Barca to edge battle of giants

Barcelona should be backed at 8-5 with VC Bet to beat Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.

This tournament is Barca’s chance to atone for a sketchy season in their domestic league — they have won only one of their past eight games — and they will be banking on the return of the talismanic Lionel Messi to prompt a revival.

Messi is not long back from injury, but he will have powerful support up front in the shape of outstanding youngster Bojan Krkic and the experienced Samuel Eto’o.

Perhaps more pressing for Barcelona is the fact that skipper Carles Puyol is out through suspension, but they can overcome that difficulty if their front men play to their best.

For United, the Nou Camp holds the happy memories of their famous 2-1 win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final, and they return on the brink of retaining their Premier League title.

However, for all the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, they have looked far from impregnable at times in recent draws at Blackburn and Middlesbrough, and Arsenal set them plenty of questions before going down 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Barcelona have far more firepower than any of those sides and can take a lead to Old Trafford for the second leg.

United are best at 2-1 with Boylesports with the draw tops at 11-5 with VC Bet.