Villa to use Copa to remind Barcelona he's still there

9Jan 2013

Copa Del Rey

Christian Crowther offers a selection of bets for the most attractive midweek European fixtures...

Real Madrid v Celta Vigo, Wednesday 20:30, Sky Sports 2, Match Odds: Real Madrid 1.19, Celta Vigo 17.0, The Draw 9.0

Following a desperately disappointing La Liga campaign, there is no doubt that Jose Mourinho will be taking the Copa del Rey seriously. A late Cristiano Ronaldo strike in the first leg helped narrow the deficit to 2-1 in this round-of-16 tie and may yet prove pivotal in turning this tie in the Madridistas' favour as they clash again at the Bernabeu. The onus will still be on the home side to attack, but that one goal deposit means Celta can't really afford to sit back and simply try to protect their lead. It's not in Real's nature to hold back at home either, an ethos backed up by Los Blancos firing at least two goals in every home game that they have played this season, barring an 1-1 draw with Valencia in their La Liga opener. No clean sheet in six also tells its own story for Mourinho's men though.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.95

Juventus v AC Milan, Wednesday 19:45, Match Odds: Juventus 1.8, AC Milan 5.1, The Draw 3.9

The two most successful clubs in Italy go head-to-head in this Coppa Italia quarter-final just three days after Juventus succumbed to a shock home defeat to ten-man Sampdoria in Serie A. Having already defeated last season's near-undefeatables in the league in November, Milan will be hoping to capitalize on the Old Lady's latest wobble. However, despite that unexpected defeat, a run of six straight victories leading up to it outlines that Juventus are still the dominant force in Italy and rightly favourites to progress. When the two sides played out a 2-2 draw (after extra-time) at the Juventus Stadium in the semi-finals last year to help the Old Lady capitalise on a 2-1 away first-leg win, Mirko Vucinic was the decisive scorer. Fast-forward to 2013 and, after a baron patch, the Montenegrin is back in form with two goals in his last three appearances.

Recommended Bet: Back Mirko Vucinic to score @ 2.62

Barcelona v Cordoba, Thursday 20:30, Sky Sports 3, Match Odds: Barcelona 1.12, Cordoba 17.0, The Draw 12

Having scooped every prize available in world football, this ridiculously talented Barcelona side should make mincemeat of their second division opponents at the Camp Nou. The tie was effectively laid to rest in the first leg when Lionel Messi added two more goals to his record-smashing tally for 2012 on his way to an unprecedented fourth Ballon d'Or at the age of just 25. Cordoba resistance will no doubt prove futile, what remains is probably a best guestimate of the final score. If Barcelona play a reasonably full-strength side as they did in the first leg then they could easily overrun such modest opposition. Reports emerging that David Villa is staying could mean that he is handed a starting berth here as he was in the first leg, and he has scored three already in this season's Copa del Rey.

Recommended Bet: Back David Villa to score first @ 4.7