Thursday’s props column takes in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, where we’re backing Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez to be heavily involved…
Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao
Thursday 13 January, 19:00 kick-off
Live on BT Sport 1
The Spanish Super Cup is taking place in Saudi Arabia of all places in their reasonably new four-team format and on Thursday Atlteico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao clash for a place in the final.
Real Madrid await after their stunning extra time victory over Barcelona and now Spanish champions Atletico try to join them by beating Cope del Rey runners-up Bilbao.
Athletic won the Super Cup last year and Marcelino’s side have found some form of late, winning three of their last five after going eight games without a victory previously.
Atleti have been poor in the defence of their league title, and are only just in fourth place in the table a full 16 points behind leaders Real Madrid.
Diego Simeone, then, will be aiming for this as a piece of silverware this season, and the signs here are good as he’s won 16 of his 23 games against Bilbao as a manager, drawing four and losing just three.
And while there are plenty of stars on show, the man for the big occasion for us is Atleti striker Luis Suarez, who we’re backing to have a big impact on this game.
Suarez is back from a suspension so will be chomping at the bit, and the Uruguayan is never one to play within himself in these big games so having been banned for grabbing five bookings in La Liga will not hold him back here.
He’s a good price to be booked here at 3.39/4 as he’s been booked in some other high-pressure games, such as against Real Madrid and then two other Madrid derbies against Getafe and Rayo Vallecano.
Throw in a yellow card in both Champions League games against former club Liverpool and these are ideal conditions for Suarez to get booked.
We can garnish this bet though by backing some attacking input from Suarez, who with seven La Liga goals this season hasn’t his is usual heights but could be getting back into form.
Suarez hasn’t scored a league goal for over two months, but got one in the Copa del Rey a week ago and that performance gives us hope he can start another run of scoring goals.
He’s certainly due one, and he’s certainly not afraid of scoring in these games and we’re backing him to score and get booked here for Thursday’s Bet Builder.
Source: Betfair Spanish La Liga
