Champions League
2009-09-15 - FC Zurich vs Real Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Shady
Football: Europe, UEFA Champions League 2009/2010
Tuesday, 15th September 2009 - Kickoff 19:45
Real Madrid (Spain)
Real Madrid fans will be delighted with their side’s 3-0 win over Espanyol at the weekend as they played fairly well to deserve a 3-0 win. Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul and Diarra were left out by Pellegrini and is likely to start in the midweek game in Zurich, Switzerland.
Ronaldo and Raul will be going into this game fresh after just playing 20 minutes at the weekend while Diarra and Van Nistelrooy were unused subs.
Real Madrid have reach the knock-out stages 13 campaigns till date topping the group seven times. Zurich and Marseille will have to work extremely hard if they wish to upset either Real Madrid or Ac Milan as both these giants are firm favourites to reach the knock-out stages.
Pellegrini has vowed to rotate his squad but with this game classified as a crucial game, I do expect Pellegrini to start off with his best eleven. There is no particular pattern in the formation Pellegrini is using as yet but I do expect him to play a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Raul Albiol, Pepe, Marcelo and Alvaro Arbeloa will start in defense protecting Iker Casillas in goal. In midfield, Xabi Alonso and Lassana DIarra will be deployed as the holding midfielders to protect the back for while Ronaldo, Kaka and Benzema wil rotate and play behind the lone striker, Raul.
Looking at this formation, the protection of Xabi Alonso and Diarra should make it difficult for Zurich to penetrate through in Zurich are attacking from the middle.
With Kaka, Ronaldo and Benzema playing right behind Raul, this would push back the Zurich midfield line and I think it would be difficult for Zurich to play out of their half.
FC Zurich (Switzerland)
Zurich on the other hand defeated Ventspils of Latvia 5-1 on aggregate. Johan Vonlanthen seems to be in good form scoring in both home and away legs.
Apart from Vonlanthen there’s not much quality in this Zurich side. Hannu Tihinen has some experience playing against Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy before and he should be crucial in this Zurich defense.
Zurich have started the Swiss Super League slowly this season, and are 4th of 10 teams after nine matches. The domestic home record of 4-0-1 looks solid - but the quality is a world away from Champions League group play.
Key Players :
Key players to watch out would definitely be two former world players of the year Kaka and Ronaldo. Kaka did not play Champions League football last season and would be hungry for success while Ronaldo is not converted more into a secondary striker and seems to cause a threat every time he has the ball.
THe Betting Verdict :
This is a miss match on paper; David Vs Goliath. Madrid are too powerful in every expects of the field not to start with a win in Zurich.
With Pellegrini wanting a good start in Europe, I can't see Zurich causing an upset here. It would be lucky for Zurich if Madrid don’t run riot and hammer 3-4 goals pass them.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Real Madrid to win easily
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Real Madrid to win at a best price of approx 1.35 (Main bet)Consider trying Ronaldo to score anytime at a price of 1.90 with Bet365
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
or possibly take Madrid to cover the -1.5 head start on AH
