La Liga: Real Madrid to Take Frustration Out on Granada

Real Madrid vs Granada

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are back in La Liga action on Sunday when they welcome Granada to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Los Blancos will not be in a generous mood having been dumped out of the Copa del Rey this week by Athletic Bilbao, while Granada come into the game on the back of a lacklustre performance at home where they lost 2-0 to Osasuna, and they are now in danger of losing three league games on the bounce.

Real Madrid currently lead the league table by four points, and the hosts will be determined to lay the ghost of their cup exit, and at least maintain that lead by the end of the weekend.

Talking Points

Ancelotti still smarting after Copa exit

Alex Berenguer’s late, late strike for Athletic Bilbao stunned Real Madrid who had designs on a domestic league and cup double, but that dream has now gone. With a two leg Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain looming, Ancelotti has been forced to use his squad and he was rather irritated by questions around why he rested Gareth Bale, Luka Jovic and Eden Hazard from his cup team.   

Of course with 17 goals Karim Benzema is crucial to Real Madrid’s title tilt, but he can’t do it all on his own and he doesn’t need to. Vinicius Junior has 12 goals and both strikers will fancy their chances of adding to their tallies against Granada while Marco Asensio too is having a good campaign. Whether either Bale or Hazard make a start remains to be seen, neither have been overly reliable and both have been hampered by injury; but the experienced midfield pair of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos is set to continue. Modric was on target in Real’s recent 2-2 draw with Elche and he remains a world class creative talent, while Kroos is one of Madrid’s best midfield operators of all time, winning 13 trophies in his seven seasons at the Bernabeu and representing Germany over 100 times.    

The latest La Liga 2022 betting odds are right behind Los Blancos to win the 2022 title, but they must win this game to avoid losing the grip they currently have. Atletico Madrid’s visit to Barcelona will attract the most attention this weekend but Real Madrid fans will be watching out for the outcome of second placed Sevilla’s trip to Osasuna on Saturday night. Should Los Sevillanos win then they will climb to within a point of the leaders. 

Los Nazaries in a slump

Granada head coach Robert Moreno needs to pick his side up pretty soon as they are four games without a win, drawing two and then losing two in recent weeks. The run has seen Granada drop to 14^th place, six points clear of the drop zone but with work to do to avoid being sucked into a competitive relegation scrap, and way off the form that took them to ninth place in the 2020/21 campaign.  

The influential Ruben Rochina is injured, and so the midfield men Luis Milla and Frenchman Maxime Gonalons will have their work cut out in the battle to control the middle of the park. Colombian striker Luis Suarez scored twice when Granada were last on the road in a 4-2 defeat to Getafe, and he is the best chance Los Nazaries have of breaching the Real Madrid defence. But it will take a huge effort and a slice of luck for Granada to emerge with a result from Madrid.

History

Real Madrid have totally dominated the head to head meetings with Granada, winning 16  and losing one of the last 17 encounters over the past decade.  

Over the last six meetings, all won by the Madrid giants, Los Blancos have scored 20 goals and conceded five, both the last two meetings ending in a 4-1 result. 

In terms of recent form Los Blancos have the advantage too, winning four, drawing one and losing one of the last six games, while Granada have won two, drawn two and lost two over the same period. But Real Madrid’s two disappointments arrived in the last two games.   

Betting Tip

	Real Madrid vs Granada	Real Madrid Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 1.80
	February 07, 04:00 (GMT+8)

With a home record of seven wins and four draws there is no appetite from me to back a second successive defeat for Real Madrid, even at SBOTOP odds of 8.92. I can’t see a draw at 5.60 coming in either. Granada fans need to brace themselves for a continuation of their disappointing run of La Liga 2022 results.

Los Blancos at a price of 1.25…yes of course; and I’m putting my faith into a ‘business as usual’ return at the Bernabeu and a comfortable win for the league leaders. And if you fancy a third consecutive 4-1 win for Real Madrid against Granada then 13.00 is the offer.

 

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