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Football Betting - Champions League Matchday 3
They are among the most powerful football clubs in all of Europe -- Champions League holders FC Barcelona and English giants Chelsea FC.
The two sides will face each other on Wednesday in their third encounter in the past three years -- with both clubs taking wins in previous two-leg Round of 16 showdowns.
Last February, Samuel Eto'o gave Barcelona a win in London. Later Ronaldinho's goal was enough at home as Chelsea managed but a draw.
That win, naturally, took Barcelona to its Champions League title.
A season earlier, coach Jose Mourinho's Chelsea team got past Barca only with a late header by John Terry before going down to eventual champions Liverpool in the semi final.
Wednesday's match at Stamford Bridge should be an exciting contest. Chelsea have a perfect six points from two games in Group A.
Barcelona have four points from two matches -- after recently getting a draw against Werder Bremen. Nonetheless, Frank Rijkaard's team are three points clear of the Germans, who host Levksi Sofia on Wednesday.
The biggest drama of the game is Chelsea facing Barcelona with their third choice goalkeeper Hilario after Petr Cech and his back up Carlo Cudicini both received head injuries in Chelsea's Sunday Premiership match.
Jose Mourinho has tried deflecting the focus from Hilario, claiming he is more worried about the health of his two goalkeepers -- including Petr Cech, who fractured his skull.
"I care about my two friends. Barcelona is Barcelona, football is football. I care about it, but for me there are much more important things. I want them both to be out of the hospital," the manager said.
Hilario will surely be spurred on by the Chelsea crowd. But it remains to be seen if they will be enough for the Blues to see off Ronaldinho et al.
That is unclear, although Chelsea remain slight favourites with the bookies at 2.50 odds.
Considering some of the other interesting games on the third day of the Champions League, these are some of the highlights:
AC Milan can advance toward the knockout stages if they can claim victory against Anderlecht in a close Group H.
Bayern Munich sit at the top of Group B with six points and can almost clinch the group if they win against second-placed Sporting Lisbon. Despite being the visitors, Bayern are favoured by the bookmakers at 2.40 bet odds.
Liverpool are even on points with PSV Eindhoven in Group C with four points, and the Scousers visit Bordeaux. Galatasaray host PSV.
In Group D, Valencia will play host to Shakhtar Donetsk, hoping to preserve a perfect record in three games. The Spaniards are odds-on favourites at a short-priced 1.27
