Barca, Real title race goes down to the wire

Soccer Betting Lines

05/14/2010 - Barcelona, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barcelona has secured the La Liga title at Camp Nou in the final match of the season four times, but captain Carles Puyol warned that Sunday's match against Valladolid "will be no stroll."

Barca enters the finale with a one-point cushion on Real Madrid and a win over relegation-threatened Valladolid would clinch the club's 20th Spanish crown.

Real Madrid visits relegation-threatened Malaga on Sunday, but needs Barcelona to falter to have a chance. Barca will still claim the title with a defeat, if Real losses or draws.

Although Barcelona is unbeaten at home - 17 wins and one tie - Puyol was still cautious with Valladolid facing the drop, and his teammates feel the same way.

"It will be difficult playing against a team facing relegation," Puyol said on the club's website.

"They've got a lot at stake," Barca's Bojan Krkic said on the team's website. "We expect it to be a difficult match and we'll have to clinch it as soon as possible."

Other than its 1-1 draw against Villarreal, Barcelona has been nearly flawless at Camp Nou. In its 17 wins, Barca has scored 52 goals and allowed just 10.

Krkic felt it was important to get an early lead against Valladolid, which has earned 10 results on the road this season.

"In this kind of match you have to avoid getting stuck at 0-0 for too long. That's why it's important to start well and get the support of the fans right from the beginning," he said.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola should welcome back Andres Iniesta and Eric Abidal, but Xavi is out after picking up his fifth yellow card last week. He earned an automatic one-match suspension for accumulated cards, but Barcelona has appealed.

Valladolid, led by former Spain coach Javier Clemente, can still remain in the top flight with a loss, but will be counting on other results in a fight among five clubs.

Valladolid is one of four teams on 36 points - along with Malaga, Racing and Tenerife - and Xerez is three points back but still has hope.

Malaga faces a tough test against Real, which is trying to avoid finishing the season without a single title after its nearly $400 million makeover.

"We expect to win, but it will be a very difficult match because both teams have so much at stake," Real's Gago said on the club's website. "We will both play to the fullest. We need the points to have a chance of winning the title and Malaga need to win in order to avoid relegation.

"I hope it's Real Madrid that win. No team can ever be too confident because every match is like a final."

Tenerife also faces a top club Sunday when it visits Valencia, which has third and a Champions League spot secured.

Racing is in the best position of the relegation-threatened sides, as it hosts Sporting Gijon. Sporting is just above the drop zone. Xerez visits Osasuna but may not even survive with a win.

The last Champions League berth and two Europa League spots will be determined on Saturday.

Fourth-place Sevilla visits Almeria and fifth-place Mallorca hosts Espanyol in the battle for the Champions League spot. Sevilla would secure the spot with a win, while Mallorca needs a win and either a loss or draw by Sevilla. Fifth is still good enough for a Europa spot.

The other Europa spot will go to Getafe or Villarreal, who enter the final day level on points. Getafe holds the tiebreaker, so it will claim the berth if it matches Villarreal's result against Real Zaragoza when it visits newly-crowned Europa League champions Atletico Madrid.

Athletic Bilbao hosts Deportivo in the other match in La Liga on Saturday.

Hallnark Soccer Betting News

<< Union need result at home against FC Dallas
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Union coach Peter Nowak said following the expansion club's fourth consecutive defeat last weekend the team is making mistakes "that should not happen." Philadelphia has made mistakes in ever

<< In the FCS Huddle: ODU hopes to keep soaring in Year 2
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - His first-year program was about to make its initial road trip last season when Old Dominion head coach Bobby Wilder learned something, just days before the Monarchs' visit to Jacksonville University: Amo

<< Busch takes pole for Dover truck race
Dover, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Busch will start on the pole for Friday's Dover 200 Camping World Truck Series race after topping the charts in qualifying at Dover International Speedway. Busch posted a lap of 156.481 m.p.h.

<< Heart Attack claims life of Skip Away
Midway, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Horse of the Year Skip Away died from an apparent heart attack Friday morning in Kentucky. The 17-year-old stallion was living at Hopewell Farm. Skip Away was a four-time Eclipse Award winner ha

<< Stamps release Carpenter
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Stampeders have released linebacker Dwaine Carpenter, who spent the past three seasons with the club. Carpenter appeared in 50 games and recorded 119 tackles with two sacks, two interceptions, f

Woodson won't return to Hawks >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Woodson reportedly will not return as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks next season. Both the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and NBA.com reported that Woodson was not offered a new contract. The t

Another Staal joins the Hurricanes >>
Raleigh, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Hurricanes have signed right wing Jared Staal to a three-year, entry-level contract. Staal, the younger brother of Hurricanes captain Eric, was acquired by Carolina on Thursday from Phoe

Stanley Cup Playoff Preview - San Jose vs. Chicago >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Finally, the San Jose Sharks have turned in a postseason run that seems worthy of their regular-season success. But, just because the club has finally made it past the second round doesn't mean that the pressure is off the

Hillman not to blame in Kansas City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It wasn't a complete shock that the Trey Hillman era ended in Kansas City on Thursday. The Royals had taken a step back last year following a promising 2008 that saw them out of the American League Central cellar for the f

Lille hopes to hold off Lyon for second place >>
Lorient, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With Marseille having already clinched the Ligue 1 title, most of the attention in France turns to the race for Champions League places on the final day of the season. Lille is in position to grab second

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.

MySportsbook.com is a must-have for the smart veteran sports investor who enjoys following the odds almost as much as betting them. Simply put, no one offers more betting options and offers them faster than MySportsbook. This football sportsbook is known for its ability to set the early market odds on events without having to worry about weak lines. Professional players are well aware that getting a crack at the early betting line is worth as much as, and sometimes more than, huge bonuses or reduced prices. MySportsbook's fearless, yet smart bookmaking style is what keeps everyone watching, including most other sportsbooks.

This is also a great choice for those who just want to have a worry free, fun experience. The ownership’s motto is “Sweat the game, not the payout”. These are not just decorative words used to fill space on the homepage. MySportsbook aims to give their customers the fastest withdrawals in the industry. Payouts are processed within 24 hours by an online sportsbook that carries our A+ financial rating.

Those who enjoy proposition and future wagers consider MySportsbook.com a top choice. Smaller players who seek large bonuses would do better at their sister book, Sportsbooks.com.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your betting football needs.