[Salmon Steak]

FC Barcelona (-1 1/2) -165

I really feel they win this by at least two. Please talk me out of this if you disagree. After Liverpool losing to wigan and lille b2b I don't know anymore.

FC Barcelona has been playing really well lately

[JRLM8]

Personally, I don't trust Barca to cover a spread if Ibra starts and Puyol is questionable for the game.

Match background from UEFA.com
• Barcelona are seeking a third successive UEFA Champions League quarter-final appearance. Stuttgart have never been beyond the last 16 and last appeared in the quarter-finals of any UEFA club competition in 1998.
• Barcelona have won their eight most recent home matches against German opposition, including a 4-0 triumph against FC Bayern München in last season's quarter-finals.
• Bayern were the last Bundesliga visitors to emerge victorious from the Camp Nou, winning 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League group stage in November 1998.
• Barcelona beat German opposition in Fortuna Düsseldorf to win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1979.
• The holders won two of their three home games in the group stage, beating FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Internazionale Milano either side of a surprise loss to FC Rubin Kazan.
• Stuttgart have never won in Spain but have posted three draws and one victory on the road in this season's UEFA Champions League, including a 1-1 draw at Sevilla FC in November.
• Overall the Bundesliga club have won just one of 12 previous meetings with Spanish sides – a 1-0 home success against Real Sociedad de Fútbol in the first leg of the 1988/89 UEFA Cup quarter-final. It was their first encounter with Liga opposition and they eventually advanced on penalties after losing the return by the same scoreline.
• Worryingly for Stuttgart, they have won only one of four ties in UEFA club competition when they have drawn the first leg at home, beating R. Standard de Liège in the 2000 UEFA Intertoto Cup semi-finals (1-1 home, 1-0 away). The most recent of their three aggregate defeats came in 2000/01 when they were eliminated in the UEFA Cup fourth round by another Spanish side – RC Celta de Vigo (0-0 home, 1-2 away).
• Barcelona are in an identical position to a year ago, when they drew 1-1 at Olympique Lyonnais in the first knockout round first leg – they went on to win 5-2 in the Camp Nou return.
• That was one of 21 occasions when the Blaugrana have drawn the first leg away, and they emerged victorious on aggregate 15 times, the most recent defeat coming in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Juventus (1-1 away, 1-2 home aet).
• Gross was in charge of the Basel side whose 1-1 draw at Barcelona in last season's group stage helped salvage some pride after a 5-0 home reverse.
• The Stuttgart coach's overall record in the competition against Spanish sides, with Basel, previously Grasshopper-Club and now Stuttgart, is: W1 D3 L5. That solitary victory came against RC Deportivo La Coruña in the 2002/03 second group stage – 1-0 in Switzerland.


Alain Hamer is in charge of this match. His last time out with Stuttgart was in 2006 when they lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough. His last time in charge of Barcelona was in 2002 for their 1-0 win over Locomotiv Moscow.

[Salmon Steak]

Thanks JRLM8 here is a SBR point. i dont think Ibra is playing though. I feel they are much better when he is not in the lineup. I will check some more stats and be back in a few hours. I wish I followed Bundesliga more gl everybody lets get a consensus and beat these books.

[Masu485]

i'm on barca -1.5 for this one.

[Giuvara]

It was a bad tuesday night yesterday in CL, but today Barcelona i don't think will have any sort of problems with Stuttgart.They have their confidence back after 3-0 with Valencia and they have quality, opposed to the Germans which i don't particularly fancy especially in defense.Their new coach, Christian Gross get them back to winning ways while Cacau shows some great form,but this is not enough for them to qualify from Nou Camp.I would stay away though from the handicap because it is very risky in this competition.Stuttgart has to attack and I'll go with over 2.5, over 3,5 for a small stake and even Messi anytime scorer as he is in top shape and Delpierre is no match for him.

[JOHON8]

If there is a bet on this match, it is the Barca handicap, unless you want to risk another CL upset. But out of all the matches played in the past few weeks this is the least likely upset. Barca are the best in the world at home, even though Ibra might slow them down he still got the away goal and will probably score here again if he plays.

so far almost every matchup in these legs ended in -1 draw handicap, I've been using it, and will probably use it for this game too. GL

[hedgejob]

Xavi injured in training & out.

[samitarian]

i really feel barca will not win the champions league this year but i don't think they'll fall at this hurdle. a win for them, but won't be easy

[winM]

Take Barca!

[mihaita666]

the only thing that freaks me out is that barca is qualified at 0-0....however, i cannot see them today playing for a 0-0

[Jrod124]

good luck man

[squintz4]

Barca will win today, not sure how convincing it will be though, BOL to all!

[Shark79]

This game should go OVER.

[zlate22]

barsa win tonight 4:0

[Gargamel]

Messi anytime scorer @ 1.8

my only play for this one

[pronk]

Teams:
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Pique, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry

Stuttgart (4-4-2): Lehmann; Celozzi, Tasci, Delpierre, Molinaro; Gebhart, Kuzmanovic, Khedira, Hleb; Cacau, Pogrebnyak

Easy win for the barca 4-1 or 4-0.

[SRBI]

LOL I think it is absolutely hilarious how everyone hates Ibra, poor guy, too bad he's a bum!

Go back to Italia, you don't belong in Spain my friend!

[pouroupoupou]

Both teams to score and over 3

[JRLM8]

Xavi injured in training & out.

Teams:
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Pique, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Henry

Stuttgart (4-4-2): Lehmann; Celozzi, Tasci, Delpierre, Molinaro; Gebhart, Kuzmanovic, Khedira, Hleb; Cacau, Pogrebnyak

Those aren't the teams because Xavi is out.

[Josu]

Ibra to score.

He just has had some bad luck, people hate him for no reason. It's not his fault he's big and everyone else are midgets and they get knocked down when he jumps up.

[varin18]

o2.5 and barca -1 looks to be strong bets indeed

[Wilforth]

Will just watch this one and enjoy it.

[RbN]

Ibra should be traded again for Eto'o. Eto'o is a perfect finshing station for Barcelona. They dont need a targetman but a finisher!!! Inter needs Zlatan to keep the ball upfront.

[Wilforth]

Ibra will adjust with time. Be patient.

[SRBI]

Ibra to score.

He just has had some bad luck, people hate him for no reason. It's not his fault he's big and everyone else are midgets and they get knocked down when he jumps up.

[lakerboy]

If there is a bet on this match, it is the Barca handicap, unless you want to risk another CL upset. But out of all the matches played in the past few weeks this is the least likely upset. Barca are the best in the world at home, even though Ibra might slow them down he still got the away goal and will probably score here again if he plays.

so far almost every matchup in these legs ended in -1 draw handicap, I've been using it, and will probably use it for this game too. GL

They lost to Rubin Kazan at home- anything is possible - look what happened yesterday

[RbN]

Ibra will adjust with time. Be patient.

You are wrong. Ive been following Ibra since he was playing for my club Ajax. Hes not a Barca Striker.

[Josu]

.

So he shows feelings... nothing wrong with that. But in reality I was trying to make a reference to that cracovia show where zlatan and pep are hijacking a plane to get the ref to take their red cards away, in which zlatan complains about him being big and the ref should stop making calls against him.

[JRLM8]

Ibra starts on the bench for Barca.

Valdes; Alves, Pique, Puyol, Maxwell; Busquets, Toure, Iniesta; Pedro, Henry, Messi

Link to matchtracker

[thirtytwo]

The line is way out of whack for Barcelona. -450 to win? Its Champions League for gods sake, Stutgart is not some Racing Gijon, they will work their arses off the whole 90 minutes and more.

I like germans on AH

[simonsolent]

I've just taken both teams to score @ +120

[kmarinouofm]

starting to think stugart +1.5 is the play

[kmarinouofm]

Stugart +1.5/+2 -110 at phoenix and +2 -150 at phoenix..

going to play one of these...

[Gargamel]

Messi to score anytime looks even better without Ibra starting. He'll get the lion's share of the chances now I imagine.

[statnerds]

just took Stuttgart on the AC -101

Under 2.5, 3 +139