Free betting tips and match preview: Champions League - Barcelona v Napoli
Saturday's other game sees Barcelona welcome Napoli with the aggregate score at 1-1. Tom Carnduff picks out two stats-based bets.
Recommended bets
1pt Lionel Messi to have 1+ tackles at Evens
1pt Fabian Ruiz to have 1+ shots on target at 15/8
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Barcelona v Napoli (20:00 BST, BT Sport)
Although Barcelona will never be satisfied with coming second to Real Madrid in LaLiga, they can take some positives from the fact they finished the league campaign with four wins from five matches.
Napoli, on the other hand, failed to find the consistency required to force their way into the top-six, although they did beat Lazio 3-1 on final day. Regardless, they haven't followed up their strong 2018/19 campaign, where they finished second to Juventus, with another top-four finish here.
Even with some problems this season Barcelona should have enough to get past this Napoli side. They are 4/11 to qualify for the next round while it is 8/13 that they secure victory on the night.
Lionel Messi is backed to shine once again as the world's best player looks to guide Barcelona into the next round. He's an odds-on 8/13 price to net anytime in this contest but the better value comes into taking the even money on offer for one or more successful tackles.
He is obviously known for his attacking qualities but there has been at least one tackle in over half of his LaLiga games this season. Putting pressure on the opposition backline leads to them winning possession and he only needs to put a foot in to steal the ball and this bet pays out.
Napoli will have opportunities of their own though and it's just under 2/1 that Fabian Ruiz has at least one effort on target. The 24-year-old has been a regular part of this midfield.
Five of his seven Champions League appearances have seen at least one total shot while there were a total of nine across his last three Serie A matches. In fact, only two of his league appearances this season failed to produce a shot.
There were two in their home victory over current holders Liverpool alongside three in the 1-1 draw against Salzburg. His statistics this season show that he should have had more than the three league goals on his tally.
Barcelona are a short price for success here, as expected and as is always the case when they are at home, but the better outright option is to take their -1 handicap price at 6/4 across the board.
The two best bets in this contest come in the statistics market though and backing Messi and Ruiz to be involved.
Score prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Napoli (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Best bet: Lionel Messi to have 1+ tackles at Evens
Odds correct at 1000 BST (07/08/20)
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