After their cup exit, how will Real Madrid react in La Liga?
After their cup elimination in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, it’s been hit and miss for Real Madrid. The Blancos don’t have much time to think about the knockout in Bilbao. The league match against Granada is already on the agenda for Sunday.
The matchday 23 match in Spain kicks off at 9pm. Nothing should go wrong for Real at home in the Santiago Bernabeu – actually. Before Real Madrid vs. Granada, the odds speak a more than clear language. The league leaders are firm favourites against the fourteenth-placed team in the table.
However, those who have seen Real Madrid’s last performances, especially the cup knockout on Thursday night, might have a few doubts. Can Granada perhaps surprise the league leaders and give Real a leg up?
Real Madrid – Statistics & current form
Is the cup elimination still having an effect? On Thursday, Real Madrid were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Athletic Bilbao. Although the Basques scored the 1-0 winner just before the final whistle, Real Madrid’s overall listless performance, which produced just seven shots on goal (two on target) (by comparison, Bilbao fired twice as often at Courtois’ goal), is worrying.
“Of course it hurts because we want to win all competitions. I don’t think this defeat will have an impact,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said tight-lipped at the post-match press conference, facing some uncomfortable questions. The question that will move most is: How will Real react to the cup knockout?
Real Madrid the clear favourites against Granada – but beware
On Sunday, Real Madrid are the clear favourites to win against Granada as the betting odds indicate. But not only the Copa exit, also the two previous performances were unsatisfactory. Twice Real met Elche in the league and cup, twice they struggled and twice the result was a draw after 90 minutes: Draw. In the league, they saved a 2:2 in the last minute, in the cup, they only advanced with difficulty in extra time (even after going behind).
Real Madrid are wobbling and wavering at the moment and could be without their best player Karim Benzema on Sunday, who was absent in the cup due to injury. So you might want to be careful with your bets on Real Madrid vs Granada. Or at least vary them so that you get better odds.
Predicted line-up of Real Madrid:
Courtois – Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy – Casemiro, Kroos, Modric – Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Last matches played by Real Madrid:
Copa del Rey
02/03 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 0 Real Madrid
LaLiga
01/23 2022 – Real Madrid 2 – 2 Elche
Copa del Rey
01/20 2022 – Elche 1 – 2 Real Madrid
Super Cup
01/16 2022 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 2 Real Madrid
01/12 2022 – Barcelona 2 – 3 Real Madrid
Granada – Statistics & current form
For Real Madrid vs Granada, betting on the home win at odds of 1.25 on the Madrilenians to win at home are not attractive, there is no question. On the other hand, the odds on Granada winning a point are all the higher and therefore more attractive.
The draw in the Real Madrid vs. Granada game already brings odds of over 6.00. Granada know their way around a draw this season, with nine of their 22 league games ending in a draw – only Athletic Bilbao have drawn once more. What is particularly astonishing is that they have already drawn six on their opponents’ pitch – with just one away win and four defeats.
Real Madrid are always a bit shaky at home against defensive opponents
And Real are also vulnerable at home in the Bernabeu, splitting the points four times in eleven home games. Real not only disappointed their supporters with a 2-2 draw against Elche, but also against Cadiz (0-0), Osasuna (0-0) and Villarreal (0-0). Three tired nil numbers against guests who were both defensive and destructive.
Exactly the same threat again on Sunday. Granada will stand deep and counterattack – and the three results show all too well that Real sometimes has problems with that. For this reason, we do not consider a prediction of a slip-up by the Madrilenians in Real Madrid vs. Granada to be unlikely – also and especially against the background of the weak performance in Bilbao.
Predicted line-up of Granada:
Maximiano – Diaz, Sanchez, Torrente, Escudero – Puertas, Gonalons, Montoro, Milla, Machis – Suarez
Last matches played by Granada:
LaLiga
01/23 2022 – Granada 0 – 2 Osasuna Pamplona
01/20 2022 – Getafe 4 – 2 Granada
01/08 2022 – Granada 1 – 1 Barcelona
01/02 2022 – Elche 0 – 0 Granada
12/22 2021 – Granada 2 – 1 Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid – Granada Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
The look at the direct comparison is staggering from Granada’s point of view. In the last 13 games, the Andalusians have not managed to pick up a single point – Real won all thirteen games.
The last time Granada won a point was in the 2012/13 season, when they won 1:0 at home. The overall record looks bleak for the visitors: Real Madrid have won 51 of their 51 meetings, with eight draws and six wins.
Real even won the last two games easily with 4:1.
Real Madrid – Granada Tip
What gives Granada FC hope in the face of this dismal record? Real Madrid’s recent performances. Because these have been uninspired and anything but good. Especially against smaller opponents from the lower reaches of the table, the Blancos always find it difficult, also in terms of motivation, as the three home draws against Elche, Osasuna and Cadiz alone showed – all of which were actually absolutely obligatory victories for the league leaders.
So will we see the next slip-up? We think Granada will also make life difficult for the Blancos. However, should Benzema return in time, the Blancos could score the one more goal, so that in the end, an unadorned as well as narrow compulsory victory is on the books. Therefore, our final prediction for Real Madrid vs. Granada is: Real Madrid will win and Under 3.5 goals.
