BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of tonight’s La Liga clash between Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad. Greg was in the money midweek with a win bet on Real Madrid.
Greg is now 19.47 points in front with 17 WINNING BETS FROM 29 !!
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 Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad…..
LA LIGA PREVIEW
Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad
Live on SKY 20:00
Simple solution….
It was a happy week in the Champion’s League for Spain’s La Liga representative Real Madrid where if You haven’t heard by now, Real Madrid won! Eh, I mean Manchester United had a player sent off! Everyone from Roy Keane to Boca Junior’s tea lady had a say on THAT sending off and the fact is that this is what makes the kick the round ball game of ours so much fun. The simple act of preventing these controversial issues is to implement the rugby format of using a TMO (television match official). Generally football players take so long rolling around from the slightest tip and the game has to stop anyway therefore allowing the referee an option of utilising the TMO while waiting as the injured (or not) player receives treatment or/and the offending player’s team is taking an eternity to organise their wall for the imminent free kick. If this simple format was in play last Tuesday then it would have been clear for all to see that the foul clearly did warrant a red card. UEFA and FIFA will never implement this policy because in my opinion their secret motto for our beautiful game is “There is only one thing worse than being talked about….and that is NOT being talked about!”, personally, I agree, it’s much more fun this way!
Madrid match up….
After last Sunday’s six goal thriller between Real Sociedad and Betis we go in search of more goals again with Sociedad but this time on the road. Week 27 and the Basque club make the journey to the Spanish capital where they will be met by second placed Atletico Madrid. As we know both clubs are having cracking seasons and bar a catastrophic collapse Atletico Madrid will be playing in next season’s Champion’s League. Their Sunday visitors Real Sociedad’s main target at the start of this season will have been to avoid any relegation worries and they have completed that task with ease. Sociedad now find themselves miles away from the relegation zone and within touching distance of Europe and it is that factor which should make this a very entertaining match in Madrid and hopefully help increase our Betdaq bankroll!
There’s only one Diego….
Atletico coach Diego Simeone is turning out to be quiet the shrewd football manager. The ex-Argentinean hard man had cut his managerial cloth at a few clubs in Argentina and Italy since his retirement from playing back in 2006. When the offer came to coach Atletico Madrid just thirteen months ago, a club for which he played five seasons, his acceptance was never in doubt. In his first few months he guided Atletico to two European trophies ,the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup. In this his second season, Simeone made a tough yet very sensible decision when opting to send a weakened side to play in the last round of this year’s Europa League. Atletico were knocked out and relinquished their European title however Simeone knew he had bigger fish to fry and knew he could not compete on all fronts so something had to be sacrificed. Cementing second place (or even winning La Liga!) and securing a place in the Copa del Rey final had become Diego’s targets and after turning over Seville to secure a place in the Copa final then now it is the turn of their La Liga aspirations to take precedence once again.
Gols Gols….
As highlighted in this column last week Real Sociedad’s style of play is very offensive and this is backed up by their goal scoring exploits. They have scored at least once in fifteen of their last seventeen games and of the forty six goals they have netted this season twenty two of these have been on the road. Mexican international Carlos Vela tops the goal scoring charts with twelve which is double that of Sociedad Centre forward Imanol Agrirrexte with five chipped in by penalty king Xavi Prieto. In their last ten games they have scored an incredible twenty two goals including putting three each past Barcelona (home) and Real Madrid (away). The visit to Atletico’s Vincent Caulderon stadium will be their toughest assignment yet in terms of trying to score goals. Atletico cat Thibaut Courtois has conceded only six times in twenty six games which is a truly remarkable feat. All the credit does not go to the goalkeeper though as quiet often in home games he has time for a few games of angry birds on his smart phone. Atletico’s defensive midfield and back four are at times so powerful that visiting teams often can’t even muster a single shot on goal.
Angry Birds….?!
In assessing this game I have come to the opinion that had this game been played about two or three months ago I would have possibly predicted the result to be a low scoring win to the home side. Times have changed since then and both of these teams are in happy places. I feel Atletico Madrid are relieved to be out of the Europa League, are ecstatic to be in the Copa del Rey final and will feel a bit of breathing space in their quest for Champion’s League qualification after their away point at ultra conservative Malaga last week. In recent home games Atletico, whilst still scoring, have played quiet tight in going about accumulating maximum points but I sense coach Simeone and his team may finally just be able to relax a little bit and may actually welcome a team of Sociedad’s style and will try put on a show for the loyal home fans. Radamel Falcao is continuing his incredible goal scoring exploits but is due a big night and will relish entertaining this Sociedad defence. At the other end Atletico’s goal keeper Courtois may actually have something to do for a change…and the angry birds may have to wait for ninety minutes!
Betting on BETDAQ: GREG’s Pick
BACK 2 Points OVER 3.5 GOALS @ 3.15
PROFIT TO DATE: 19.47 points
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