La Liga Betting - Matchday 18 Preview
3rd Jan 2008, 19:38
Real Madrid gave their fans the best possible Christmas present by beating arch-rivals Barcelona in their own backyard on December 23rd, to open up a seven point gap at the top of La Liga. After a two week winter break Spain’s top flight teams resume action this weekend, and the question that must be asked is ‘can anyone catch the Galacticos?’ Go to PinnacleSports.com for up to 60% better La Liga betting odds.
Real Resume League Action With Winnable Home Game
Real Madrid resume the defence of their La Liga title with a game at home to Real Zaragoza that the form table suggests they should comfortably win. Los Blancos will have their tails up after the critical win in ‘El Clasico’ at the Nou Camp before the short Winter break, while their opponents have won just one of their eight away games so far this season. Both teams resumed action in midweek with Copa Del Rey ties which will have blown away a few cob-webs. Madrid’s 2-1 win over Segunda B team, Alicante, provided a good opportunity for Gabriel Heinze and Gonzalo Higuaín to get further game time under their belts having missed part of the season through injury.
Real Madrid are looking to extend a 100% record at the Bernabeu this season, covering eight league fixtures, and three in the Champions League. On that basis it is hard to see how Zaragoza can get a result at the White Coliseum. The side from the Aragon region placed a very creditable sixth last term, earning a place in the UEFA Cup, but disappointingly Victor Fernandez’s side were knocked out by Aris Salonika in round one. Los Manos have now gone eight games without a win, or a clean sheet, including the only defeat by a third division side in the last 32 of the Spanish Cup. Though they have drawn four of their last five, their record at the Bernabeu is poor, losing on their last four visits by an aggregate of 9-1. PinnacleSports.com make Real Madrid strong favourites 2.110 (-1.5) with Real Zaragoza 1.826 (+1.5).
Barca Cannot Afford to Lose Further Ground on Real Madrid
After the 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid prior to the Winter break, Barcelona are now seven points adrift from their bitter rivals and cannot afford to lose any further ground. Many pundits have already suggested that the Catalans won’t recover from that demoralising home defeat in ‘El Clasico’. Coach Frank Rijkaard is under extreme pressure with transfer rumours around Deco and Ronaldinho, while Lionel Messi is sidelined with injury and Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o will soon be off to the African Cup of Nations. Rijkaard must put all those distractions to one side and concentrate on improving Barca’s away form, starting at Mallorca on Saturday.
The Catalans have won just two of their eight fixtures on the road so far this season, as their Dutch coach struggles to find a winning formation away from the Nou Camp. Thierry Henry has freely admitted he is yet to find his best form, and struggled with injury throughout December. Barcelona must make the trip out to the Ono Estadi on Spain’s largest island, Mallorca, where their fans will be encourage by their excellent record. Barca have won their last five visits to Mallorca, scoring at least three on each occasion. The Islanders will be buoyed by Wednesday night’s 4-0 Copa Del Rey win over Osasuna, but their overall profile is inconsistent, and their record in this fixture suggests they will have their work cut out. PinnacleSports.com make Barcelona favourites 2.03 (-0.5 & -1) with Mallorca 1.901 (+0.5 & +1).