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Champions League Odds – Barcelona vs Celtic

Randy McInnis

by Randy McInnis in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:40 AM PST

FC Barcelona travels to Scotland to face Celtic in the UEFA Champions League without their best striker Lionel Messi.  The game is set to start Tuesday at 2:45 PM ET for group H of the competition.

Messi scored hi s11th goal of the season against Almeria on Saturday, but then had to leave the field with a thigh injury that will keep him two to three weeks away from the field.

“Leo Messi has a small injury to the biceps femoris (thigh) in his right leg,” a Barcelona statement read. “This was confirmed by medical tests undertaken by the player on Sunday morning at Medical Services Sport City.

“The Argentinian will be out for approximately two to three weeks, which will certainly force him to miss Barcelona’s two games this week – on Tuesday against Celtic and next Saturday at the Camp Nou against Valladolid.”

Barcelona has seven straight wins in the Spanish Liga with new coach Tata Martino; that’s the best start even by a new coach in the tournament.

Celtic played a heck of a game against Milan two weeks ago at San Siro, but allowed two late goals and lost the match.  They need to beat Barcelona in order to keep their hopes in the group alive.

All teams have played just one fixture, but Barcelona and Milan have 11 Europeans championships combined; they are by far the favorites to advance over Celtic and Ajax.

Last season these two teams met twice.  Celtic beat Barcelona with a surprising 2-1 result at Celtic Park.

Barcelona is the favorite in the moneyline listed -290 to get a win; Celtic is +700 and the draw pays +350.

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