…

The current odds of 13/8 about Barcelona winning the Champions League for a second successive year in 2012 looks far too good to miss. The odds may not appeal to everyone but as there is not a team in Europe that can get even close to the Catalans right now, it must considered as the football bet of 2012! Real Madrid were widely considered to be the best team to possibly end Barcelona’s European and domestic dominance but the manner by which Barca demolished their rival at the Bernabeu recently suggests otherwise. The 3-1 win for Pep Guardiola’s side could have been a lot worse for Mourinho’s Madrid but it was still Barcelona who left the Spanish capital with the three points to close the gap on Real to just three points.

Barcelona has been drawn to play Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the Champions League, a game that should pose no complications and see the four times European Champions safely through to the Quarter Finals. It is at this stage that they would likely face a tougher test but as they have proven time and again, especially over two legs, they are very difficult to beat.

With Madrid in equally as impressive form in Europe(qualifying with six wins from six games in the group stage), they are the second favourites to win the competition but as they found out last year, it is likely that they would have to overcome Barca at some stage. Twelve months ago it was in the semi finals and their best hope would be if the draw was kind to them and kept the two apart ’til the final but as Barcelona has shown, they have the measure of their rivals and it’s difficult to see what could happen to change the current balance of power.

Other teams who feature prominently in the bookmakers Champions League odds include Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Milan clubs, none of which you could make a solid case for beating Barcelona. Perhaps Munich, with the final being played at the Allianz arena, could pose the biggest threat with home advantage but still,Barcelona is still capable of beating anyone, despite the possibility of a hostile atmosphere.

Quite understandably, Barca’s Lionel Messi is the 4/5 odds on favourite to finish the Champions League top scorer. The Argentine forward has already netted six times and given the fact that his team should reach the final, than he has another seven games to add to that tally.

Arguably the best domestic football team seen for many years, Barcelona look unstoppable and whilst nothing is 100% assured, the prospect of this team becoming the first team in the Champions League era to win the competition two years running looks as near as guaranteed as you can get in sport.

Posted in Associated Partners, Champions League, The Tipster | Tagged Barcelona, Champions League, Lionel Messi, top scorer

http://inthestands.co.uk/ Ash

Whilst I agree that Barca must still be considered favourites, with the improved Real Madrid we have seen this season and if over both legs they can keep 11 men on the pitch, I would back Mourinho’s men to win. Messi should walk the top scorers chart.

Definitely interesting viewing in the CL this season
Rolly Pelovangu

Sorry Ash have you are wrong here. Firstly, the article is a little too presumption in claiming that “Barcelona are a football certainty to win the Champions League in 2012″ – especially when football can be almost too unpredictable to predict.

However, the writer Robert has got a point. Over 2-legs, nobody can confidently say that they will beat/eliminate Barcelona.

If Real Madrid, Bayern, Chelsea, Arsenal or the 2 Milan sides were to draw Barca, the first thing they would do is Groan – before they cheer.

Barca themselves would be unmoved whoever they face.

Barca are in their pomp and even when not at their best, they will fancy their chances against ANY TEAM.

My little brother supports Real Madrid with a passion and we all know Madrid are Europe’s in-form team at the moment. Even HE (my little brother) was nervous and tentative prior to Madrid facing Barca in December’s El Clasico.

That was of course a Barcelona side the media said were not firing on all cylinders. Madrid (for the 1st time in 3 years) came into an El Clasico tie as big favourites and STIILL lost.

They could not even win the Spanish Super Cup 1st leg at the Bernabeu when Barca did not start with Xavi, Iniesta and were still going thru the pre-season motions.

A 2-legged tie with Barca will suit Barca more than Madrid because when the opposition team is better than you, you would rather play that team LESS times in the hope of getting a one-off win!!!

That is what makes the FA Cup so special as opposed to the Crappy Coppa Italia and the Copa Del Rey two-legged nonsense.

Look at last season’s Copa Del Rey final as evidence that when the opposition team is better than you, you would rather play that team LESS times in the hope of getting a one-off win!!!

Madrid won that, but Barca won the double-headers in the League and the Champions League.

Ash You also say that “if Real Madrid keep 11 on the pitch you would back them?!”

Hmmm…did you “back them” in December’s ‘El Clasico’??? I bet you did…and what happened??? Exactly.

Barcelona are better than Real Madrid and the reason Madrid keep going down to 10 men when facing Barca is precisely because Mourinho has to change his sides game to cope with Barca – that is a sign that the opposition concerns you more than you wish.

Barca do not change their tactics against ANYBODY so confident they are in getting victory.

Robert is right when he stipulates that perhaps only Bayern in the final on home turf can thwart Barca – but even that is a non-certainty. Just look at the Audi Cup in August when Barca’s youth team thrashed Bayern 2-0!

Need I remind you also what happened the last time Barca played Bayern In the Champions League – just 2 years ago.

Rolly