Real Madrid vs. Liverpool Betting Preview and Pick
By: Phil Kitromilides
Goal.com
The statistics make for pretty terrifying reading for Liverpool ahead of their Champions League visit to the Santiago Bernabeu. Their opponents on Tuesday (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1), Real Madrid, have won each of their 11 matches, scoring 46 goals in the process, conceding just seven. Liverpool meanwhile have won just four of their last 11 games, managing 13 goals and conceding 16 times, not to mention Madrid's comfortable away win at Anfield just two weeks ago.
It is therefore unsurprising to find the reigning European champions priced at -475 at CG Technology in Las Vegas for the win, while the Merseysiders are offered at 10-to-1 and the draw can be backed at +575.
To make matters worse for Brendan Rodgers' side, Madrid are unbeaten at the Bernabeu in the Champions League for the last three-and-a-half years, a run stretching over 19 matches, with the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus all failing to beat Los Blancos at home.
The task is therefore a daunting one for a badly out-of-form Liverpool, and there is good reason why Madrid are such clear favorites. While the price for them to win in 90 minutes is not big enough for most bettors to consider, some might be interested in the odds of -150 for Madrid to be winning at halftime and full-time (the prop can be found outside of Nevada).
Generally Carlo Ancelotti's men have been scoring early and seeing games out, and this looks likely again on Tuesday. Yet for a healthier price, backing Madrid laying 2 goals at even-money at CG looks like a sensational bet.
Madrid have been averaging more than four goals a game on their winning run, with Cristiano Ronaldo in rampant scoring form (22 goals in all competitions this season) ably assisted by the likes of Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez plus the potential return of Gareth Bale.
This bet paid out comfortably when the two sides met an Anfield a couple of weeks ago with Ancelotti's men boasting a three-goal advantage by halftime, and has given bettors a profit in five of the last six Real Madrid matches, making it an unmissable selection.
Goal.com best bet: Real Madrid -2 goals at even-money