Real Madrid poised to commence Champions League campaign with a victory in Croatia
Dinamo Zagreb and Real Madrid lock horns for the first time in a competitive match in their group match this evening, a group which really ought to be a doddle for los Blancos to progressive from as top dogs.
That said, this fixture could be tricky, given that Jose Mourinho’s men travel to the Croatian capital, and while the Spanish giants will be long odds-on, it probably wouldn’t be perceived as disastrous for the La Liga outfit if they were to take a point from this fixture.
However, it’s no help to the home side that they’ll be without three players that more likely than not would have been amongst their starting XI, with Arijan Ademi, Mehmed Alispahic and captain Igor Biscan all sidelined. To add insult to injury, the Croats will also be without the suspended duo Josip Simunic and Sime Vrsaljko.
Conversely, no such worries for the ‘Special One’. Indeed, while new recruits Nuri Sahin Hamit Altintop, along with Sami Khedira, are not available for selection at present, the los Merengues likely starting XI is likely to be that that has brushed aside Zaragoza and Getafe respectively in their first two competitive matches of the 2011/12 campaign.
All three of Real’s main goal sources got on the scoresheet against Getafe, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema all on target. Madrid have started the season with real intent and while Dinamo have yet to be defeated at the Stadion Maksimir in 2011, that run is likely to be brought to an abrupt end tonight.
I envisage a 1-0 or 2-0 verdict for the visitors, but the recommendation is to back Real Madrid to win to nil at a tasty 2.20 with Ladbrokes. I really cannot see the Spaniards conceding, and this bet looks safer than dipping into the correct score market, just in case Dinamo concede early and fall apart, which will in turn open the floodgates for a wide-margin victory for Madrid.