Real Madrid - Cordoba Betting Preview: Back the hosts to run riot at the Bernabeu

Phil Kitromilides, does not expect too much from the visitors this evening and thinks the European champions can win by at least four goals.Continue...

It feels like Real Madrid's season began a long time ago with the European Champions undergoing a tour of the United States, playing a friendly in Poland and contesting both the European and Spanish Super Cups this summer
But Los Blancos in fact get their La Liga campaign underway this evening at the Bernabeu with a game against newly promoted Cordoba.

The Andalusians are in the top flight for the first time in 42 years with a big traveling support but not much else expected from Cordoba.

Certainly the bookies are not optimistic about their chances, with William Hill pricing the visitors at 28/1 (29.00) while Madrid are offered at 1/16 (1.06).

Indeed Cordoba's presence in the top flight is down to a sequence of unlikely events.

With 10 weeks left of the Segunda Division season they were languishing in 16th place, only to put together a great run and squeeze into the play-offs on the final day of the season.

Then in the play-off final they scored the winning goal with the final kick of the match against Las Palmas to secure an historic promotion. 

The point being that unlike Deportivo La Coruna or Eibar, the other two promoted sides, Cordoba did not look particularly inspiring last season but somehow managed to go up.

They are one of the favorites to go straight back down and it is likely they will be heavily beaten at the Bernabeu.

It is very tough to find any value in backing Madrid against in theory such lowly opposition with Madrid half time/full time offered at just 11/50 (1.22) and Madrid to win the first half and second half available at 2/5 (1.40).

Instead we will go for Madrid to win with a -3 goal european handicap at 11/8 (2.37). Cordoba's back line is inexperienced at this level and if Madrid get a couple of early goals they may well be able to run riot and could cover the four goal margin needed to make this bet a winner.