BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of Sunday’s La Liga clash between Athletic Bilboa v Atletico Madrid (live on Sky).
Greg is now 18.51 points in front with 14 WINNING BETS FROM 23 !!
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 Athletic Bilboa v Atletico Madrid…..
La Liga Match Preview
Athletic Bilboa v Atletico Madrid
Live on Sky Sports Sunday 20:00
Why You little….!
The strange and wonderful world of football hit the world’s headlines again this week and again for all the wrong reasons. Mario Balotelli’s tee shirt will no longer read ‘WHY ALWAYS ME” and will instead read “IT WASN’T ME” as the loveable Italian wasn’t even the same country when this comical caper was playing out. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard wrestling with a seventeen year old belly flopping ball’boy’ in the midweek cup game is just about as crazy as it gets and whilst it was an embarrassing situation for both participants lets just be grateful for the young lad that it wasn’t Roy Keane wearing the Chelsea number seventeen jersey that night.
Help, get me outta here….
Atletico Madrid travel to Basque country this week to the San Mames Stadium home to hosts Atlethic Bilboa. ‘Los Leones’ of Bilboa have an incredible history in Spanish football and is one of only three clubs to have never been relegated from the Primera Division of La Liga. The Club’s historical cantera policy of recruiting Basque only born players or in more recent times players with direct Basque ancestry only enhances their achievement of avoiding relegation however this season they are close enough to getting dragged into the battle at the bottom. After last season’s heroics of reaching the Finals of both the Copa del Rey and UEFA Europa League this season has been a major anti-climax.
European success for a club like Bilboa can bring unwanted attention and it is no coincidence that the loss of two of their best players has coincided with their slide down the table. Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich and striker Fernando Llorente’s (Juventus) bitter battle to leave, therefore forcing him out of the first team, has been a huge blow and with the Basque player policy in place it could be a long time before Athletic rise to the dizzy heights of Europe again. A meeting with crack outfit Atletico Madrid on Sunday is not ideal when You are near the bottom and if offered now the Basque boys would gratefully take a point and move on.
Life without Falcao….?
Atletico Madrid come in to this game off the back of yet another La Liga win. Last weekend’s two goal win and yet another clean sheet was as to be expected however it came at a price. Super star striker Radamel Falcao (right) pulled up clutching his hamstring on the hour mark however it has since been reported that at worst his recovery may take no more than three weeks and so it is to be only a temporary life without Falcao…. for now!
Atletico had recently lost the services of the Colombian in the away match to Mallorca and it was felt as the Madrid club dominated but could only find the net once. Falcao’s absence will be felt again at San Mames however with the Basques conceding in their last four and Madrid’s strong offensive style I would expect the home side to concede at least once. Los Colchoneros have lost only three on the road this season in La Liga however Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a different class to their opponents on Sunday.
The dream is still alive….
Athletic Bilboa are a club which takes great pride in it’s history and is known for it’s team’s unity on the pitch. This season tells a different story and coach Marcelo Biesla is struggling to implement the confidence and style that was so apparent last season. The Bilboa gaffer is coming under pressure in recent weeks and this is beginning to show on the pitch with at times his tactics changing quicker than a Milan catwalk model. Their visitors could not be of more contrasting fortunes and even without Falcao they will dominate for much of this game. The last two times these teams met Madrid won four nil in La Liga and three nil last May in the UEFA Europe Cup Final.
FC Barcelona shockingly slipped up last week losing 3-2 to Sociedad and second placed Atletico took full advantage by taking three points at home to Levante. The gap in La Liga is now eight points, whilst Barcelona are still expected to take the title at least Atletico Madrid are still in their fighting and for Los Colchoneros…. the dream is still alive.
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Picks:
BACK 2 POINTS ATLETICO MADRID TO WIN @ 2.55
PROFIT TO DATE: 18.51 points
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