iBet: Real Madrid are a goal scoring machine at the Bernabeu

Champions League

Real Madrid v Manchester United, kick off 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2

Back over 2.5 goals at 1.68 with Betfair
Lay Shakhtar at 2.68 with Betfair

On the face of it this is a mouth-watering clash between two of the giants of world football. Only Chelsea (who went out) scored more than Real Madrid’s tally of 15 goals in the group stage and their three home games produced 14, with plenty at both ends. Madrid are 16 points behind Barcelona in La Liga and have thrown the towel in on defending their title. However, although Mourinho’s charges have lost five times on their travels, they are still unbeaten at home, where they have scored 36 goals in 11 games.  Alex Ferguson’s men won Group H and they only have to take on the competition’s 5/1 second favourites at this stage courtesy of Madrid coming second in Group D to Dortmund. The Germans beat Madrid 2-1 at home and then grabbed a 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu. The interesting dynamic from a betting point of view is that although there have been plenty of goals in Manchester United’s games at both ends this season, they have looked defensively more solid of late and they kept things tight through the group stages, scoring fewer (9) than any of the other group winners. However, stopping Galatasaray, Cluj and Braga is very different to stopping Madrid and I fancy there will be goals.

Advices

The night’s other Champions League game also features two teams committed to attacking football – Shakhtar and Dortmund, but although the Ukranians are running away with their league again, they don’t face teams of the class of Dortmund at that level. The Germans (8/1 to win the competition) are a tempting 15/8 to come away from Ukraine with a win but it may be more sensible to lay the home side at 2.64 with Betfair.

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