Rampaging Real too hot for Atletico

It might not be the biggest derby for Real Madrid this weekend, particularly with ‘El Clasico’ coming up at the end of the month, but Atletico (17/2 in the match betting) will be looking to upset their more illustrious neighbours to earn the bragging rights in the Spanish capital and reignite their bid for Champions League football next year.

That will be the plan anyway but Real (2/7 favourites) have turned a corner under Jose Mourinho following a slow start to the campaign and are now beginning to look like a team, rather than a collection of individuals.

The goals have started to flow as well of late, certainly domestically, with 19 scored in the last four games as Los Merengues have moved to the top of the table with a minimum of fuss.

They hold a one-point advantage over arch-rivals Barcelona (both 10/11 to win Primera Liga) and will not be wanting to let that advantage slip, with the Catalans given the perceived easier task this weekend of a trip to Getafe.

Of course, Barcelona do kick off earlier on Sunday but that will have no bearing on the Atletico clash as Real will either want to regain the lead or pull further clear ahead of ‘El Casico’ on November 28.

The attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria have started to gel and all have got amongst the goals, with Ronaldo leading the way with 10 goals in the last four games to take his season’s tally so far in the league to 12.

The former Manchester United ace is an obvious candidate in the goalscoring markets as he also takes the penalties, and will no doubt have a number of opportunities to add to his collection and is available at 5/2 to be first or last goalscorer, 4/7 anytime or 11/4 to score 2 or more.

With a dominant home record of four wins from four, scoring 16 goals and conceding just two, it is no surprise to see Real strong 2/7 favourites in the match betting, and it may be worth taking them to do complete the Half-time/Full-time result at 8/11.

Being a derby match, there will be no easing into the game and with Atletico seemingly struggling on their travels, Real will waste little time in setting about their neighbours.

Hercules were not handed the easiest of starts on their return to the top flight in Spain but they wasted little time in making a name for themselves with a 2-0 win over Barcelona at the Nou Camp on the second weekend.

Los Blanquiazules (11/5 in the match betting) can become the first team this season to win at the Reyno de Navarra when they take on Osasuna (21/20 to win, 11/5 the draw) on Sunday as they have proved they certainly can be a match for the big boys in the top flight.

Following the Barca win, Hercules have already held Sevilla and Villarreal this term and although they lost last weekend, two of Real Madrid’s three goals came in the last eight minutes.

Although Osasuna have not been beaten at home, two wins and two draws, Los Rojillos have had a much easier start to the campaign on paper, only facing Real in the opening nine games, while they were hammered 4-1 at Racing Santander last weekend, who moved out of the bottom three with the win.

Meanwhile in Germany, Bayern Munich (7/4 to win the Bundesliga) seemingly have turned things around after a slow start to the campaign and look ready to pick up three points on their travels.

Since a 2-0 defeat at league leaders Borussia Dortmund, the Bavarian giants (4/7 in the match betting) have gone a five-match unbeaten streak, winning four of them, and can claim the win at lowly Borussia Monchengladbach (19/5 to win, 11/4 the draw) on Saturday.

Bayern have banged in 14 goals in those five games and look to have far too much ammunition for the basement side who have yet to win at home and have lost three of their five games, while they have only mustered six goals all season.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Copa Del Rey Final: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla Too Close To Call

post thumbnail

Copa del Rey copa 300x187 Copa Del Rey Final: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla Too Close To CallThe curtain falls on the Spanish domestic season tonight with the encounter between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey Final.

This game could easily go all the way and end up being decided on penalties such is the closeness of each side’s abilities. The draw is available at 3.25, with the inform goal machine Diego Forlan going at 6.00 to score the first goal at PartyBets.com.

Chance to silence sceptics

Both sides have performed inconsistently throughout the 2009/10 season but both managed to salvage their season’s right at the end. Atletico Madrid enjoyed Europa League success with a 2-1 win after extra time against a determined Fulham side in Hamburg, whereas Sevilla came out on top of an epic tussle with plucky Real Mallorca in a fight for fourth place and Champions League football next season. Both sides now have the chance to turn their season into a truly memorable one.

Sevilla (2.60) finished five places higher than Atletico (2.60) in the final league standings and go into the final as slight favourites. However, Sevilla coach Antonio Alvarez has stated that the two sides will be evenly poised at Camp Nou.

“I do not like to go in as favourites. That can stir up the pride of the opposition. We come with a 50 per cent chance. It is you [the media] who have to say those things, we respect Atletico Madrid a lot,” he said at a press conference.

Advantage Sevilla

Sevilla managed to find some winning form in the run-in, winning six and losing three matches of their last nine. Atletico on the other hand have already proven this season they can win cup competitions and produce the goods in the games that really matter.

These two sides played each other twice this season with Atletico winning their home match 2-1 and Sevilla winning 3-1 at home as well.

You Can Bet On This Outcome: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla

The team news for Sevilla is that Brazilian forward Luis Fabiano is injured and will play no part in the Final. Fernando Navarro will be missing from the weakened defence and Avero Negredo is suspended.

Atletico face no major injury worries and welcome back their star players who were given a rest at the weekend.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. Back Sevilla To Beat Getafe In Copa Del Rey Semi Final
  2. Atlético Madrid and Valencia Clash in all-Spanish Europa League Quarter-Final
  3. La Liga Predictions: Atletico Madrid On Path To Europe


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Gerrard relishing Atletico mission

Steven Gerrard has said Liverpool will have to play like “heroes” if they are to overturn a 1-0 semi-final first-leg defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League at Anfield next week (4/7 Liverpool 12/5 draw 9/2 Atletico Madrid – match betting).

The Reds appeared heavy-legged off the back of a gruelling 24-hour, 1,200-mile trip to the Spanish capital by road, rail and air because of the flight restrictions imposed by the cloud of volcanic ash when they fell to an early goal by former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan on Thursday.

The setback at the Vicente Calderon means Rafael Benitez’s men must roll their sleeves up if they are to reach their third European final in six years.

England midfielder Gerrard is refusing to believe Liverpool have blown their last chance of silverware this season and is expecting another special European atmosphere at Anfield.

“It is still half-time. We are still confident we can progress and we know we can turn any result around with our fans behind us, especially a 1-0,” said Gerrard.

He added: “If you don’t want to play in that game there is something wrong.

“These are the stages you want to play on, these are the nights when heroes are made.”

The Reds staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in European history when they came from 3-0 at half-time to beat AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final.

Gerrard was at his inspirational best in the group stages when he rescued his team-mates in the final game against Olympiacos.

This season they have also trailed against Lille and Benfica before securing second-leg wins.

The 29-year-old expects Thursday will not be the faint-hearted but is confident Liverpool can reach the final in Hamburg on May 12 (3/4 Liverpool – To Qualify).

He said: “We haven’t played well at all on the road in the league or in Europe but we’ve got the experience, the know-how, of turning these results around.”

He added: “Atletico have got fantastic players who can hurt you so we know we need to perform perfectly if we want to get to Hamburg.”

Liverpool must first collect maximum points off Burnley to keep alive their remote hopes of a top-four finish and Gerrard says he expects Benitez to make changes for the trip to Turf Moor.

He said: “I’m sure the manager will make a few changes to freshen things up and we’ll try to get a win against Burnley and then prepare for a massive game, the biggest of the season, next Thursday.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.