Real Madrid are still 4.3 to win La Liga on Betfair

Here are five reasons why Juande Ramos’ side will pip Barcelona

In the space of just three weeks Barcelona’s twelve point advantage at the top of La Liga has cut down to just four. Despite that, Betfair are still offering 4.3 on Real Madrid winning the title. Here are five reasons why you should back them now before it’s too late:

1. Real Madrid have won ten consecutive games since losing to two goals in the last seven minutes away to Barcelona is Ramos’ first game.

2. Barcelona have dropped more points in their last three matches (eight) than they had done throughout the first 22 games of the season (seven).

3. Los Blancos have taken more points than Barcelona from the final thirteen matches of three of the last four seasons. Two years ago the Catalan club were five points clear at this stage but squandered their advantage.

Posted: March 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Real Madrid look to make it ten in a row against Liverpool

Real Madrid/Liverpool, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Offers, Best Odds

Juande Ramos took just two points from his last nine league matches as Tottenham manager but over at Real Madrid he has won each of his last nine. The Spaniard will be hoping to stretch his winning streak to double figures against Liverpool but the Reds are unbeaten in seventeen Champions League games (in 90 minutes). Here’s everything you need to know about this match:

EARLY KNOCKOUTS
Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Roma. Those are the four sides responsible for the fact that Real Madrid, the the most successful team in the competition’s history, haven’t cleared this hurdle since 2004. Ramos’ La Liga performance might be enough to rebuild his reputation after being sacked by Tottenham but in order to earn a second season at the Bernabeu, he will probably need to come closer to ending the second-longest Champions League drought in Real Madrid’s history than his predecessor managed.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Spain will beat Fabio Capello’s England

Spain/England, Wednesday 9pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

England have won five consecutive away games and Spain have lost their last two matches in Seville but despite those good omens, it’s difficult to see anyone beating the Euro 2008 winners right now. Boylesports are offering 6/5 and here are five reasons why that price is unbelievably generous:

1. Spain are unbeaten in 28 internationals, of which they have won 25. They haven’t lost since a 1-0 friendly loss to Romania in November 2006.

2. That incredible unbeaten run started with a 1-0 victory over England two years ago at Old Trafford.

3. Spain have also triumphed 1-0 in each of their last two home games against England.

4. England have failed to even score in four of their last five meetings with Spain whereas the hosts have scored in every home game over the last two-and-a-half years.

5. Fabio Capello was beaten on his last trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium when Sevilla conquered his Real Madrid side 2-1 two seasons ago.

Posted: February 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Knocking out Middlesbrough guarantees a trip to Wembley

Five facts about this weekend’s football

1. Middlesbrough progressed past a potential banana skin against Wolves to earn a fifth round visit to West Ham. In each of the last four seasons, the team that has eliminated Gareth Southgate’s side have reached the final. Even more remarkably, all four have lost.

2. Chelsea’s away draw to Watford was the ninth time out of ten that Chelsea have drawn lower league opposition between rounds three and five.

3. Yesterday marked Arsenal’s first domestic 0-0 draw in ten-and-a-half months.

Posted: January 26th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Bale was just as responsible as Gomes for Redknapp’s first loss

Five stats regarding this weekend’s football

1. Harry Redknapp’s biggest mistake this weekend wasn’t sticking with Heurelho Gomes against Fulham, it was restoring Gareth Bale to the starting line-up. The Welsh left-back has now played seventeen Premier League games for Spurs without tasting victory.

2. While Gomes has become a laughing stock in England for his recent mistakes, his former club PSV Eindhoven are struggling in his absence. After eleven games last season they had lost just once, conceding six goals but this year they have already lost five, conceding twelve.

3. This is now Liverpool’s most successful start to a Premier League season ever and their best start to a campaign since 1990-91, although they ended up finishing second on that occasion.

Posted: November 17th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment