THE CROWD PICKS BARÇA! Unbeaten Barcelona Backed to Topple Perfect PSG in Paris

Fans, we have a verdict, and it's arrived before kickoff! The Morfi crowd has looked at the biggest Champions League night of the week, Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona on 20 October, and gone with the visitors. Two perfect records, one pitch, and a crowd that just backed the team walking into the lion's den without half its back line.

Here's what's on the line. According to ESPN's fixture list, PSG host the game at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League league phase. And both sides turn up with nothing but wins. ESPN reports that Barcelona had won all eleven of their matches in all competitions this season before the trip. That's the same flawless Barça I covered when the crowd still handed Madrid the Clásico edge. Paris are perfect too: ESPN says they beat Manchester City four goals to two the week before and have won every league-phase game so far.

Now for the twist that makes this pick so bold. ESPN reports that Eric García and Jules Koundé are both ruled out, and Andreas Christensen is out too with a thigh problem, so Barcelona are seriously short at centre-back. The good news for the Catalans is that Raphinha came off the bench against Betis and is expected to be available. So the visitors are shaky at the back but loaded up front, and they're facing a PSG attack that just put four past City.

And still the crowd isn't blinking. On Morfi's opinion markets, Barcelona sit at 60% consensus and PSG trail at 40%. In a straight two-way fight, that's a clear lead for the away side. So far 63 traders have put $202,365 behind their opinions, and the market opened less than a day ago, so these are early numbers and they could still move. What it tells you is that the crowd trusts the winning streak more than the injury list.

My take, and it is only my take: I love the nerve, but I think this crowd is swinging too hard. Taking a makeshift back line into the Parc des Princes against a side that just dismantled City is about as risky as football gets. Still, a team that has won eleven out of eleven has something you can't put on a team sheet, and Raphinha coming back gives Barça the firepower to win a shootout. If this turns into a four-three thriller, I wouldn't bet against the side that's forgotten how to lose. I just wouldn't call it the safe pick either, the way the crowd seems to. Paris at home is a serious place to put your money on the visitors.

Keep an eye on the team sheets. Who Barça line up at centre-back, and whether Raphinha starts, could swing this market hard before kickoff. If you think the crowd has it right, or that Paris are about to spoil the party, come and join the market on Morfi and put your opinion on the scoreboard. Same Champions League, new chapter, after the crowd backed City for the trophy. Kickoff is close, fans. Get your call in!