Few saw the Champions League semifinal tie between Barcelona and Bayern Munich being over right out of the gates, but for all intents and purposes, it is.
Barca holds a 3-0 edge going into the second leg of this home-and-home series at Allianz Arena, and Bayern will need one of its biggest efforts ever to overturn that result on Tuesday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Barcelona was actually the underdog coming into this series, but it has proven that it is the class of the world by romping the German champions 3-0 at Camp Nou.
Now, with a 3-0 lead in hand, one goal on German soil would force Bayern to score five times in 90 minutes to advance, something that just seems impossible.
That's why the Catalans are -5000 to reach the finale at this point.
As for the individual match itself, it is essentially a pick 'em. Bayern Munich is the slender +155 favorite, while the total is set at 2.5 (over -145).
KEY INJURIES
Injuries really hurt Bayern in Spain, and they are going to continue to hurt here at home as well. Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber all sat out that match, while Barcelona essentially had a full side at its disposal.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We played okay in Barcelona, but not perfect. We want to play our best on Tuesday so that we have the best possible chance. There are still 90 minutes left, and in football, a lot can happen." – Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola on his team's chances of reaching the Champions League final
RECENT FORM
Clearly, the Germans are in a lot of trouble right now. They have lost their last three matches across all competitions, and that doesn't include their 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund which saw them out of the German Cup two weeks ago. Without a miracle of a comeback, there's a good chance that Guardiola could lose his job at Bayern Munich.
Barcelona meanwhile, just continues to pour it on against all comers. The Catalans haven't allowed a goal in seven straight matches, winning all seven in the process. They've got eight straight victories overall and have won nine straight matches here in the Champions League as well.
TALKING TOTALS
Would you believe that Bayern Munich has only scored a total of two goals in its last five matches overall? Granted, the Bavarians haven't had a lot to play for domestically, but still, no goals in three straight games and a total of two goals in their last five since thrashing Porto 6-1 in the Champions League is stunning.
Even though Barcelona isn't allowing goals, that doesn't mean that all of its matches are staying under the total. Remember that the Catalans have averaged 3.6 goals per game in that stretch of seven shutout victories, though only two of the seven games exceeded the total.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Bayern Munich might have come back from down 3-1 against Porto to win in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, but is there any way that it can come back in this match?
We just don't see it.
Remember that against Porto, Lewandowski played at his best, and Thomas Muller was in much better form than he is in at the moment. Also remember that that match came against a Portuguese side and not one of the best sides in the world.
Clearly, Bayern is going to go for broke out of the chute, but once Barca gets on the board, it could be all over but the crying. Don't be stunned if this match ends up being relatively drab for the duration of the proceedings, though that will be music to the ears of soccer fans on the Iberian Peninsula for sure.
Bayern Munich 1, Barcelona 1
BookMaker has live Champions League odds for every clash of the season. You can find a moneyline price on Bayern Munich of +155 and a total of 2.5 (over -145) right now! BookMaker is also going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-televised match. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, total and spread. Log in and start gambling during the soccer game now!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The fixture between Bayern Munich and Barcelona will take place at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at Allianz Arena. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1.
