Spanish Football Betting: 8/9th March

[kompressaur]

Primera Division

Real Madrid - Espanyol Barcelona	84	1.45	3.83	6.83	08.03.2008 - 20:00
Zaragoza - Atletico Madrid	89	2.50	3.11	2.63	08.03.2008 - 22:00
Sevilla - Levante	84	1.25	5.04	10.47	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Osasuna - Almeria	89	2.07	3.15	3.32	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Bilbao - Valladolid	89	2.06	3.15	3.34	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Santander - Betis Sevilla	89	1.95	3.19	3.64	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Murcia Real - Getafe	89	2.64	3.09	2.50	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Mallorca - Huelva	89	1.93	3.20	3.71	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Valencia FC - La Coruna	89	1.75	3.32	4.34	09.03.2008 - 19:00
Barcelona FC - Villarreal	83	1.44	3.88	6.93	09.03.2008 - 21:00

Segunda Division

Cordoba - Tenerife CD	40	2.25	2.85	3.06	08.03.2008 - 18:30
Eibar - Cadiz FC	40	2.20	2.89	3.11	08.03.2008 - 18:30
Xerez - Celta Vigo	40	2.79	2.83	2.44	08.03.2008 - 18:30
Gijon Sporting - Hercules	40	1.84	3.06	3.96	09.03.2008 - 12:00
Alaves - Salamanca	39	2.24	2.87	3.04	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Castellon CD - Ciudad de Murcia	39	1.96	2.97	3.68	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Ejido - Sevilla Atlético	40	2.68	2.84	2.53	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Las Palmas - Malaga FC	40	2.70	2.85	2.50	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Elche FC - Gimnástico de Tarragona	40	1.85	3.05	3.97	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Albacete - San Sebastian Real	39	2.81	2.87	2.45	09.03.2008 - 17:00
Numancia - Ferrol	40	1.64	3.28	4.88	09.03.2008 - 17:00

[kompressaur]

[kompressaur]

Real Madrid v Espanyol Saturday 7pm Sky Sports Xtra

If you read this column regularly, you'll know we've taken a dim view of Real Madrid's form lately, and with good cause.

Their defeat in midweek to Roma leaves Los Merengues out of the Champions League, and having exited from the Copa del Rey too, winning the Spanish title is all they have left to focus on this season.

Five defeats in seven competitive games hardly inspires confidence in the hosts here, and Espanyol will be going all out to exploit Madrid's frailties at the Bernabeu, buoyed on, no doubt, by the fact that even the likes of Getafe have won on the hallowed turf in the last few weeks.

Espanyol have under-achieved this season for sure, but they're still in with a shout of securing a European spot next season, which should provide additional motivation, together with the confidence derived from last weekend's win against Valencia.

The travellers won their initial head-to-head with Madrid 2-1 in October, and in these circumstances Espanyol are over-priced. Have a nibble, sit back, and enjoy.

Real Zaragoza v Atletico Madrid Saturday 9pm Sky Sports Xtra

Zaragoza are in freefall, but whether Atletico prove able to take advantage is debatable - this one's best left alone from a betting perspective.

The hosts are now on their fourth manager of the season after Javier Irureta was replaced by Manolo Villanova earlier this week, in response to their latest defeat against Levante.

Despite their lowly league standing, Zara are a menace at home, where they've only lost two of 13 Primera matches.

Atletico looked impressive when nailing Barca 4-2 last time out, but it's worth remembering they'd only won one of five prior to that eye-catching result.

Too many variables to bet with confidence - homework material only.

Valencia v Deportivo Sunday 6pm Sky Sports 1

You're on dodgy ground wading in here - swerve what's bound to be a feisty affair between these two rivals.

Neither outfit convinces at present - the Bats are winless in three, and are having a really bad time in Spain.

In truth, the best bet might be an away win, because that would just about be the icing on Valencia's cake this season, while La Coruna have only lost one of their last six La Liga outings.

Again, too tough to call with confidence.

Barcelona v Villarreal Sunday 8pm Sky Sports 1

Tricky stuff. On paper, it ought to be Barca, but Villarreal could cause a few problems at the Nou Camp.

The visitors are third in the table, and haven't lost in five, so they're in good heart.

The downside is goals against - Villarreal have conceded 20 times in 12 away fixtures, and that's not a record to take to Barcelona, who've netted 33 goals in 13 home games.

Narrow home win, but at the prices, best avoided.

Bettingzone

[rcgills]

Espanyol have under-achieved this season for sure

Seems a pretty bizarre claim to me. They're sat in 5th place, 2 points off the Champions League places. Bearing in mind they finished 11th last season and 15th the season before that, and haven't finished in the top 4 since 1995-96, I'd say if anything they're over-achieving this season. Pre-season I'd probably have expected them to be below Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico (as they are), not sure about Villarreal, but then I'd have also expected them to be below Sevilla, Valencia and probably Zaragoza too. European qualification would've been decent enough for them, never mind being in contention for the Champions League places.

Having said all that, I'd not necessarily argue with the rest of the points made in that write-up, but just seems a strange claim to say that they're under-achieving.

[Bigkegman]

as mentioned in the preview above looking at the form Zaragoza are in free fall BUT I am willing to back Athletico Madrid to pile more misery on them.

They will be looking to follow up their win against Barcelona and I'm willing to put a wee bit candy on them. Also they beat Zaragoza 4-0 earlier in the season.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by Bigkegman

Also they beat Zaragoza 4-0 earlier in the season.

There's a huge difference though between Zaragoza's home form and away form, Kegman.

They're 8th in the home table, 6-5-2 for the season, while they're 19th in the away table, 1-3-9 for the season.

The problem with Atletico is knowing which version is going to turn up. It wouldn't surprise me if they were to win here, but nor would it surprise me if this time it was Zaragoza's turn to stick 4 past them.

Good luck with it, but I'd go along with Betting Zone that this game's probably one to avoid.

[Bigkegman]

thanks rc

[Stathis]

Barcelona v Villarreal it will not be an easy home win
26' 1-0 but may be 1 (45')
86' 1-1 may be not X (90')
Tricky stuff...

[rcgills]

Welcome to TDP, Stathis, although I have to admit you've got me confused with your comments

Originally Posted by Stathis

26' 1-0 but may be 1 (45')
86' 1-1 may be not X (90')

Only two bets for me tonight, on total goals in the Real Madrid v Espanyol game. 7 of Madrid's 12 home games this season have gone overs, while 9 of Espanyol's 13 away games have been overs. Add to that, since the start of the 1990s, 12 of the 16 meetings between these 2 at the Bernabeu have been overs, with 7 of those having 4 or more goals. Madrid have put 4 goals past Espanyol in this fixture in each of the last 3 seasons, including a 4-3 last season when Espanyol went 2-0 and 3-1 ahead before Madrid turned things around.

Over 2.5 goals @ 1.83 6pts
Over 4.5 goals @ 5.5 1pt

[Stathis]

Barcelona v Villarreal
the first minute Barza will score 1-0 so 1 (45') for the first half
but in the second half Villa can come back
if Villa score then it can be 1-1 at the end
but how easy it will be for Villareal to score?
and if the score soon enough can they score twice? 1-2 final score?
Tricky stuff...
anything can happen...
but it will not be an easy home win

[Bigkegman]

ok i see 1-0 Barca at Halt Time and your predicting 1-1 Full Time

[rcgills]

Will have to be quick on this one as it's starting in 10 minutes (although it's live on TV over here so should be in-running on Betfair). Sporting are without three key players today against Hercules - first-choice keeper (and ever-present this season) Roberto is unavailable as he has to man an election desk in his home town (today's the Spanish elections, and it's compulsory, if you're called up to man the desk, there's no way of getting out of it). Top scorer Barral (11 goals) is injured and defender Gerard (23 played this season) is suspended.

15 games of the season to go, Hercules are 10pts off the top 3, so still in with an outside chance if they can put a run together, and they've got a decent away record - 4-6-3. Sporting are 3rd, but their home record is actually a pretty poor 6-2-5, they're better away than at home. Given the players missing, Hercules look far too big a price.

Sporting v Hercules @ 4.3 4pts

[dejan mkd]

Hi rc some opinion on Castellon game, can wee excpect home win here!

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by dejan mkd

Hi rc some opinion on Castellon game, can wee excpect home win here!

I'm not sure really Dejan. Neither side are really in great form at the moment. If I was forced to choose I'd probably go with the home win, but given the number of times I've been screwed over when backing teams at shorter than 2.0 in this division this season, I'm quite happy to just give this one a miss. Good luck if you go with Castellon

[dejan mkd]

Originally Posted by rcgills

I'm not sure really Dejan. Neither side are really in great form at the moment. If I was forced to choose I'd probably go with the home win, but given the number of times I've been screwed over when backing teams at shorter than 2.0 in this division this season, I'm quite happy to just give this one a miss. Good luck if you go with Castellon

Tnanks a lot mate