Had time to add the write-ups now. Watched Valencia v Barcelona last night and it could be a good pointer to the Chelsea clash. Henry and Toure were the only 2 possible starters no on the pitch so it was a full strength team and Valencia deserved the draw and are possibly the best team Barcelona have played this season, taking into account the form Valencia are in. Chelsea at 5.7 on Betfair looks a massive price.
Recreativo de Huelva v Real Mallorca (Spain Primera: Sun 5pm local time)
Mallorca play the Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal in their last 4 games and although they are close to being safe I think a win here would confirm it. They would not want to go into those last 4 games needing to get a win. In the last 10 matches only Barcelona and Real Madrid have taken more than the 21 Mallorca managed. If we contrast this to Recre we can see they have taken just 6 from a possible 30. They also have the second worst home record in the league and come into this game on the back of 7 losses in the last 8 games. They do have home advantage but the transformation in Mallorca since they started the second half of the season has been amazing and the only 2 losses in 13 games have come at Bilbao and Osasuna, both of which are hard places to go. They may well win but I’ll play safe with DNB.
++ Draw no bet – Real Mallorca @ 2.25 on Stan James (1pt)
Sevilla v Real Madrid (Spain Primera: Sun 5pm local time)
Sevilla have lost in consecutive games to Getafe, Valencia and Barcelona and now face Real Madrid. Before that they were on a good run but I don’t there’s a whopping 18 points between them and Real Madrid in the table. All this season you just hear about Barcelona and how great they are but a win for Madrid would put them 5 points behind and ready to host Barcelona at home next weekend. Schuster didn’t last long as Madrid manager this season and it was his 14th game and 4-3 home loss against Sevilla that ended it. They took 26 points from those 14 games and then lost to Barcelona in the first game that Ramos took charge. Since then they have won 16/17 league matches and drawn the other. That’s an amazing 49 from a possible 51 points. In the same period Barcelona have taken 43 from a possible 51 so you can see what an achievements Madrid’s run has been. They have been calling Madrid lucky etc but that can’t be down to luck. Sevilla have had more rumours about next season as to whether Jimenez will stay or go and who will replace him. With Ramos back in Sevilla for the first time since he left it promises to be a fiery affair.
++ Asian Handicap – Real Madrid (0) @ 2.02 on Bet365 (1pt) – 2.04 on Ladbrokes/2.03 on VC
2 points staked, alongside the other 2 staked on the weekend so far
Good luck in whatever bets you do.