BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview tonight’s La Liga match between Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid which is live on SKY.
Greg is now 33.52 points in front with 21 WINNING BETS FROM 37 !!
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He now previews Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid …..
La Liga
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
KO 21:00 SKY
The Big Three?….
Spain’s Primera Liga enters match day seven this weekend and as normal the ‘big two’ are starting to break away already however not ALL the other teams are being left behind this season. 2012-13 Copa Del Rey winners Atletico Madrid sit second and with no signs of easing up the pressure on their more illustrious rivals. The departure of goal machine Rademal Falcao to Monaco has not had the expected negative impact on Diego Simeone’s team and incredibly if anything they look an even better unit with out the Colombian. FC Barcelona only just edged out Atletico in the two legged Spanish Super Cup in August with both games ending in a draw and the future is looking very bright for Los Colchoneros.
Victory over FC Barcelona in that Spanish Cup tie would have been sweet for Diego Simeone however the Argentinean will have known that their would be bigger games to come and it is this weekend that for his club face the biggest game of them all is upon him. This Saturday sees the Primera Liga’s first El Derbi Madrileno as arch rivals Real and Atletico face up to each other at the Bernabeau. Followers of Spanish football will know of the overall abysmal record Atletico have against Real however victory in last May’s Copa Del Rey final (as tipped up here!) at the Bernabeau could be the catalyst to dispatch with the ‘fear factor’ that Atletico always brought with them to these derby games.
Attacking Atletico….
This summer Simeone brought in the experienced David Villa to bolster an attack weakened by Falcao’s departure but it is the young (but old looking!) Diego Costa that has benefited most. The twenty five year young Brazilian has notched seven goals in six Liga games and is currently joint top scorer alongside Leo Messi. Costa has long had a reputation for being an aggressive, physical and sometimes dirty player and while all those ‘attributes’ remain his ability as a natural goal scorer has now come to the fore no doubt assisted by Simeone’s belief in him. Falcao’s departure has seen a number of other players step up manfully to the plate, particularly young Koke, Raul Garcia and the ever imperious Turk Arda Turan. Coach Diego Simeone has also stepped up and in doing so has changed his team’s style of play. The past number of seasons has seen Atletico play a defensive style with the emphasis on break away goals however this style can only get you so far. The Atletico of this season, whilst not exactly playing in the style of Ajax Amsterdam, have certainly been more offensive with particularly Turan and Raul Garcia given more reign to push forward. This new style has paid off in goals being scored but the sacrifice has not been cheap with Atletio conceding five goals in six games, a huge amount by their normal standards.
Under Pressure?….
Arch rivals and hosts ‘Los Blancos’ sit two points behind although it should be three! Last Wednesday Real were given a penalty in the most dubious circumstances away to newly promoted Elche. Over the injury time and being held by lowly Elche when Real Madrid’s Pepe wrestled Carlos Sanchez to the ground in Elche’s box which the referee somehow called a foul on the Madrid man, penalty, Ronaldo, three points. This season Real have accumulated sixteen points form a possible eighteen. Dropping two points away to newly promoted Villarreal and struggling against Elche are showing signs that all is not that comfortable for new coach Carlo Ancelotti. The summer’s major new signings, Isco, Asier Illarremendi and of course Gareth Bale. Isco has been a sensation scoring five goals and looks the real deal. Illarremendi is struggling to settle at such a big club and Gareth Bale scored on his debut and is set to make his Real Madrid home debut of where his fitness will need to be at 100% but surely a doubt must linger on that score. Irrelevant of Bale’s fitness or not, Real Madrid’s corporate boardroom and president will demand their big summer signing starts in front of what will be an international television audience.
Too many chiefs!….
It is always difficult to preview a Real Madrid match and not detail players such as, Ronaldo, Pepe, Ramos, Modric not to mention Champion’ League goalkeeper Iker Casillas. One player who must be discussed is a player who has not played this season, Xabi Alonso. The Spanish international may be getting on years but it is no coincidence that Real’s stuttered start to this season coincides with the midfielders absence. In light of this, Bale’s possible lack of fitness, and in general Ancelotti’s men struggle to control games then the last team they will fancy meeting is their rivals from across the city. Atletico will not be complacent, are full of confidence and discipline. In David Villa they have a very experienced addition primed for games such as this. The obvious prediction is that this game will be extremely entertaining. Atletico won the cup here a few months ago but Simeone has an even bigger target this season and knows that now is the time to go for La Liga….
Betting on BETDAQ – Greg’s Tips:
BACK 2 POINTS @5.6 Atletico Madrid to WIN.
BACK 1 POINT @ 3.5 Anytime Scorer- DAVID VILLA
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