Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid
We’re heading into Week Two of Spanish football this weekend as Real Madrid welcomes its supporters for a home clash with Real Valladolid.
Los Blancos fans are hoping for the good times to return under Zinedine Zidane in his second stint as boss, and he will win legendary status at the Santiago Bernabeu if he can bring the La Liga title home at the first time of asking.
The opening La Liga 2019 betting odds favour Barcelona. But last week, the Catalans lost their opener while Los Blancos made a winning start, so a repeat of that will see the odds on Real dropping rapidly.
Sergio’s Real Valladolid will have plenty to say about that though, they too made a winning start, in a bad-tempered affair against Real Betis.
But tempers in Madrid could well explode if Valladolid springs another surprise!
Talking Points
Have ZZ and Bale made up?
Real Madrid got off to a winning start with a 1-3 victory away to Celta Vigo thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Lucas Vazquez. Kroos’ strike was the pick of the goals but Zidane was happy to share the love.
Balaidos is a difficult place to get a result and the head coach was pleased with his side’s all-round play, saying: “We played well today and that was down to the team. The defensive work of (Gareth) Bale and Vinicius Junior was important. The key was defending well. We knew that with the ball we would do damage.”
Well, that’s some turnaround as far as Bale goes!
Only two weeks ago, Los Blancos coach seemed happy to drive the Welsh Winger to the airport for a one-way ticket to China. But injuries, particularly to Eden Hazard, have forced the bosses’ hand. The former Chelsea star hurt his thigh in the run-up to the Celta Vigo game but is expected to return in time for the clash with Villarreal on September 1st.
Los Blancos managed well enough without him last weekend, creating plenty of chances and having an impressive 11 shots on target and ZZ will expect more of the same in front of their own fans.
Valladolid up for a fight
Los Pucelanos got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 1-2 win away to Real Betis, aided by an eighth-minute red card for Betis goalkeeper Joel Robles. Of the first set of La Liga 2019 results, this was one of the biggest surprises.
Goals by Sergio Guardiola and an 89th-minute strike by Oscar Piano were enough to grab an unexpected three points. Los Pucelanos weren’t exactly shy in the tackle, committing 19 fouls and picking up five yellow cards – one each for the midfield quartet of Piano, Roben Alcaraz, Michel and Antonio.
In his playing career, head coach Sergio Gonzalez was a hard-working central midfielder with a long career at Espanyol and then Deportivo La Coruna, and his middlemen clearly play in his tough tackling image.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo took a 51 per cent share in the club in 2018 as the club returned to the Primera Division through the play-offs and a 16th placed finish preserved their status. The great man’s inspiration combined with Sergio’s guidance should be enough to keep Valladolid in the top flight again.
History
Valladolid has been twice runner up in the Copa del Rey, most recently in 1989. And though its achievements are hugely overshadowed by Los Blancos, it is the most successful club in the Castile and Leon region, spending 43 seasons in the top-flight and 35 in the Segunda Division.
Of course, Real Madrid has 33 La Liga titles in the bank but has watched Barcelona pick up the last two.
The head to heads tell a predictable story, with Los Blancos winning 22 of the last 36 meetings — Valladolid just four — and there have been ten draws. Los Pucelanos have failed to win on their last 11 visits to the Bernabeu.
Last season Los Blancos did the double over their opponents- 2-0 at home and 1-4 away.
Betting Tip
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Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid | Real Madrid First Half Asian Handicap -0.75 @ 1.86 |
| August 25, 01:00 (GMT+8) |
Real Madrid is a hot favourite to win this game at odds of 1.21 here at SBOBET, while the draw is available at 6.00 and an away win out there at 12.50.
The most likely scoreline is a repeat of last season’s outcome at odds of 7.80, and I think Los Blancos will be ahead by the break.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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