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Champions League betting: Good time to be opposing Barca

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Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch thinks Barca's class should see them through in the end but Schalke could cause an upset in the first leg

When the draws are made for the Champions League knockout stages, the officials of all the clubs involved are all very composed and ready with quotes regarding how there aren't any easy matches in European football these days.

It would be refreshing to see a chief executive jump up in the air and celebrate, when their club is paired with a team from one of the continent's lesser leagues. Instead we have to gauge how pleased they are with the draw, by the smugness of their smile, as they trot out the same old hollow sound bites.

No matter what the club officials are saying at the Nou Camp, Barcelona will certainly be happy with their quarter final draw. They face Schalke 04 on Tuesday night and of all the games in the last eight, this is the closest to a David and Goliath encounter.

Those puffed up, nouveau rich, overlords at Chelsea would probably lay counter claim to this. But though they may have many more famous faces on the pitch than Fenerbahce, the Turkish club have never had to resort to advertising their tickets for Champions League games on Capital Radio.

No, it is Barcelona that have fallen on their feet and will be very happy to draw a team playing outside of Europe's three biggest leagues in England, Spain or Italy. Not so long ago, a German side would have been feared opposition, but this is no longer the case, due to the decline in stature of both the national team and the Bundesliga.

The ownership laws regarding German clubs has prevented them from attracting major foreign investment, which combined with the commendably low ticket prices in Germany, limits their spending power. It is now unimaginable that a German side could currently buy a player of the stature of Kevin Keegan, as Hamburg did in the seventies (though he'll probably be available on the cheap, in a managerial position midway through next season).

Barca will be hoping that the kindness of the draw, will be enough to mask their poor form and allow them to slip into the semi finals. They may then have Lionel Messi available again and he is a player capable of anything.

However, Barcelona should take nothing for granted. Schalke are certainly a more capable team than Real Betis, who recorded a shock 3-2 win over the Catalan club this weekend. Barcelona had taken a two goal lead through goals by Bojan Krkik and Samuel Eto'o, but suffered a second half collapse and eventually lost 3-2.

Such a defeat could inflict real damage upon the little morale that remains at the club. Had they won this game, they would have been within just one point of Real Madrid and have now probably blown their chance of getting back in the title race.

Schalke are currently third in the Bundesliga and well on course to qualify for the Champions League again. They were pretty fortunate to have qualified through the group stage, having taken just one point from the two games against Chelsea and losing at home to Valencia. Having scraped through, they then beat Porto on penalties to qualify for the quarters.

It is very unlikely that Scalke will have the quality to progress over two legs, but they could well spring a surprise in the first match. Celtic after all, gave Barcelona problems in the second round match at Parkhead and this time Messi will not be around to bail them out of trouble.

Schalke are [3.8] with the draw [3.4] and Barcelona [2.22]. I think Schalke are capable of taking a draw against a Barcelona side in disarray and a lay at [2.22] could provide good trading potential. Ultimately I expect Barcelona to progress, but the price of [1.27] to qualify doesn't offer much value.

Neither does the price of [4.6] for Barca to win the tournament. Whoever qualified, they will have a very tough semi final. A kind draw can only get you so far.