Home and Away: Cristal have the bottle to take all three points this evening

 

Jonno Turner previews action in Peru and Spain as he looks for two more winners in his Home and Away column..

 

We're off to Peru for our first pick - and Sporting Cristal travel to Union Comercio looking to secure their fourth game unbeaten in five.

 

The visitors sit second in the top tier ahead of this clash, and will be desperate for maximum points in order to pile the pressure on leaders Sport Huancayo, who currently sit one point ahead - but have played a game more.

 

Boss Roberto Mosquera will be keen for his side to move into pole position, as they look to retain the title which they won last campaign, and a 4-0 win over Universitario last week will have boosted confidence in the away camp.

 

That result made it two clean sheets from three games for the Rimac side, and they will be looking to maintain that solid defensive record as they travel to lowly Union Comercio.

 

The hosts go into this clash sitting second bottom of the division, in 15th place, and are in miserable form having won just one of their last nine outings.

 

Fernando Nogara's side lost 1-0 to Real Garcilaso in their last encounter, and that will have knocked the San Martin club, who desperately need to start picking up points.

 

The last time these two sides met, Sporting Cristal ran out comfortable 2-0 winners - and I'm expecting a similar outcome today.

 

Bet 1: Sporting Cristal (AWAY) @ 2.02

 

Switching our attentions to action at the Nou Camp now, as Barcelona host Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

 

Tito Vilanova's side have made life hard for themselves following a 4-0 thrashing in the first fixture, and they will need to be quick out of the traps if they are going to stand any chance of clawing their way back into this tie.

 

But the home side have only lost one from 29 on their own patch, and that will give them confidence that they can salvage something in this game - having smashed 31 goals in their last 10 outings in front of their own fans.

 

Four clean sheets from their last six is important as they can't afford to gift the Germans any more leeway here, and it is important that, even if they are to bow out of the competition at this stage, they make a real fight of this tie.

 

Bayern travel to Spain having done the hard work - and that's important for them, as they have only won five of their last nine on the road in this competition.

 

Boss Jupp Heynckes has seen his side race to the top of their domestic table with a 20 point gap, and they have won their last 10 outings home and away - but their game plan will probably be slightly different today.

 

An early goal for Barca would make this tie very interesting, and I expect the visitors to shore up at the back in order to prevent that occurring.

 

But ultimately I think we will see the home side make the most of their home advantage, winning the game - but not the tie.

 

Bet 2: Barcelona (HOME) @ 1.87

 

Bet HERE

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