Real Madrid have not lost at home in Europe’s top club competition, the Champions League, for the past two and a half years, and the visit of Turkish side Galatasaray tonight should not provide any threat to that run continuing.
Los Blancos can be found at odd of 3/10 to win at the Santiago Bernabeu and secure top spot in the group, and a place in the last 16 of the competition. The visitors, managed by Roberto Mancini, have odds of around 9/1 to win in Madrid. Their form has been poor of late, having lost the Istanbul derby to Fenerbache a couple of weeks ago, while their record in Spain is terrible – as Alvaro Heralta looks at in his latest piece.
While Galatasaray may be outsiders to win, they do possess plenty of goal threat, with Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba among their ranks. The Ivory Coast forward, who won the Champions League during his time at Chelsea, has scored 12 goals against Spanish sides in his career, including two against Los Blancos.
Carlo Ancelotti will have to make do without Raphael Varane, Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao in defence, while the protection offered by Sami Khedira in front of the back four is a big loss tonight and for the rest of the campaign. For this reason, odd of 27/20 for a home win but both teams to score may be appealing to anyone wishing to place a bet.
