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Sporting look destined for third placed finish
Sporting Lisbon have been handed an unlucky draw having been paired with both Barcelona and Juventus in Group D, but got off to the best possible start with a 3-2 away victory at Olympiakos.
A cynic might say that result has merely earned Sporting a spot in the Europa League, such is the gulf between them and two of European football's giants. Sporting's campaign in the Champions League last season certainly points to this outcome, as they lost four tight games against Borussia Dortmund and the eventual winners Real Madrid.
Barcelona are certainly in the type of form that suggests that they'll inflict another defeat. Since losing both legs of the Super Cup against Real Madrid, they have won every match. They now lead La Liga by four points and have gone a huge way towards winning this group with their 3-0 home win over Juventus.
This Barcelona side are not as star-studded as some of those in recent seasons, but Lionel Messi continues to amaze with his acts of individuality. Now 30, the evergreen Argentine has already scored twelve goals in just nine appearances.
More goals for Messi
Though Sporting only lost their group matches against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund by single goal margins last season, they were losing at half-time in three of those games.
With Barcelona perhaps generously priced to win at 1.40, this makes the half-time/full-time double result a decent option at 2.08.
Another possibility lies with Messi, who rather ominously for Sporting, failed to score at the weekend. It's not often that Messi goes two games without finding the net and he has scored two or more, on four occasions so far this season. Odds of 3.00 for the genius to grab at least a brace, are worth a gamble.
Recommended Bet
Back Messi to score two or more goals at 3.00
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