The current champions are big favourites to win this game against promoted side Malaga at an average of $1.25, but have only one win in their last 5, and they lost at home to Juventus (0-2) in the Champions’ League on Wednesday; Dutch winger Arjen Robben was missed against Juventus and he will be out for up to 2 months. Yet, Real’s squad should be able to step-up in his absence and they are still just two points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Malaga have adapted well to the Primera Liga, but their run of 4 wins in a row was ended last week at home to Barcelona (1-4); a number of defensive errors in that game gifted the win to Barca after Malaga equalised early in the game.

Despite picking up a 1-0 win at Sevilla in the derby, Malaga have lost to other top sides Valencia (0-2) and Atletico (0-4) this season and they will not be looking forward to facing free-scoring Real after their comprehensive loss to Barcelona.

Real have won 3 and drawn 1 at home this season, and though their form has been poor in recent games, they have the perfect chance to gain a morale-boosting win against a Malaga side that may be softened after Barcelona’s convincing win last week.

Real’s loss to Juventus was their first game without scoring since March and under Bernd Schuster, their goalscoring record is outstanding, especially at home; last season, the Bernabeu saw a league-high 71 goals in 19 games, averaging at over 3.5 goals per game and in 4 league games at the Bernabeu this season, fans have seen an astonishing 24 goals.

Match Betting Previews 8-9 November 2008 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Man United - Hull v Bolton - Liverpool v West Brom - Sunderland v Portsmouth - West Ham v Everton - Wigan v Stoke - Aston Villa v Middlesbrough - Blackburn v Chelsea - Fulham v Newcastle - Man City v Spurs La Liga: Barcelona v Valladolid - Real Madrid v Malaga - Getafe v Valencia Serie A: Inter v Udinese - Lecce v Milan - Napoli v Sampdoria Ligue 1: Monaco v Lyon - Grenoble v Marseille Bundesliga: Hamburg v Dortmund - Schalke v Bayern

More impressive, though are both sides’ recent scoring records in the first-half of games; in Real and Malaga’s last 4 league games, they have both scored 6 goals in the first-half and in total have seen 10 and 9 goals, respectively in their opening 45s.

Both sides are far from cagey openers and should start the game brightly - Unibet’s $2.20 for over 1.5 goals in the first-half looks good value.

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Bet: First-Half: over 1.5 goals Odds: $2.20 Stake: 6.5pts Bookies: Unibet

Match Betting Previews 8-9 November 2008 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Man United - Hull v Bolton - Liverpool v West Brom - Sunderland v Portsmouth - West Ham v Everton - Wigan v Stoke - Aston Villa v Middlesbrough - Blackburn v Chelsea - Fulham v Newcastle - Man City v Spurs La Liga: Barcelona v Valladolid - Real Madrid v Malaga - Getafe v Valencia Serie A: Inter v Udinese - Lecce v Milan - Napoli v Sampdoria Ligue 1: Monaco v Lyon - Grenoble v Marseille Bundesliga: Hamburg v Dortmund - Schalke v Bayern