REAL MADRID expected to coast past Schalke

GALATASARAY V CHELSEA, Wednesday 26th Feb, 19:45, SKY SPORTS 1

Add Roberto Mancini to the list (a rather large one) of managers that Jose Mourinho does not get along with. The Italian feels he does not get enough credit for the role he built in building the side that Mourinho lead to a treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League). Jose was quick to respond by suggesting the Italian had built an excellent five a side team, because six of the players were brought to the club by the Portuguese boss. It promises then to be a cracker both on and off the pitch when Mancini and his galatasary side face off against Mourinho and his Chelsea side on Wednesday night in the first leg.

Bookmakers make the English team the 5/4 (TOTESPORT/betfred) favourites for the game in Turkey. The Blues are the only English team to have beaten galatasary in the Champions League on their own soil (October 1999). In the group stages Chelsea won two of the three away games though suffered a defeat in Switzerland. In fact away from home Mourinho and his men have lost just one of their last eight which came against Man City.

The Turkish side have lost only one of their last seven home games in this competition though this came in the group stages (losing 6-1 to Real Madrid). Galatasaray have won their last ten home games in all competitions and can be backed for victory at 16/5 (william hill/STAN JAMES) while the draw is a 12/5 (GENERAL) chance. The recommended bet comes in the goalscorer markets where I think it has to be worth a little interest on Branislav Ivanovic to net. The Serbian has netted in two of the last three Chelsea away games and his ability to find space might make the difference in a tight contest. RECOMMENDATION: B Ivanovic first scorer 25/1 (paddy Power/ladbrokes) B Ivanovic to score anytime 9/1 (paddy Power/ladbrokes/BET 365)

SCHALKE V REAL MADRID, Wednesday 26th Feb, 19:45, SKY SPORTS 4

Real Madrid are expect to have few problems and are 1/2 (GENERAL) to see off Schalke on Wednesday night. The La Liga side were the top group scorers with 20 goals from their six matches and enter the game having not lost since October 2013.

Schalke are unbeaten in their last eight and are 13/2 (TOTESPORT/betfred/CORAL) while the draw can be backed at 19/5 (boylesports). The German side can take heart from the fact that Real have lost on each of their last six visits to Germany.

I think Los Blancos will win this one with ease though as they have too much firepower and class so I will look to enhance the price on them in one of three ways. The first is taking the 2/1 (SKYBET) on the Spanish side to win to nil which they have done in 12 of their last 14 matches. Another option is to take Real to win and Ronaldo to score at anytime at odds of 20/21 (betfred) as the Portugal star has 30 goals in his last 24 Champions League games. The final and recommended way to play this is to take Los Blancos to cover the Asian Handicap of 1.25 as they have won each of their last five by two or more goals. Schalke meanwhile lost both games with Chelsea in the group stages by three goals and could be in line for another heavy defeat here. RECOMMENDATION: Real Madrid +1.25 on Asian Handicap, 11/10 (bet365)

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26/02/2014     © Frixo 2026