Royal Antwerp will host Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League group game on Wednesday, as the group stage draws to a close.
Royal Antwerp have crashed to five defeats in the group stage, including one against the table-topping Barcelona. And they are yet to register a single point in Group H ahead of their Matchday 6 clash against the Blaugrana this week.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have picked up four wins and a defeat from their five group games and they are already through to the knockout rounds of the competition. The Blaugrana will look to end the group stages on a high and pick up a comprehensive victory away from home.
Barcelona crashed to a 4-2 defeat against Girona at home in the last league game, and the players will be desperate to bounce back strongly. On the other hand, Royal Antwerp are coming into this game on the back of three straight victories and it remains to be seen whether they can upset the odds.
Ways to watch
Royal Antwerp vs Barcelona will kick off at 20:00 GMT at the Bosuilstadion, Belgium. TNT Sports will broadcast the fixture in the UK for those who subscribe.
For viewers in the USA, the game kicks off in Los Angeles at 12:00 and New York at 15:00, and it will be shown on CBS, TUDN Deportes Fubo, Paramount+, ViX, and Univision NOW. As for our Indian readers, the Sony Sports Network will telecast the match, while the Sony LIV app will stream it.
Form
Royal Antwerp: WDLWWW
The Belgian outfit are in impressive form coming into this game, and they have picked up four wins and a draw from the last six matches across all competitions. The only defeat came against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. It remains to be seen whether they can pull off a morale-boosting result at home against Barcelona.
Barcelona: LWDWWL
Barcelona were beaten by Girona 4-2 at home at the weekend, and they will be thoroughly disappointed with the performance. Prior to that, they had picked up three wins and a draw and will look to bounce back strongly in the UEFA Champions League.
Head-to-Head Record
Royal Antwerp and Barcelona have faced each other three times in their history, and the reigning La Liga champions have picked up two wins in that time. The Belgian outfit have just one win under their belt. The most recent clash ended in a 5-0 win for the Blaugrana.
Key Stats
- Barcelona have won four of their last five Champions League matches, scoring 10 goals in the process.
- Royal Antwerp have lost their last five Champions League matches, conceding 15 goals in the process.
- Royal Antwerp have scored 16 goals in the last six matches across all competitions.
- Barcelona have scored 10 goals in their last five matches across all competitions.
Prediction and Betting Tips
Both teams are quite attacking in their approach, and they are unlikely to sit back and defend here. They are likely to play their usual game, and it will be an open contest with a fair few chances for either side. A high-scoring game is definitely on the cards here. Over 2.5 goals seem likely.
Barcelona have been formidable in the UEFA Champions League so far, and the last time these two sides met, they picked up a 5-0 win at Camp Nou. Meanwhile, Royal Antwerp have lost all of their Champions League group games, scoring just thrice in five European outings. It is fair to assume that a comprehensive win awaits Barcelona here. Bet on the away side to win by two or more goals.
