Football Bet of the Day: Atleti won't enjoy trip to holiday isle

Kevin Hatchard
03 January 2017

Kevin-Prince Boateng has restarted his career with Las Palmas

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After picking up a winner from his first selection of 2017, Kev's off to Spain in search of more profit...

"Atletico have lost four of their last six away games in all competitions, they have injury problems, and they face a Las Palmas team with an unbeaten home record."

Lay Atletico Madrid at 1.645/8

Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid
Tuesday January 03, 20:15

A flying start to the year for us last night, as our boys Maccabi Netanya won 2-0 at title rivals Hapoel Akko in Israel. The celebratory post-Christmas shortbread went down a treat.

We're off to Spain this evening, or more accurately the Canary Islands. Las Palmas are in Copa del Rey action against Atletico Madrid in what looks to be a fascinating encounter.

Quique Setien's Las Palmas have played some wonderful football this season, and they remain unbeaten on home soil. Even league leaders Real Madrid had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Estadio de Gran Canaria.

Las Palmas don't rely on one or two key players, but instead they share the goals around. Perhaps most remarkably, Setien has managed to get a tune out of perennial bad boy Kevin-Prince Boateng, who is shining after poor spells at Schalke and Milan.

While Atletico have sparkled in the Champions League this season, they have found domestic football a touch more challenging. Coach Diego Simeone has been trying to develop a more entertaining, attacking brand of football, but that metamorphosis has come at a cost. Atleti are nine points behind crosstown rivals Real in the title race.

Atletico have lost four of their last six games on the road, and their only wins in that sequence were at struggling Osasuna in the league, and lower division Guijuelo in the cup. If you look at their away games against top-flight sides in Spain this term, they have only won three out of eight.

Simeone admits he may have to play full-back Juanfran at right-wing because of injury problems, and exciting Belgian forward Yannick Ferreira Carrasco is sidelined.

Atleti are 1.645/8 to win here, and I think that is too short. Las Palmas haven't lost at home since March, and they pushed Atleti pretty hard in a 1-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon just before Christmas. I'm backing the hosts to get a result.

Recommended Bet

Lay Atletico Madrid at 1.645/8

2017 P/L (1 pt per bet)

Points Staked: 1

Points Returned: 1.83

P/L: +0.83 points

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