Champions League Betting – Basel vs. Real Madrid

Basel (+750) vs. Real Madrid (-250) (Draw +425)

With Cristiano Ronaldo playing terrific football, Real Madrid will visit Basel at St. Jacob Park next Wednesday, looking to maintain their unbeaten record in Group B of the UEFA Champions League (2:45 p.m. Eastnern).

Real Madrid and Basel have squared-off three times before, and Real has won all three. Back in September, Los Blancos crushed Basel 5-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu. They are favorites to win again, listed at -250 in the money line. Meanwhile, a Basel win will pay +750 and the draw +425.

Real Madrid arrives in Switzerland in rhythm. Carlos Ancelotti’s team is first in both Spain’s  La Liga and their Champions League group B. Indeed, with four wins in four matches (and a +9 goal differential), Los Blancos have already qualified for the round of 16. However, coach Ancelotti and his squad will be going full-bore for the win on Wednesday.

“We need to get first place secured, first and foremost. What makes me happy right now is how the side is playing and how they are motivated. Records are not that important. They are nice, but I prefer to get three points,” said Ancelotti after beating Liverpool (1-0) at the beginning of the month.

On the other side, Basel is second in the group with six points (2W, 0D, 2L) and a +0 goal differential. The game is key for Basel in order to advance to the next round. With Liverpool and Ludogorets Razgrad both on three points and facing each other, a win for either side would move them into a tie with Basel, unless Basel can take a point from Real.

Basel’s coach, Paulo Sousa, is aware of the importance.

“The second place now depends on the remaining results against Real Madrid and Liverpool. It’s as simple as that,” Sosa told the UEFA website.

(Photo credit: Jan S0L0 [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped.)