Real Madrid is off to a great start in the UEFA Champions League with two-straight wins. Up next for them is a tough away game as they head to Anfield Stadium to take on Liverpool. Will the reigning Champions League titleholders pick up yet another win?
Read on as we breakdown this Champions League match between two European soccer giants. You can also check out our preview of the match between AS Roma and Bayern Munich for more on Europe’s best soccer action.
[sc:Soccer ]Liverpool vs. Real Madrid Preview
Where: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
When: Wednesday, October 22, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Real Madrid (-137) at Liverpool (+280), tie +270; total 3.0 – view all UCL lines
Betting on Liverpool
Liverpool ended a four-game winless streak with a 2-1 home win over West Brom. Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson netted the two goals for the Reds. Meanwhile, an ineffectual Mario Balotelli was benched in favour of Rickie Lambert.
Still, Balotelli should figure in this match as he has scored one of Liverpool’s two goals in their Champions League opener against Ludogrets. Team captain Steven Gerrard netted the other goal and should remain a valuable playmaker from the midfield.
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Liverpool will also benefit from the return of Daniel Sturridge, who’ll give them some much needed firepower. With all their talent up front, the Reds should be able to find the back of the net against Real Madrid’s sketchy backline. Real Madrid have conceded 12 goals in their past nine games across all competitions.
Still, the state of Liverpool’s defense remains concerning. The Reds’ backfield of Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho has been disappointing. They have repeatedly left gaps that were readily exploited by their opponents as they conceded eight goals to Manchester City, West Ham, Basel and Aston Villa.
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has been helpless playing as the last line of defense. He conceded nine goals in Liverpool’s first six matches of the season. Mignolet will be under heavy fire against Real Madrid’s talented strikers, especially Cristiano Ronaldo who has been the top goal scorer in the Champions League in back-to-back seasons.
Betting on Real Madrid
After a 1-2 stutter to start their 2014-2015 campaign in the Spanish La Liga, Real Madrid have found their form and are now riding a six-game win streak, including two in the UEFA Champions League. They have outscored their opponents 24-11 during their streak.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in eight straight games. The Real Madrid star was at his best in scoring four goals against Elche as well as hat tricks against Deportivo La Coruna and Athletic Club.
Aside from Ronaldo, Real Madrid have a strong supporting cast of goal scorers. Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez combine for a whopping eight goals across all competitions for Real Madrid. They should be able to find the back of the net against a shaky Liverpool defense.
Yet, for all their offensive pop, they have a questionable backfield, which has allowed goalkeeper Iker Casillas to concede seven goals in their last four away games. Included in those losses was a 4-2 trouncing at the hands of La Liga’s 15th-place team, Real Sociedad. Still, Casillas remains an excellent keeper with four shutouts across all competitions this season. He should be able to fend off the challenges coming from a struggling Liverpool offense.
Writer’s Prediction
Real Madrid (-137) dominates Liverpool. Take the defending Champions League titleholders to come out of Anfield with the full three points.
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