Phil Kitromilides takes an in-depth look at the scorers market for tonight's clash at the Camp Nou where, unsurprisingly, an Argentina international is the favourite to score first
Three weeks ago Barcelona came to the north of England and put on a display of attacking football which delighted and depressed the local press in equal measure.
To witness the Catalans play with such fluency and verve was a joy to anyone with a love for the game, yet for them to do so against the champions of England, left many people pondering the perceived strength of the English top flight.
It was not the first time Barcelona had dissected a Premier League side, with their visits to the north of London to take on Arsenal in both 2010 and 2011 seeing them produce some truly stunning play. And yet for all their wondrous passing and metronomic domination, Barca drew the first encounter with Arsenal 2-2 and somehow lost the second 2-1.
There was a similar feeling at the Etihad last month, as Barcelona were comfortably better than City in almost every aspect yet only managed to come away with a 2-1 win. A last minute penalty miss from Lionel Messi gave Manuel Pellegrini's men hope as well as anguishing punters who had backed the Argentine to find the back of the net.
Unsurprisingly, Messi is the favourite with William Hill to score this evening at Camp Nou and the price of 4/6 (1.67) for him to net reflects the likelihood of the four time Ballon d'Or winner adding to his tally of eight Champions League goals this season. The price of 10/3 (4.33) for him to open the scoring with the same firm might attract a bit more attention as might the price of 5/1 (6.00) for Luis Suarez to break the deadlock as he did in the first leg.
The Uruguayan has finally hit some scoring form for the Blaugrana and with six goals in his last five games in all competitions he is brimming with confidence.
The third prong of Barcelona's attacking trident is Neymar, who can also be backed at 5/1 (6.00) to score first and at 10/11 (1.91) to score at anytime with William Hill. His goals have not been as forthcoming as of late, with the Brazilian netting in just one of his last five games, yet he is the best value of the Barcelona front three.
If City seem like an after-thought then it is only because Barcelona come into the game in such strong scoring form that it is hard to see them not breaching the visitors' defence.
The Blues will have chances though, chances that they must take if they are to avoid another European exit. Sergio Aguero smashed home for Manuel Pellegrini's side in the first leg and the price of 9/5 (2.80) for him to score again might be tempting for a value bet, as might the 16/5 (4.20) for David Silva to find the back of the net.
The man from Gran Canaria is arguably one of the few City players who would get into the Barcelona starting 11 and is enjoying the best scoring return of his career so far.
Having said all that, the serious money has to go on a home team player, and the price of 3/1 (4.00) for Messi to score two or more goals is hard to ignore, given it has paid out 12 times this season including twice in the Champions League.
