Copa Del Rey Betting Preview: Back two or three goals when Barcelona take on Valencia
Despite being held 1-1 in the first leg Barcelona are still heavy favourites to qualify from this tie, and Phil Kitromilides does not see it being a goal-filled game
7 Feb 2012 18:25:00
By Phil Kitromilides
Getty
Backing Barcelona over the last few weeks would have left you with a surprisingly negligible amount of profit.
The draw in the first leg of this semi-final at Mestalla last week saw Barca go three matches without a win for the first time under Pep Guardiola.
That sequence ended with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on Saturday and Barca are priced at 1/5 (1.20) with Sportingbet to earn victory against Valencia thus ensuring their place in the final of this competition for the second successive year.
Yet given Barca's recent record, that price looks distinctly uninviting even if the Catalans have been practically invincible at home this season.
A Valencia victory is available at 10/1 (11.00), while the draw is on offer at 19/4 (5.75) with Sportingbet and that might hold some appeal given the fact that four of the last seven meetings between the two sides, including the two most recent ones, have resulted in stalemates.
Yet it is in the Goal-Bands where the wise money will be invested and the 21/20 (2.05) offered on two or three goals in the match looks generous.
Since the turn of the year Barcelona have failed to really recover the goal-scoring form of earlier in the season, while defensively they have looked far from solid.
Barcelona are expected to beat Valencia but it is unlikely to be a thrashing. A 2-0 or 3-0 scoreline is the most likely outcome, but having gone until the 15th January without conceding a goal at home this season, Barca have conceded in each of their last three matches at the Camp Nou.
That also makes 2-1 a possible scoreline, but with the two or three goals bet, that result is also covered, and with five of the Blaugrana's last nine matches having seen two or three goals, it looks like a solid bet capable of returning a pleasing profit.
Bet of the day: Two or three goals at 21/20 (2.05) with Sportingbet
Sign up with Sportingbet.com to claim up to £100 worth of Free Bets, great odds and unique football betting markets.
Phil Kitromilides is a professional sports broadcaster working on radio and TV in London and Madrid, you can also follow Phil on Twitter
The draw in the first leg of this semi-final at Mestalla last week saw Barca go three matches without a win for the first time under Pep Guardiola.
That sequence ended with an unconvincing 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou on Saturday and Barca are priced at 1/5 (1.20) with Sportingbet to earn victory against Valencia thus ensuring their place in the final of this competition for the second successive year.Yet given Barca's recent record, that price looks distinctly uninviting even if the Catalans have been practically invincible at home this season.
A Valencia victory is available at 10/1 (11.00), while the draw is on offer at 19/4 (5.75) with Sportingbet and that might hold some appeal given the fact that four of the last seven meetings between the two sides, including the two most recent ones, have resulted in stalemates.
Yet it is in the Goal-Bands where the wise money will be invested and the 21/20 (2.05) offered on two or three goals in the match looks generous. Since the turn of the year Barcelona have failed to really recover the goal-scoring form of earlier in the season, while defensively they have looked far from solid.
Barcelona are expected to beat Valencia but it is unlikely to be a thrashing. A 2-0 or 3-0 scoreline is the most likely outcome, but having gone until the 15th January without conceding a goal at home this season, Barca have conceded in each of their last three matches at the Camp Nou.
That also makes 2-1 a possible scoreline, but with the two or three goals bet, that result is also covered, and with five of the Blaugrana's last nine matches having seen two or three goals, it looks like a solid bet capable of returning a pleasing profit.
Bet of the day: Two or three goals at 21/20 (2.05) with Sportingbet
Sign up with Sportingbet.com to claim up to £100 worth of Free Bets, great odds and unique football betting markets.
Phil Kitromilides is a professional sports broadcaster working on radio and TV in London and Madrid, you can also follow Phil on Twitter
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