Antwerp vs Barcelona prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-12 20:00.
Royal Antwerp started their maiden UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign by being thumped 5-0 at Barcelona and went on to be defeated in their next four Group H games. They are in danger of becoming only the sixth team ever to lose their first six matches in the competition, a statistic which is in stark contrast to their historical status of being the last Belgian side to reach the final of a UEFA competition, when they did so in the 1992/93 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
While Mark van Bommel’s men conceded 3+ goals in their two UCL home group defeats, a run of four straight victories at Bosuilstadion coming into this encounter – averaging nearly four goals scored per game – suggests they can’t be taken lightly. Even Antwerp’s only win against Spanish opposition (L6) came at home, albeit in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1965/66.
Barcelona were on the wrong end of that result back in the 60s and will be careful not to repeat it as they need a point to make sure of topping the group. The Catalans haven’t achieved that feat in the UCL since 2019/20, so securing their spot at the summit would constitute a mini-redemption, having failed to qualify for the round of 16 in the last two seasons. More than the symbolic element, Xavi needs to address his squad’s undoubted dip in confidence after a 4-2 loss to Girona over the weekend left them seven points off first place in La Liga.
Away form has been a worry for Barça, who have won just two of their last six road trips (D3, L1). That lone defeat came on matchday four against Shakhtar Donetsk (1-0) at a neutral venue, forming part of their underwhelming recent six-game UCL record on their travels (W2, L4), which suggests things could perhaps get tricky here for the Spaniards.
Players to watch: Michel-Ange Balikwisha netted his only goal in the UCL proper at Bosuilstadion and has been in the thick of the action over his last eight matches (G4, A4). Not quite at his best of late, Robert Lewandowski nevertheless scored Barcelona’s opener in the loss to Girona and registered two goal contributions (G1, A1) in the reverse fixture against Antwerp.
Hot stat: Including two UCL games, Antwerp scored their first goal before half-time in each of their last seven home matches.