Sport prediction » Football » Cups » Page 50

Cups

Casillas sets Real Madrid historic treble target

Casillas sets Real Madrid historic treble target

by

Iker Casillas is hoping that Real Madrid can emulate the likes of Manchester United and Celtic by winning a historic treble this term.

For all their success down the years, the Spanish giants have never managed a clean sweep of both domestic trophies and the Champions League in the same season.

However, under the shrewd guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Los Blancos are three points clear at the top of La Liga, into the final of the Copa del Rey and strong favourites to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Schalke.

Casillas has won almost every club trophy available since making his debut for Real in 1999 and also captained Spain to two European Championship wins (2008 and 2012) and World Cup glory in 2006.

But the legendary stopper is hungry for more silverware and is desperate to see Madrid join a seven-strong band of treble-winning teams that includes United’s class of 1999 and Celtic’s 1967 ‘Lisbon Lions’.

“I’d like the last piece of news for this season to say that Real Madrid had won the treble,” said Casillas.

“That on May 24th, Real Madrid won the first treble in its history.

“We know it is difficult because there are other teams that also want to win titles.

“But we are where we want to be right now, which is fighting in all three competitions.”

In an exclusive interview with bwin, which you can watch by opening the player at the top of this page, Casillas also discusses the favourite moment of his career, who he considers to be Schalke’s danger man, his love of padel, and more.

Real Madrid are currently priced at 2/5 to build a first-leg lead over the Bundesliga side in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday night, with the draw available at 15/4 and the hosts rated as 23/4 outsiders.

In addition to United and Celtic, the five other teams to have won the treble are Ajax (1972), PSV (1988), Barcelona (2009), Inter Milan (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013).

EXCLUSIVE: Watch Bayern stars flaunt slick basketball moves

EXCLUSIVE: Watch Bayern stars flaunt slick basketball moves

by

Bayern Munich made the headlines last week for losing to an under-strength Manchester City side in the Champions League and then again yesterday for drawing Arsenal in the last 16 for the second year running.

But now you must prepare to witness the European champions as you’ve never seen them before.

Regular readers will know that here at bwin HQ, we love to use our Skills Series videos to put the technique of the best players on the planet to the test.

In the past, we’ve brought you Gareth Bale wowing his new Real Madrid team-mates with some nifty footwork.

Then there was Carlos Tevez bossing a Juventus-themed challenge.

And who could forget Manchester United star Wayne Rooney scoring an incredible bicycle kick while blindfolded?

However, we quickly realised ahead of this latest instalment that Bayern are an exceptional case.

Seeing as Pep Guardiola’s men have been almost peerless on a football pitch in the past 18 months, some lateral thinking was required to really take them out of their comfort zone.

Enter forward Thomas Muller, midfield enforcer Javi Martinez and Brazilian defensive duo Dante and Rafinha – on to a basketball court.

What happened next was as impressive as it was unexpected.

In the video – which you can watch by opening the player at the top of this page – the quartet appear to make the transition from foot-to-eye to hand-to-eye coordination effortlessly, peppering the basket at will.

The sort of teamwork famously demanded by Guardiola is also frequently on display as they pull off all manner of alley-oops and slam dunks, passing some tricky tests with flying colours.

And if you’re still hungry for more after checking out the footage, how about the chance to win a shirt signed by the entire Bayern Munich squad too?

Don’t say we’re not good to you…enjoy!

EXCLUSIVE: Robben determined to banish Chelsea nightmare with 'perfect' victory

EXCLUSIVE: Robben determined to banish Chelsea nightmare with ‘perfect’ victory

by

It’s fair to say that Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben had a nightmare in last year’s Champions League final against Chelsea.

The Dutchman missed a host of presentable chances to put the Bavarians out of sight in front of an expectant home crowd at the Allianz Arena and then watched on in horror as Petr Cech saved his penalty in extra-time.

Of course, Robben’s fluffed effort from 12 yards eventually proved costly as Chelsea went on to lift the trophy after winning a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

However, the painful memory of seeing the likes of Cech, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba – former team-mates from his time at Stamford Bridge – celebrating a landmark success will be the furthest thing from Robben’s mind on Saturday.

Bayern have the perfect opportunity to make up for the Chelsea debacle as they take on Borussia Dortmund in their latest attempt to prevail in European football’s showpiece fixture.

The Bavarians are the strong 67/100 favourites to win inside 90 minutes and having wrapped up the Bundesliga title at a canter and with the German Cup final to come, Robben believes victory at Wembley would cap an incredible campaign.

“It’s the crowning moment,” said the 29-year-old in an exclusive interview with bwin (which you can watch by opening the player at the top of this page).

“If we win the title, we will have had a perfect season. That’s what we’re all working towards. We are completely focused on the final.”

Bayern booked their place at Wembley with a stunning 7-0 aggregate demolition of Barcelona in the last four – a result which sent shockwaves around the continent.

And while Robben dismisses suggestions that the victory automatically installs Bayern as Europe’s best team, he also admits that such a comprehensive triumph over the much-heralded Catalans was particularly special.

“The semi-final was a personal highlight for me,” he said.

“When you play against a team that has dominated Europe for the last five or six years and one that everyone talks about and then go on to beat them in such a dominant fashion, it is naturally sensational.”

Open the player above to see Robben discuss the strengths of Dortmund, the importance of ending Bayern’s 12-year wait for a Champions League crown, whether the Bundesliga is now the best league in Europe, and more.

EXCLUSIVE: Higuain tips Real to inflict Copa capital punishment

EXCLUSIVE: Higuain tips Real to inflict Copa capital punishment

by

Gonzalo Higuain is backing Real Madrid to end a troubled season on a high by winning Friday’s mouth-watering Copa del Rey final clash with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.

Los Blancos surrendered their La Liga crown to Barcelona and were bundled out in the Champions League semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund, leaving only the domestic cup as potential silverware.

But far from being underwhelmed by the prospect of lifting the least prestigious of those trophies, Higuain is relishing the Bernabeu showdown and reckons Jose Mourinho’s men will emerge victorious.

“It’s going to be a thrilling battle between two eternal rivals,” said the Argentine striker in an exclusive interview with bwin.

“Of course I’m betting on us winning. I hope that’s the case and that we are all happy.”

The question of Mourinho’s future aside, much of the build-up has focused on the battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao, who have scored 87 goals between them this term in all competitions.

Higuain admitted that both players could play a crucial part in the outcome, but also emphasised that Real must show unity to ensure they prevail in the capital clash.

“Yes, [Ronaldo and Falcao] are going to be important, but the key is that the team is at its best and that’s what we are looking for,” he said.

“If that’s the case then we have a great chance of winning the cup.”

With home advantage to call upon – even if the fans will be split 50-50 – Real are unsurprisingly made 53/100 favourites to win inside 90 minutes and 1/4 to lift the trophy by any means required.

And for all Falcao’s undoubted qualities, if Atletico are to spring a surprise, their solid defence, which has conceded just 30 goals in La Liga, is sure to be the foundation.

Higuain will, of course, be in direct opposition to Diego Simeone’s miserly rearguard at the Bernabeu, but the 25-year-old suggested that they are far from impregnable.

“If they have [conceded] the lowest number of goals in the league, it’s because they are doing well,” he said.

“But our idea is to look for their weak points, which they do have, and I hope that’s reflected on Friday and we win.”

Atletico can be backed at 17/4 to win in normal time and 51/20 to lift the trophy by any means necessary, while we will refund selected losing single bets if both teams score in the first half.

See this offer, and all our other Copa del Rey final markets, by clicking here.

1 Your Selection
2 Start Playing
Register, deposit £10 or more and place a Sport bet (3+ selections) up to £20, each with odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater.
3 Get your FreeBet
Bet now
If it’s not a winning bet, you’ll get up to £20 back as a FreeBet. T&Cs apply
X

Security and Trust

Copyright © 2021

For sender corporate and licence details please visit our Imprint page.