Match Odds: Barcelona 1.33, Draw 5.50, Arsenal, 9.0
Match Odds: Shakhtar Donetsk 1.95, Draw 3.60, Roma 3.75
1) Barcelona to win the first-half @ 1.57
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg the Blaugrana need to get a move on and fast. Since that defeat Barca have won four from four while the Gunners have endured a stinker, losing a cup final and drawing against Sunderland at the weekend.
Last season the Catalans ran riot in the first half in the identical fixture and were 3-1 up by the half-time break. A repeat of that is priced at 34.0 and you can back Barcelona to win the first 15 minutes at 3.75. On a conservative note opting for Barcelona to be in the lead at half-time at a shorter 1.57 looks the sensible option. Expect the favourites to give Arsenal a chasing in the opening 45 minutes. Barca to win both halves is 2.37.
2) David Villa to score anytime @ 1.91
Lots of money has been placed on Leo Messi who is a very short, and we're not referring to his height, 1.57 to score in the 90 minutes. David Villa looked sharp at the Emirates and is clinical enough to punish Arsenal just as he did in the first leg. At 1.91 he is better value too and you can back the Spanish striker at 4.50 to grab the opener like in the first match.
3) Shakhtar Donetsk to win @ 1.95
Bookies get it wrong. Frequently so. If they didn't the gambling industry wouldn't exist. Take for example the lines on Shakhtar to win in Rome (3.75) and the subsequent 3-2 away win set the wheels in motion for Claudio Ranieri to leave the Giallorossi.
Since then Roma have switched managers and results have improved but it's doubtful that will continue in Donetsk. As has been well documented the hosts have a frightening home record and are not going to surrender it to an out of sorts Roma unit.
Back Shakhtar to win at 1.95 and quite frankly get in on them on a -1 handicap @ 3.50. Roma can anticipate a caning.
4) Shakhtar to win from behind @ 8.50
Okay, so this one is just for kicks. Roma are the masters of blowing leads as evidenced in the first-leg against Shakhtar where they were 1-0 up only to surrender 3-2. They've done this repeatedly including Ranieri's final game, 3-0 up against Genoa to a 4-3 loss. Frankly, you wouldn't want Roma as your dancing partner as they can't lead. It wouldn't be a huge shock if Vincenzo Montella's team went in front and it certainly wouldn't be if they blew another advantage...again. Small stakes only.
5) Double on Barcelona & Shakhtar Donetsk to win @ 2.60
In the words of Steve Bull this is our Billy Boring bet. Yes, we are backing the favourites to both win in 90 minutes. At rather better than even money Barcelona and Shakhtar should get the job done and secure their passage into the quarter-finals.
