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Wednesdays Soccer – By Chris.

Champions League semi final - first leg

Barcelona   -   Manchester Utd        2.61  -   3.10
This is the semi final I look forward to as it should be a great game. With so many footballing artists on the pitch I do not think that any coach can make this fixture a boring one. Looking at the odds, surely the value is on the home win. When did you ever get 2.61 on a Barcelona home win?

I know as well as everybody else that Barcelona have not had the best of seasons. Poor domestic form and to reach this semi final they only had to defeat Celtic and Schalke, but that does not matter now. In any given game at the Nou Camp stadium, Barcelona, provided their squad is fit, are likely winners. A certain Messi is fit again and he is as important to Barcelona as Ronaldo is to Man United. At the weekend Barca disappointed again, playing out a 0-0 draw in the Catalan derby. Important assets such as Messi, Henry, Deco, Iniesta, Abidal and Marquez sat on the bench. Apart from Henry they will all be back in contention for this big match. Also Henry may feature, but he is still considered an injury doubt. Unfortunately Barcelona will be without the suspended defender C Puyol. We can expect to see G Milito and R Marquez as the central defenders tomorrow with Thuram on the bench. YaYa Toure, Deco and Xavi in the middle with Messi, Iniesta and Eto' o up front.

W Rooney suffered an injury against Blackburn but he should be fine tomorrow. Hargreaves, Van der Saar and Anderson were rested for the Blackburn game but they should also be ready for this match. A fully fit United squad in other words. United have the stronger defence but my feeling is that Messi and Eto,o will win the offensive battle against Rooney and Ronaldo tomorrow. Home win! (2.61).

Barcelona 0 Man Utd 0

Chris.