Spanish Cup: 02/01/08

[kompressaur]

Barcelona FC - Alcoyano CD	6	1.10	7.61	14.62	02.01.2008 - 18:00
Real Madrid - Alicante	4	1.16	4.75	11.04	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Sevilla - Denia	6	1.11	6.81	16.55	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Valencia FC - Real Union	6	1.10	7.31	15.42	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Getafe - Burgos Real	7	1.24	4.55	8.46	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Zaragoza - Pontevedra CF	6	1.21	5.00	11.29	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Villarreal - Las Palmas	5	1.17	6.19	11.30	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Bilbao - Hercules	4	1.31	3.75	6.39	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Almeria - Levante	6	1.77	3.36	3.95	02.01.2008 - 20:00
Huelva - Xerez	7	1.29	4.12	7.30	02.01.2008 - 20:45
Murcia Real - Valladolid	7	2.08	2.97	2.95	02.01.2008 - 20:45
Atletico Madrid - Ciudad de Murcia	5	1.24	4.60	8.50	02.01.2008 - 21:00
Betis Sevilla - Elche FC	7	1.49	3.42	5.45	02.01.2008 - 21:00
Santander - Malaga FC	6	1.48	3.43	5.63	02.01.2008 - 21:00
La Coruna - Espanyol Barcelona	7	2.59	3.01	2.27	02.01.2008 - 21:00
Mallorca - Osasuna	7	1.83	3.14	3.39	02.01.2008 - 21:30

[rcgills]

I've no intention of touching any of the short priced home sides in tonight's games - on paper all of them should win, but with this being the cup and many of them no doubt putting out weakened sides, nothing is guaranteed. There are two bets I like the look of though:

Mallorca to beat Osasuna @ 2.12 2pts

Osasuna lead 2-0 from the first leg, but from the Marca preview it appears Mallorca are taking this seriously and will be putting out a strong side in an attempt to overturn that deficit. Mallorca have been a bit out of sorts in recent weeks in the league, but they've got some class players in the likes of Guiza, Arango and Ibagaza. Whether they overcome the 2-0 deficit is another matter, but I think they'll win this leg. With the match being in-play at Betfair, and the obvious danger being of Mallorca getting caught on the counter attack if they lead 1-0 near the end and are pushing for the second, may be worth considering laying off towards the end of the game if that situation occurs.

Elche to score v Betis @ 1.65 6pts

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Elche need to score to have any chance of progressing. Going from the comments in the Marca preview, it seems they intend on going for it from the start, as there's no point whatsoever in them sitting back and playing for a 0-0 draw. Betis also appear to have one eye on their derby against Sevilla at the weekend. Betis, 18th in the Primera, have conceded 12 in 8 home games this season in the league, keeping a clean sheet just once. Elche, 4th in the Segunda, aren't prolific scorers away from home, with 9 goals in 9 games, but they are very consistent, scoring in 8 of those 9 games.

[shai7]

Would like to hear your thoughts about the big clubs today, rc.
Barca and R.madrid will take their games seriously or what?

[rcgills]

I've not even looked into them games, Shai, didn't have time to look at everything in midweek and I'm really just not interested in those games at all, think there are far better options to be looking at in the other games. It'd be a huge shock if Madrid or Barcelona failed to win, but these things happen sometimes in the cup. No way I'd even consider going anywhere near them at the prices on offer.

[Martens]

Getafe for me,i like this team, price around 1.30 acceptable

[kompressaur]

19:30 Spain - Cup Almeria - Levante 1.90 3.70 4.80
20:00 Spain - Cup Zaragoza - Pontevedra 1.30 6.20 13.00

missed them two

[kompressaur]

17:00 FT Getafe 4-1 Burgos (1-0)
18:00 FT FC Barcelona 2-2 Alcoyano (2-0)
20:00 FT Real Madrid 2-1 Alicante (1-0)
20:00 FT Villarreal 2-1 Las Palmas (0-1)
20:45 FT Real Murcia 2-3 Real Valladolid (1-1)
20:45 FT • Recreativo Huelva 1-1 Xerez (1-1)
21:00 FT Atletico Madrid 1-1 Granada 74 (0-0)
21:00 FT Betis 3-0 Elche (1-0)
21:00 FT Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Espanyol (0-1)
21:00 FT FC Sevilla 4-3 Denia (2-0)
21:00 FT Racing Santander 2-0 Malaga (2-0)
21:30 FT RCD Mallorca 4-0 Osasuna (0-0)
22:00 FT Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Hercules (0-0)
22:00 FT CF Valencia 3-0 Real Union (0-0)

[rcgills]

Well quite a few of the big teams there didn't exactly cover themselves in glory last night. Barcelona (priced at 1.1) could only draw at home with Alcoyano, after blowing a 2-0 lead. Real Madrid (1.16) needed a winner 2 minutes into stoppage time to see off Alicante, Villarreal (1.17) needed a winner a minute into stoppage time to beat Las Palmas, Sevilla (1.11) had to come from 3-2 down against Denia (at which point even a 3-3 draw would've sent them out on away goals), equalising in the 88th and then getting a 90th minute penalty to win it. And Atletico Madrid (1.24) and Huelva (1.29) could only manage draws at home to opponents from the Segunda.

For tonight's games, I've already backed Almeria at 1.91. Levante lead 2-1 from the first leg, but come here without a number of first teamers, including their first choice keeper, and the only two players in their squad to have scored more than one league goal this season, Rigano and Riga. Going by their comments, it seems Almeria will be taking this one seriously. Almeria had a fantastic home record last season, and although this season they've struggled, that can be attributed to the step up in class. Levante, however, are a poor team, they'll almost certainly be in the Segunda next season, and they've lost 8 out of 8 away games this season.

Almeria v Levante @ 1.91 6pts

For the other game, I'm quite tempted to lay Zaragoza, but I'm going to think on that one a while longer. Pontevedra beat them in the first leg, and they're in great form, unbeaten since the end of October and 6-2-0 for their last 8 in the league. Zaragoza have been struggling of late, no wins in their last 7 in the league.

[jimmyt]

Gills on the handicap Pontevedra +2 I saw the other day was about evens is that worth a nibble with small stakes on straight away win as well ??

[rcgills]

Depends what kind of handicap you're talking, Jimmy. If it's an asian handicap (stakes refunded if Zaragoza win by exactly 2 goals), then yes, I'd say it's definitely worth taking at that price. If it's a European handicap (you lose if Zaragoza win by 2 or more) then it's maybe a bit dodgier.

[Martens]

i am on almeria too, price @1.9 is too big to be missed

for me, this match should be 1.25 for hosts

good luck, no reasoning, levante is the derby county of primera division, no material to survive, no money, nothing

[jimmyt]

God i love late goals Almeria 1-0 !!!!!!!!

Now with Pontevedra on the +2 currently 1-1 could be a good night !!!

[jimmyt]

God i hate late goals 1-1 !!!!!!!!!!!

Come on Pontevedra !!!!!!!!

[jimmyt]

What a bag of shite Zaragoza 3-1 back to the drawing board !!

[AnothrSpacecat]

how many last minute goals were scored in this round of matches??