Barcelona will play against Elche in their first match for 2014 and the big news around this match is that it again will be played without Lionel Messi. It is expected for Messi to be ready to play for the next round. It is clear to everyone that Barcelona is weaker without the Argentinean (despite the fact they are still the best team in Spain) and that’s why a bet for an away win on Asian Handicap with three goals margin for the guests and odds of 1.65 seems a really possible winner.
We don’t need to think much to realize that nothing depends on Elche’s players and it is a question of will for the hosts to beat this margin without problems.
However, the visitors from Elche are a tough nut to crack. In the current campaign they achieved three draws and two wins away from home, which in any case is not a bad result. Moreover, throughout the season from all of their 8 losses (including this one from Real Madrid) six came with only one goal difference. The only heavy defeat they have came in the first match against Rayo Vallecano, when they lost with 3-0.
Barcelona and Elche have not played so far in the championships of Spain, though it would hardly bring any valuable information which we can consider in this betting prediction.
Video from Barcelona’s last match versus Getafe
It is interesting how Barcelona played in its first match for the year in their previous two seasons. In both cases, they met Espanyol. In the last match the victory was for Barcelona with 4-0. However, two years ago the match was a draw – 1-1.
Video from Elche’s last match versus Malaga
What are the odds for this game? Bet-at-home offers 1.09 for a Barcelona win, 9.70 for a draw as the final outcome and 20.00 for a win of the visitors. Bet365 is somehow more confident in the victory of the home team and their offer is only 1.08. The other two coefficients are respectively 11.00 and 26.00. The proposal of William Hill for an 1X2 is 1.08, 10.00 and 26.00.