Win with the giants from Madrid
Atletico and Real could make headlines this weekend – for very different reasons.
There is another carryover on the weekend’s TAB Soccer Any 15 pool. This time it’s R250,000, which means the closing pool could reach close on R1 million. And with 30 matches from all over the globe to choose from, soccer fans should have no problem in picking 15 correct results which will give them a share in the spoils.
With the international break now over, the TAB Soccer Any 15 pool consists of club matches only, including matches from the local PSL, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga.
The two giants from Madrid feature prominently, and it might be worthwhile analysing their weekend prospects.
Match 30 on the list to choose from is literally a case of last, but not least as it is the La Liga contest between Mallorca and Real Madrid.
For Real Madrid, it is the start of an intensely difficult week, as they will be up against Galatasaray in midweek next week in the Champions League, before ending the week with El Clasico.
Because a large number of Real’s stars have been in action during the international break, coach Zinedine Zidane might just be tempted to give them a welldeserved rest.
They are, after all, playing a team this weekend sitting three off the bottom of the log, while they are not only topping the log, but are the only unbeaten team in La Liga after eight matches.
One player who will definitely not be in action this weekend is striker Lucas Vazquez. He suffers from a calf injury and it is also doubtful whether he will recover in time to face Galatasaray.
Luka Modric and Tony Kroos will also miss the trip to Mallorca, while there is a question mark behind Gareth Bale’s name.
Under any other circumstances, Real Madrid would be seen as a banker. But this weekend might just see them face the sternest test so far to maintain their unbeaten record.
City rivals Atletico Madrid have a much easier task – on paper that is – when they host Valencia on the weekend in Match 15.
Atletico Madrid and Valencia face each other at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in what is expected to be an exciting game which could see Atletico’s defence stretched to the limit.
Diego Simeone’s troops must surely adopt an attack-minded approach if they want to stay in contention for league honours.
But that could leave them vulnerable on the counter.
Atletico’s strength this season has undoubtedly been their defence. They have conceded only four goals in eight La Liga matches - the least of any team together with Athletic Bilbao.
At the same time, they have struggled on attack, scoring only seven goals.
Valencia may have conceded 12 so far, but that is also the number they have scored.
Statistics show that Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their previous nine meeting with Valencia and recorded six victories in the process.
Atletico are also on a 10-game unbeaten run over Valencia, with their latest loss dating back to 2011.
With that said, it does seem that for once Atletico Madrid are the bankers from Madrid this weekend and not Real.