Barcelona 2-0 Cadiz – Betting Review
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. Despite rotations Barcelona managed a fairly comfortable win, though punters may have started to get a little nervy until the goals came on the stroke of half time. Barcelona won @ 1.22.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest, which was a lot closer than the 1×2 market. Barcelona were -2 @ 1.81 but as outlined in the betting section of the preview on this site, due to the massive test of Man Utd midweek, Barcelona were likely to approach this game in a low gear, so it was easy to oppose them. In the end and largely thanks to a controversial decision denying Cadiz a goal, it ended as a push on both Barcelona-2 and Cadiz +2.
Looking lastly at the Over/Under betting market where, as detailed above, was not one to be excited about goals due to the host resting men and their desire not to use energy or risks their bodies with a bigger game ahead. Under 3 won @ 1.92.
Match Summary
Barcelona scored twice at the end of a first half in which they controlled the game but had not looked their sharpest in front of a defensive Cadiz. With two minutes left before the break, 0-0 suddenly became 2-0 and pretty much game over with goals from Sergi Roberto and Lewandowski.
In the second half Barcelona gradually sat back and so Cadiz came out of their shell and generated consistent pressure for a good 35 minutes or so, particularly in the final quarter. Cadiz had a good goal ruled out for a push on the keeper and merited a closer loss. Fair score 2-1.
With this 2-0 win, Barcelona went back to eight points clear of La Liga, moving the unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions. It was also yet another domestic clean sheet for the club, though on this occasion it flattered them as Cadiz created plenty of opportunities for a consolation goal.
Despite pulling off a shock win at the Camp Nou last season, there was no real signs of that initially as Barcelona controlled the ball and the game.
Eric García headed wide for a rotated and youthful looking Barcelona early on.
Against the run of play Cadiz broke out but Roger Martí was flagged offside before he fired into the net. This was a warning sign and prevented Barcelona from being super risk taking in their approach.
As half time approach and with Cadiz very content with their defnisve work, Robert Lewandowski’s header was cleared off the line before Sergi Roberto hammered home, much to the relief of Xavi the boss.
Not much more than one minute later, Lewandowski made it 2-0 by surprising the keeper with an early shot with little back lift form outside the box.
The second half saw Barcelona sit back and play keep ball, but increasingly offering less threat, if any at all, as Cadiz gradually started to have more danger.
Roger Martí again had the ball in the net but this time it was wrong to rule out, with an attacker adjudged to have fouled Stegen which if anything, was a foul by the keeper.
Barcelona clearly had spent the second half conserving energy and avoiding injury, including taking key men off to rest for United midweek.
The visitors will be disappointed that they didn’t get at least one goal back, it ended 2-0.
