Lays of the Weekend: Bordeaux to botch cup final prep

25May 2013

Betfair

With his last lays column of the season, Christian Crowther suggests that Bordeaux won't win their cup final dress rehearsal against Evian...

Lay Bayern Munich to beat Borussia Dortmund @ 1.8

If any side on the planet is capable of taming the Bavarian beast that is Bayern Munich then it's their old foe Borussia Dortmund. After two straight seasons getting beaten by Dortmund - a total of five defeats to Jurgen Klopp's double title-winners - this campaign has certainly seen Jupp Heynckes' side taking control once again. However, while Bayern have stormed to the Bundesliga title, their two league matches against Dortmund, the last one arriving just three weeks ago, produced two tight affairs and the same 1-1 scoreline. Klopp's dynamic and carefree Dortmund side are capable of pushing Bayern all the way and it could be that extra time is required on Saturday night.

Lay Atletico Madrid to beat Mallorca @ 1.7

A few games back, this fixture would have been a shoe-in victory for the freshly crowned Copa del Rey champions currently sat in third place in La Liga. However, now Diego Simeone's men have already guaranteed themselves Champions League football at the Vincente Calderon next season, they could probably be excused for a slowdown in pace going into the last two top-flight fixtures. No such luxury can be afforded for visiting Mallorca though. The island club are involved in a real scrap for survival at the bottom and have no choice but to pick up points in their remaining games or the drop awaits. This difference in desire could prove pivotal.

Lay Bordeaux to beat Evian @ 2.02

Despite getting let down by Bordeaux's failure to fail last time, I'm willing to give it another crack. After all, it was only an 86th-minute winner which prevented Nancy from escaping with a 2-2 draw. The real reason they make good lay candidates is the same as last time - a far more important cup game on the horizon. Since that match in fact, Bordeaux have successfully negotiated their French cup semi-final and now face the bizarre circumstances of meeting these exact opponents just five days later in Friday's final. Both clubs are sure to rest a few key players and, with nothing riding on this dead rubber, it should burn itself out as players seek to avoid injury.