Real Madrid-Atlético and Sevilla-Barça: 3 bets to avoid on this weekend's Spanish clashes
by Cydias Aujard | by Cydias Aujard
Betting on a clear Real Madrid victory
We can expect a great battle between Real Madrid and Atlético! Los Merengues are clear favourites in this encounter, but be careful not to fall into the trap too easily. You might think that, with Real Madrid dominating, a bet on a clean sheet would be a good idea. However, that is exactly the kind of bet to avoid here.
Without defensive stalwart Rüdiger, Real Madrid could struggle against Atlético Madrid's intelligent attack. On paper, Atlético's attack is not the most formidable in La Liga, but it is capable of causing pain at the right moment. Los Merengues have shown signs of fragility recently, conceding three goals in their last two games in all competitions.
With Tchouameni expected to play in central defence, Real Madrid could well struggle at the back and concede at least 1 goal. So be wary of betting on Real's defence.
Avoid betting against Barcelona
Although Sevilla are likely to have something to play for against Barcelona on Sunday, under-goal bets in favour of Barça should be avoided, as should handicap bets in Sevilla's favour.
Indeed, the team's relatively good results at home should be put into perspective, given that they have yet to face a member of the top 4 at home, and that they lost 1-2 to Villarreal, 5th. Sevilla's record against the ‘big 3’ in La Liga has been stark: 3 defeats, 13 goals conceded and 6 scored.
The defeats were 4-2 to Real Madrid, 4-3 to Atlético and 5-1 to... Barcelona! Given Barcelona's form, avoid betting in favour of Sevilla for your Sevilla-Barcelona preview, as the match could quickly turn into a disaster for the club, as has already been the case more than once this season.
Trying a ‘safe’ scorer in these fixtures
Whether it's Kylian Mbappé, Robert Lewandowski or Antoine Griezmann, these attacking stars are often the preferred bets in this type of fixture. However, the big games are often marked by surprises: reinforced defences, tense scenarios and goals scored by unexpected players.
Betting on a star striker in these clashes can therefore easily prove risky, even though the odds are the lowest. Of course, we're not saying that these players won't have a chance, but only take the bet if the odds are really interesting. For our part, we'd like to suggest a striker who stands out from the crowd in our Real Madrid - Atlético Madrid preview.
Our advice is not to get carried away. Admittedly, these La Liga duels are more than tempting, but it's often in the biggest matches that the risk of getting your wings burnt is high. Remain moderate in your bets, and opt for well-considered bets. Our expert analyses are here to help you. La Liga is always full of surprises, so it's best to remain cautious.
