Champions League: Barcelona and Bayern Munich in Strong Positions To Advance
By Ty Duffy
Barcelona 2-2 PSG: The French club scored late, giving them a 2-2 draw. But the result still puts Barcelona in a commanding position with two away goals. It’s also not off-kilter for Barcelona given their past form. Even at their apex, they have not been great in the Champions League away from home. The Catalans have won just three away legs in 14 attempts since 2008. In home legs over the same span, though, they have a 10-0-3 record and have outscored opponents 46-12. PSG could score a goal or two and keep things interesting, but it’s hard not to see Barcelona sprinting away with this.
Some star power has been diminished from this second leg. Both Messi and David Beckham will be starting on the bench.
Juventus 0-2 Bayern Munich: They looked gassed on a Tuesday, after playing a full squad the past weekend. Not getting an away goal is a killer, as one goal from Bayern can force them to score four. We don’t see the Germans coming out flat, after they nearly coughed away the Round of 16 at home against Arsenal. Bayern also has nothing else to play for, having already clinched the Bundesliga title. You can’t count out Juventus, but, without a top-class goal scorer in the side, we have trouble counting them in coming from behind.