BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with a preview of Saturday’s La Liga match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Greg is now 15.64 points in front and has had 10 WINNING BETS FROM 15 !!
Greg is BETDAQ’s spokesperson and has plenty to say on the subject of football. Each week he brings his recommended BETDAQ bets across a range of matches but with focus on his area of expertise – European and International football.
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He now previews Saturday’s match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid….
LA LIGA Match Preview:
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid:
Saturday Sky Sports 21.00pm.
El Derbi madrileño….
Match day fourteen of Spain’s Primera Liga is upon us this weekend and all eyes will be on the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu Madrid where home side Real Madrid host bitter city rivals Atletico in what is known in these parts as El Derbi madrileño. The last time these teams played out a scoreless draw was way back in 2004/2005, that’s eighteen competitive matches ago. Michael Owen was old enough to play up front for Real that night but not quiet old enough to grow a ‘movember’….(can we still call him ‘young’ Michael Owen?).
Moody Mourhino….
After thirteen Primera Liga games, not only are Real Madrid eleven points behind FC Barcelona but they also have an eight point gap to make up on City rivals Atletico. In a normal season this city derby has its own historic meaning to the residents of the Spanish capital however the current league positions of both clubs has added even more intensity to an already potentially explosive affair. Real’s embarrassing loss away to Real Betis last week left coach Jose Mourhino fuming and diverting the blame for the loss on everything from the weather to the Mexican wave. The last thing Senor Mourhino needs right now is to be turned over in his own back yard by Atletico and in the process waving adios to any slim hopes his Los Blancos had of retaining the title they so gallantly won in 2011/2012.
Impeccable Record….
Atletico Madrid are in for a tough night. In Real Madrid’s last forty competitive home games they have lost only once and you would be correct in guessing that this sole defeat came courtesy of the mighty FC Barcelona. To dent the Atletico players confidence even further we only have to review their own record against Real over the past few seasons. It is twenty four matches ago, way back in October 1999, when Atletico last beat Real and seventeen of those resulted in victory for Los Blancos. In light of ‘Real’s’ current league position much has been written in the media about unrest at the club and possible imminent moves away from the club for Ronaldo and Mourinho. In last week’s defeat away to Real Betis, Ronaldo certainly had one of his ‘not interested’ games and Mourinho (and it’s not an act)is resigned to the fact that his club has no way of catching Barcelona, even if still is only December. All this speculation and winning the La Liga thoughts will be put to one side in the home dressing room this weekend where they know that nothing less than a victory will suffice to prevent 80,000 white handkerchiefs being waved in disapproval of their beloved club’s season demise.
Atletico’s First test….
Diego’s Simone’s side will make the short journey across the city and will have his team physically but most importantly mentally prepared for the task ahead. The Argentinean hard man has himself been on the losing side in a couple of these ‘Derbi madrileño’ in his playing days and once as a newly installed manager, however these experiences will benefit him greatly as he patrols the Bernabeau touchline on game night. Los Colchoneros come in to this game on a great run of results this season which have seen them win eleven, draw one and their only loss came away to Valencia. In the context of assessing this game the away loss to Valencia is probably the most important piece of form we can go on. The fact is that Valencia were the only ‘top four’ team (Barca, Real & Seville being the other three) that they have met this season and Atletico lost to them by two goals to nil. Los Colchoneros must now face Real Madrid away in what really is their first test of the season.
Match Ups….
It is impossible to review this game with out mentioning match ups both on and off the pitch. Ronaldo and Falcao, Mourihino and Simeone to name just two.
In defense the magnificent ‘Pepe’ will be his usual ‘shy’ self and whilst he is a magnificent defender how he handles Falcao will be a fascinating contest, but don’t be surprised if he gets a yellow card specifically for a foul on the Colombian superstar. Xabi Alonso in the ‘Real’ midfield is probably one of the world’s best, yet underrated players, and he will be up against Turkish ace Arda Turan who has been in electric form and has bagged two goals from his last three games. I do accept that this is Atletico’s first real test and the Valencia result along with Real Madrid’s amazing home record and their dominant record over their visitors all point to a victory for the home team and their will be plenty of BETDAQ backers of this outcome. In favor of their opponents, I do feel that Diego Simeone’s side have improved since that Valencia defeat, they possess a good habit of knowing when to defend in numbers and when to make there offensive moves and the key to their success under this coach has been their team discipline matched only in world football by Barcelona. Real Madrid need to win, Atletico do not, a fact that gives a rare edge to the visitors in this particular derby.
The match up on the betting odds for me do not equate to what I have seen on the pitch this season and there may be a few ‘Los Blancos’ fans ironing their white handkerchiefs as I type….
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Picks:
LAY 2 points REAL MADRID @ 1.5
PROFIT TO DATE: 15.64 POINTS
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