THURSDAY IN EUROPE: The Ultra previews REAL MADRID v VALENCIA and JUVENTUS v LAZIO both with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
REAL MADRID V VALENCIA
8pm We have more top class action from Europe on BETDAQ Betting Exchange this Thursday! Real Madrid are in action in La Liga, and we also have a brilliant Coppa Italia Quarter-Final between Juventus and Lazio. We start the evening in La Liga where Real Madrid host Valencia. I don’t think it’s being too dramatic to say that this is a must win game for Real Madrid. Since returning from the World Cup they have lost to Villarreal and could only manage a 0-0 at the weekend against Real Sociedad. After the weekend round of fixtures they found themselves five points behind Barcelona at the top of the table, and that was after starting the season on fire and also beating Barcelona in El Clasico. Barcelona have really come back with a bang, and Real Madrid are under pressure in the title race. At this stage, they can’t afford to drop points in games like that. Valencia are a decent side, but they are a mid-to-low table La Liga side these days. I’m sure Real Madrid will be a popular selection for any Acca this week at around the 1.42 mark. They wouldn’t have been disappointed with the 0-0 draw here at the weekend against Sociedad, but they created a much bigger xG figures than they conceded and should have won.
I couldn’t put anyone off the home win at 1.42, but I’m going to stay away from the match odds market here and look around the side markets for some value. Valencia have been struggling away from home this season – they’ve only managed six points from their eight away games and that actually puts them close to the relegation zone on the away table. If you look at their under-lining numbers, Valencia have been playing OK. They are creating more than they concede which is always positive, but you have to remember they are up against a side who create an average xG of 2.3 in La Liga! Real are heading into the FIFA Club World Cup next week, and they’ll play again on Sunday before heading to that tournament. They can head into that tournament on a high note – they really need to in the title race – and I like the 2.1 on them to cover the 1.5 goal handicap here. They are creating a lot, and in fairness should have won the weekend – I expect to see them back to winning ways.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Real Madrid -1.5 goals to beat Valencia at 2.1 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/RmaVal
JUVENTUS V LAZIO
8pm Next we move to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final as Juventus host Lazio. It’s been a terrible month for Juventus in Serie A, so a break and going into cup football might do them good. They were hit with the huge blow to getting deducted 15 points after an investigation into their transfer dealings, and their results have been just as bad. They got hammered 5-1 by Napoli, then drew 3-3 with Atalanta and lost at the weekend at home to Monza which was a big surprise to be honest. Looking at the xG figures, they were unlucky at the weekend because they finished with the higher xG figure but it just seems to be all doom and gloom around Juventus at the moment! That 15 points is a huge blow in the race for the Champions League, and then obviously not getting Champions League football has a huge knock on effect with money and attracting top talent to the club. Worrying times indeed, but a decent run in the Coppa Italia will be welcome. They face an Lazio side who are having a great season sitting up in third after the result at the weekend – Napoli are running away with the title, but a top four finish for Lazio would be a cracking result. We have a very interesting market here with Juventus pretty strong favourites – I’m not sure many punters will be rushing to back them at their current 2.13!
Unfortunately for Lazio, they dropped points at the weekend with a 1-1 draw at home to Fiorentina, but obviously their result prior to that catches the eye. A 4-0 hammering of AC Milan no less! The sides met here just before Serie A broke up for the World Cup break, and Juventus ran out comfortable 3-0 winners so perhaps it’s easy to understand why they are clear favourites but I’m happy to sit out of the match odds market here. I find it difficult to make the case for Juventus being shorter, and obviously with home advantage I don’t want to lay them either because Lazio are really over-performing in front of goal this season. Eventually they will stop scoring from low xG positions! I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Lazio play a cagey game here, and you have to say that Juventus haven’t been banging in the goals for fun either – they have had to grind out all their results this season. Under 2.5 goals looks the standout bet here at 1.78 in what should be a game without many chances.
The Ultra Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.78 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/JuvLzo
