Real Madrid travel to Cornell- El Prat tonight for the second time in as many weeks, this time for the first-leg of the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey against Espanyol.
A below par Los Blancos ran out 1-0 winners last time thanks to Pepe’s bullet of a header. Since then though, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have found top gear, and put five past Real Betis at the weekend. The nine-time European cup winners now stand just one point behind Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at the top of the table having been five behind at the turn of the year.
Indeed, Madrid have started 2014 in fine form, winning all of the La Liga and Copa del Rey matches, without conceding a goal along the way. For this reason, the 32-times La Liga winners go into the match as 1/4 favourites. A win for the home side is available at 8/1.
Should you decide to have a flutter, odds of 21/20 of Madrid keeping yet another clean sheet may be tempting for you. As well as Madrid being tight at the back, Espanyol haven’t set the world on fire when attacking. Of the top eight teams in La Liga, they have scored just 23 goals, 13 fewer than the next lowest.
