Real Madrid will respond against Valencia
Just five days on from the most emphatic defeat of Jose Mourinho's managerial career, he will attempt to ensure his Real Madrid side bounce back from their 5-0 mauling at the Camp Nou in a tricky home match against Valencia.
The good news for Blancos backers is that the Special One responded to the two heaviest losses he had suffered prior to Monday night - 3-0 to Belenenses with Porto and Middlesbrough at Chelsea - with victories, admittedly fairly uninspiring ones: 2-1 against Panathinaikos in the Champions League and 3-1 over Colchester in the FA Cup.
Valencia have been beaten in only one of their last nine outings but have lost on their last three trips to the Bernabeu, while Real Madrid's record there this season is perfect. They are [1.41] to win, yet all signs point to a closer game than usual so consider Valencia +1.5 at [1.79] on the Asian Handicap.
Saturday's earlier televised tie sees Real Madrid's annihilators Barcelona visit Osasuna, La Liga's most two-faced team: magnificent at home, undefeated and breached just twice yet without a win away, scoring one goal. So good are they at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra that Barca have won only one in five there. Outrageous as it sounds, are Barcelona worth laying at odds of [1.25]?
In Sunday's first Sky Sports-broadcast game, Villarreal are impossible to ignore at [1.87] to get the better of Sevilla, given their almost flawless home form and the fact that the Rojiblancos head into the match on a run of three successive losses. Later on, Real Sociedad, who are an impressive ninth on their return to the top-flight, appeal at [2.38] to beat poor travellers Athletic Bilbao.
Osasuna v Barcelona, 7pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1
Real Madrid v Valencia, 9pm, Saturday, Sky Sports 1 (Red Button)
Villarreal v Sevilla, 6pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1 (Red Button)
Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Sunday, Sky Sports 1
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Published: 3 Dec 2010
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