Simeone looking to use home advantage in Copa del Rey tie

 

Jonno Turner picks two more selections to boost the bank this Thursday.

 

We're off to Spain for our first pick of the day, as Atletico Madrid line up against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey semi finals.

 

Home boss Diego Simeone could welcome back star striker Radamel Falcao into the team after injury, but it is likely that the Colombian will be given a place on the bench at this point.

 

Nonetheless, his presence in the matchday squad will be a huge boost to the Rojiblancos - who will probably start with in-demand forward Adrian Lopes up top.

 

The hosts are in formidable form on their own patch, and go into this one unbeaten in 22 - and incredibly they have won their last 19 consecutive outings at the Estadio Vicente Calderon. Simeone will be keen to make their home advantage count here, with a tricky trip to Sevilla coming up in the return fixture at the end of next month.

 

Three clean sheets from their last trio of Copa del Rey games at home shows that Atletico are taking this competition very seriously, and they will be keen to give themselves a massive advantage in this semi final first leg by not conceding any away goals.

 

The visitors go into this tie sitting 11th in La Liga, and that is largely down to their inconsistent form which has seen them go four without a win on the road.

 

Unai Emery's side have won just one of their last three outings in this competition - and four of their last seven away from the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

 

And just one clean sheet from their last four on their travels suggests that they are likely to gift their hosts a chance or two tonight - and with the momentum and vigour shown by the Madrid side in recent weeks, I think that they will come out on top in this first leg.

 

Bet 1: Atletico Madrid (HOME) @ 1.74

 

Staying in warmer climes now, and we're off to Portugal - as in-form Leixoes travel to an out of sorts Freamunde side, with the visitors looking to heap the pressure on the top five.

 

Freamunde sit rock bottom of the Liga de Honra, and go into this one in miserable form having not won in five outings - a run which will have boss Joao Eusebio feeling the heat.

 

The home side have won one in nine games on their own patch, and that will have knocked confidence as they aim to engineer a turnaround in fortunes.

 

One of the biggest issues in the Capoes side is their leaky defence - and the home rearguard has not kept a clean sheet in the league since May, a whopping 13 games.

 

Visitors Leixoes will be full of confidence going into this tie, having won three of their last four encounters.

 

Nine goals in that time suggests that Litos' side have more than enough quality to punish their opponents this evening, and six without a loss from their last eight away from the Estadio do Mar indicates that they are a good bet to pick up at least a point here.

 

But three points here could move the visitors as high as fourth in the division, and they will be looking to take the maximum return back to Matosinhos.

 

History certainly suggests that is a likely scenario - and the away side have lost just one of their last seven meetings with Freamunde.

 

Bet 2: Leixoes (AWAY) @ 2.52

 

Bet HERE

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