Champions League Predictions: Barcelona vs Arsenal

Chris Wright

8th, March 2011

21 Comments

By Chris Wright

As you’re probably already aware, Arsenal travel to Barcelona in the Champions League with the express intent of preserving their 2-1 aggregate lead from the first leg three(ish) weeks ago.

Barcelona will be without first-choice centre-back pair Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, with Eric Abidal and Sergio Busquets being touted as the makeshift partnership that will be deployed in the heart of the Catalan’s defense and Javier Mascherano covering for Busquets in the deep-lying midfield role.

Arsenal have named Robin van Persie in their squad though Arsene Wenger has vowed ‘not to gamble’ on the Dutch striker if he isn’t fully fit, with Theo Walcott and Alex Song the only two certified omissions from the Gunners’ collective other than long-termers Thomas Vermaelen and Lukasz Fabianski.

Right let’s get straight down to brass tacks shall we? Time for some Grade A, 85% non-mechanically recovered predictions

Pies Says:

Arsenal to go one up on the break midway through the first half after chasing the ball for the first 25-or-so minutes, leaving Barca to pass away the remainder of the half without causing the Gunners too many problems.

Barcelona then pile forward as the second-half wears on and grab an equaliser with ten minutes left to play, thus setting up a fraught finale – with a wretched miss, spurned penalty claim and hitting of the post/crossbar all thrown in.

Arsenal weather the late storm with a mixture of heroic defending and seizure-inducing luck to emerge with a 3-2 aggregate victory and thus advance to the next round.

Oh, and Robin van Persie to pick up a ‘four to six weeks out’ injury at some stage of the proceedings.

You say?

Feel free to leave your predictions in the comments box below. A protracted scoreline will suffice, but brownie points will be awarded for impressively specific detail…

Posted in Arsenal, Barcelona, Betting & predictions, Champions League

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21 Comments

  1. gaptooth says:

    2-1 to barca , then arsenal go through in extra time

  2. Geezer of the Cali Road says:

    7-0 Arsenal, 6 from Bendtner and 1 from Chesney from a corner in the 92nd minute just to take the piss.

    Take that back to Qatar you mugs! Up the Arse!

  3. Andrew Thompson says:

    An early barca goal, probably from Pedro to make Arsenal nervous
    followed by an unbeliveable passing move, finished off from David Villa
    Messi with a screamer and then Arsenal with a mere consolation goal in the 94th minute.
    Thiery Henry to watch from the stands and applaud each goal.

  4. Markmywords says:

    2-0 barca
    Messi 12th and 22nd minutes.

  5. Skjoldet says:

    2-2, as much as I don’t like Arsenal being a Chelsea fan, I really hope that the Gunners will knock Barca out.

  6. snowmanvilla says:

    3-1 barca

    arsenal to take the lead and to hold on to it for 70 mins

  7. babajide says:

    gunnerz 4life 1-2 is the score

  8. segun ojo says:

    Arsenal will surprise all by knockig out barca,early or scoring first is what arsenal need.Barca defence is loss now and it will cause fear for the attackers to go all out on arsenal.

  9. chimpo says:

    i really want arsenal to win (hard to say as a chelsea fan) but cant see beyond 3-0 barca

  10. Jon says:

    Barca will score early, probably through Iniesta or Villa from a chipped through ball. Messi will miss a sitter, probably from a dodgy angle and Villa Biscuits will hit the bar from a corner. Then at half time the pundits in the studio will rable about how Barca have had loads of possession (60-70%) but not really capitalised on it.
    2nd half, Arsenal will have an early shot on target, maybe hit the bar from a free kick, and the commentator will say how Arse are getting back into the game.
    Barca will slide in a couple of cheeky dribbling goals from Messi and Pedro (whose goal will be because of a GK howler, probably a dropped cross). Chesney will be crushed and Fabianski will start against United at the weekend, which they’ll lost 2-1, but that’s a story for another day.

    Ill take the money now thanks

  11. ToonGuy says:

    5-0 Barca, Messi hatrick, Villa 1 and Pedro 1. Koscielny not enough to cope with Barca attack

    Fabregas to get nowhere near the ball as Xavi will keep it thwe whole game

  12. George says:

    Barca to be 1-0 up at half time with a goal from Villa. They’ll get a second in the 65th minute from Pedro. Arsenal will then chase the game and Messi will get a quick brace as the defence is stretched. final score Barcelona 4 Arsenal 0

  13. Matt says:

    No Song? Barca go up 3-0, Arsenal pull one back in the last 5 minutes. Barca 3-1, advance 4-3 aggregate.

  14. Paul says:

    Barcelona are already chasing, they will attack constantly through the first half leaving things open for a Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri triple team, with a shocking finish from a normally terrible Nicolas Bendtner.

    Fear will set in with Barce and they will bring on another striker and really screw themselves over, but finishing the game 3-2 to Barcelona

    Yes i’m an arsenal fan and yes i’m saying barcelona will win, but it will be 3-2 and we will go through by 2 away goals to 1

  15. Michael D says:

    This is actually a tough one…Arsenal seem to have the advantage as far as a fit & full squad (Barca losing Pique & Puyol is huge, to me it could very well be the difference-maker) but their play as of late is very unimpressive. Arsenl could pull it off but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if they choke it away. Gun to my head, I say 1-1 (w Arsenal advancing on the agg) or 2-1 Barca and Arsenal advancing. Not that I necessarily want that, its just more likely.

  16. wisy says:

    The match will end up 2:2 in favour of arsenal

  17. spankz B says:

    nasri to score early on after a telepathic one-two wit fabregas to set the game alight and set up a goalfest which barca will end up winning 3-2. (250 to 1 if ur a betting man!)

  18. juancullo says:

    barca to go two up, arsenal then score to take the game to extra time when barca will score and win 3-1

  19. bluesword says:

    @juancullo i think the same thing 2-1. villa scores the first two, nasri or RVP gets the first for arsenal and iniesta gets the third. id like to see arsenal win it would be a huge result

  20. The Yank says:

    @snowmanvilla

    Well done, sir. I’d place some bets if I were you.

  21. Paul Kirkland says:

    @Geezer of the Cali Road

    Made my day. Arguably best post I’ve seen on Pies, ever.

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