Real Madrid -1.5 & -2.0 vs Gijon - @ 1.65 betfair - 10 units (la liga)
There is a precedent of Real Madrid struggling, like most, against teams who play with 10 behind the ball and 1 outpost. Gijon will do this, as Real Madrid expect and BATE Borisov did just last week, but, Gijon are of a very low level and a win by 2 goals will still pay. Having lost by 5 against Barcelona on their own pitch it was clear to all that Gijon, even after the other opening games, have an awful defence and will be a team who will be comfortably beaten (minimum 2 goals) on many many occasions this season. This will happen tonight. Guti is out and Raul may start on the bench and counter fluent players like Robben will not have much free space in front of them so it will be up to the technicians and players who like to play amidst many man to make the breakthrough. Van Nistelroy and Higuain will have a field day. Van Der Vart will love the oppurtunity to showcase his skills against such feeble opposition.
The main issue is that even after losing the first goal Gijon will still defend and there will not be space to counter. Over 90 minutes Real should score 2 minimum and it is dificult to fathom Gijon having too many opportunities especially as Real have been working on defence for much of the week trying to establish the basis, since the Racing victory, of what is needed for a good team again.
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Barcelona -1 & -1.5 vs Betis - 1.64 @ betfair - 5 units (la liga)
We can emphasise Henry's return but there would be no sense as Barcelona were so convincing against Gijon. Simply, Gijon were not good and the result was not that impressive but the confidence it will bring to the Barca team is immense. Now they believe they can find the net, they can score a few times each game, they are good again. The introduction of the likes of Busquets has added much needed hunger to the squad and players appreciate their place in the side again. No more does it seem like they take the opportunity for granted, and, for it all, what is the most pleasing aspect? At 4-1 up against Gijon Guardiola was on the touchline signalling to his players to go for more, more and more. He was insistent on attacking.
Guardiola realises Barcelona have long struggled against teams who play with emphasis on defence which is what Betis will do, and they do it well, conceding very few goals, but with some width and patience eventually they will break through and then we just expect the second should come as the quality shines through. Besides, Betis have the quality to attack and Gonzalez, Garcia and Pavone should mean that there will be some space going forward. It will not be a particularly open game but there will be some opportunities and i believe Barca will finally provide their home fans with some of the beautiful football they have been waiting for at camp nou for a long time. Etoo, Messi, Iniesta....all are coming into form, even Henry in the CL before.
Tonight Barca will return to Camp Nou.
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Milan to beat Reggina - 1.54 @ betfair - 7 units (serie a)
Ancelotti said he is ready to unleish Ka-Pa-She and this has nowhere the type of threat, either in linguistics or substance, that he threatens, but, in spite of this, it is still enough to comfortably overcome a poor Reggina side. Terrible against Roma, the advantage of being away from San Siro, where Milan have struggled for long against teams who do not provide space to play, will be leveraged by the fact that the pressure is considerably removed and there will be an onus on Reggina to offer something offensively. Defensively everybody knows Milan are no special, if even average, but offensively there is still enough to score twice tonight, at least, and it will be enough to win. That Pirlo is out is a bonus for Milan and the legs of Ambrosini / Flamini will help when Milan do not have the ball. Milan will lose to Inter, but before the derby it wil be imperative they get a win tonight, and they will.
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Inter - 1.5 vs Lecce - 1.80 @ betfair - 10 units
These odds are incredible. Lecce are poor. Inter are the best team in the country. That is not realy a barometer of their compatability but yet, with Adriano returning, Cruz vying, Ibrahimovic firing, Quaresma actually trying and mr Mancini, the new one, awe inspiring it means this is an Internazionale win that is a couple of hours away from happening. That is it. 7 or 8 , maybe less, games down the line there will be no lines available like this on Internazionale at home. There are now. Take them while they last.
