LA LIGA SUNDAY: The Ultra previews ESPANYOL v REAL MADRID with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
ESPANYOL V REAL MADRID
8pm The focus on Sunday from Europe on Betdaq Betting Exchange is again on La Liga this week as Espanyol host Real Madrid. It’s been quite a miserable season for Real when you zoom out; knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich at the Quarter-Final stage and now they sit eleven points behind Barcelona with just five games remaining. The title race is well and truly over with everyone going through the motions now – however, we do have El Clasico next week where Barcelona could confirm the title. Obviously there’s been a lot of off field drama with Real this season, and in general it’s been a season to forget.
It’s quite obvious player power won out with the Xabi Alonso situation. What looked like a very promising appointment – probably one of the most sought after coaches in the world last summer – didn’t last long. Now, we have more drama in the dugout. Jose Mourinho is being talked about as coming back at Real Madrid. He is the preferred candidate of Florentino Perez but obviously he doesn’t have full backing given Mourinho has already been through a lot with Madrid. Real Madrid are desperate for a firefighter, and there are few better at that than Mourinho, but he will bring his own drama and with reports of player unrest – particularly around Vini Jr – you have to wonder is he the man to bring everyone together when usually it’s his way or the highway. Benfica remain keen for Mourinho to stay, for what that’s worth!
On paper, this is a game that Real will be expected to win. It’s no surprise that they come into the game as the odds on favourites, but there are plenty of keen layers too. Real Madrid are trading 1.79 with Espanyol 4.9 and the draw is 4.1 at the time of writing. Their average xG created of 2.10 is the second best attacking figure in La Liga, behind only Barcelona’s 2.15. Their average xG conceded of 1.16 is the third best defensive figure. They can have no complaints that they are behind Barcelona. Espanyol have had a respectable season, but they are still just on the edge of the relegation battle. They have a nice five point cushion over the bottom three coming into the weekend, but they’ll still be looking over their shoulders.
They should be higher in the table and miles away from the relegation battle though. Their average xG created of 1.40 is a solid eighth in La Liga, and their average xG conceded of 1.50 has let them down; that’s the sixth worst defensive figure in La Liga this season. They aren’t setting the world alight, but they have been a tough side to beat at home. I wouldn’t be rushing to take the 1.79 on Real given all their troubles; they simply haven’t won enough games recently either. Real Madrid have been leaking sloppy goals for the last while – it’s been ten La Liga games without a clean sheet now – and that’s been a major issue for them. Both Teams To Score is trading 1.59 with Over 2.5 goals trading 1.63 – I couldn’t put anyone off either bet to be honest, but I feel there’s marginally more value in Over 2.5 goals at four ticks bigger.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Over 2.5 goals at 1.63 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/LLEsRe
