Real Madrid vs FK Viktoria Plzen Predictions

Real Madrid are under immense pressure to get the right result on Tuesday night in the Champions League, after one of the most miserable runs in their long history. Beaten again at home by Levante in the league at the weekend, they desperately need some kind of a morale boost heading into the clasico on Sunday. On paper Viktoria Plzen should be no match for the European champions but strange things have certainly been happening at the Bernabeu of late.

Los Blancos at least ended a goal drought that had stretched past seven hours when Marcelo fired home what would only prove to be a consolation goal against the Valencia club. In fairness, Real created enough chances to score a host of goals, hitting the woodwork several times in a match vaguely reminiscent of their most recent Champions League outing. They also fell behind early in that one against CSKA Moscow and spurned several chances to get back on level terms. However a run of 4 defeats in 5 matches, can’t simply be explained away by bad luck.

Viktoria Plzen are the rank outsiders in this group, with the Czech side going well in their league but struggling on the big European stage. They were thrashed 5-0 by Roma in the Italian capital last time out but do at least have a point on the board having held CSKA at home in their opening game.

There is a sense that eventually Real Madrid are going to hammer somebody and while it’s possible that it could be this match, it’s hard to see any value in backing that to be the case. They’ve looked very short on confidence in front of goal with the likes of Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale snapping at chances at the weekend. Neither player looks fully fit, while the same could certainly be said of Isco, who was well below par in midfield following on from a reasonably lengthy lay-off.

With a huge trip to Barcelona coming on Sunday, Julen Lopetegui won’t risk putting anyone through 90 minutes unless he thinks they are ready. Marco Asensio has also gone off the boil, while other attacking options are relatively limited with Mariano yet to really contribute since returning. Their opponents may be a very average side at this level but the way Real are playing and particularly how badly they are finishing, backing Viktoria Plzen +3.0 Asian Handicap could be worth a punt. Read our Asian Handicap Guide for more on this market.

The gulf in quality is such that Los Blancos should still win the game even though they aren’t playing well and they do have an outstanding record in home Champions League group stage matches, not losing any of the last 26, winning 23. However for all the focus on their goal drought, they have had serious issues at the other end too. Sergio Ramos and Marcelo have both had poor seasons defensively and even the usually reliable Raphael Varane was largely responsible for both goals against Levante, who had chances to score more than twice.

Plzen have netted in 4 of their last 6 away in the Champions League and backing Real Madrid & Both Teams to Score may also be worth a punt.