KING of the cards Gavin Murphy (@GamePlanGavin) is back for another bash at the bookings with Sunday night’s Madrid derby in focus.
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid | Sunday 19.30 | Sky Sports 1
Hands up, who cannot wait for this? Sunday night, Madrid derby, lovely jubbly!
Frankly, I don't think it matters who the referee is in this game but for purposes of background knowledge, it is Alberto Mallenco. He averages a miserly 4.67 cards-per-game this year but that all goes out the window when it comes to this match.
Last season there were 11 and seven cards shown in this fixture.
Atletico have been uncharacteristically disciplined so far this season. Usually you can bet your mortgage on the likes of Diego Godin and Juanfran collecting cards. After back-to-back defeats to Villarreal and Benfica, I expect normal service to resume this week in the heat of battle against bitter local rivals Real.
In games this season Atletico pick up 53% of their cards in the second-half. Real Madrid collect an astonishing 82% of their cautions after the interval.
The whisteblower Mallenco will try and do what every other official who referees this fixture does, every season – keep the cards in his pocket for as long as possible. He will only be able to do that for so long before the tension gets too much and the game opens up.
In the past 10 meetings between these two teams the Over 3 Cards in the second-half has won EVERY time with 5, 5, 5, 7, 8, 7, 9, 4 and 4 being the results.
With that in mind, I am taking the Over 3 Cards in second-half with William Hill at a surprisingly generous 3/4.
Best Bets
Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid – Over 3 Cards in the second-half (3/4 William Hill)
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