Push Gaming, a renowned name in the online gaming industry, has made its debut in the Spanish market through an exclusive partnership with two of Spain’s largest operators, Pokerstars and Gran Madrid | Casino Online. This strategic move marks a significant milestone for the studio as it continues to expand its presence in key European markets.

Exclusive Launch with Top Operators

In this first-of-its-kind market launch, Push Gaming will roll out ten of its most popular slot titles, divided between the two operators for an exclusive eight-week period. Players at Pokerstars.es will get exclusive access to some of Push Gaming’s most successful games, including Big Bamboo, Jammin’ Jars, Razor Shark, Wild Swarm, and 10 Swords during the initial launch phase.

Simultaneously, Gran Madrid | Casino Online will offer exclusive access to Boss Bear, Jammin’ Jars 2, Retro Tapes, Fish ‘n’ Nudge, and Push’s major AAA release from 2023, Razor Returns. This dual-exclusive strategy ensures that players at both platforms get a unique and exciting gaming experience, featuring some of the best titles from Push Gaming.

Strategic Market Expansion

The entry into the Spanish market is a testament to Push Gaming’s ambitious growth roadmap, aimed at extending its reach across Europe with a robust lineup of high-quality slot games. The move is expected to solidify the company’s presence in Spain, a key European market known for its vibrant gaming community.

Leadership Insights

Fiona Hickey, Chief Business Development Officer at Push Gaming, expressed her excitement about the launch: “This launch is the result of an incredible amount of hard work across the board so it’s fantastic to see it get across the line. Most market debuts are with just one partner so to do so with two major operators – a first for Push – is particularly pleasing. Both are household names for Spanish players and we couldn’t ask for more knowledgeable and established boots on the ground. I’m sure the safe hands we’re in at launch will set us on course for great things in Spain.”

José Felix Herreros, Country Manager at Gran Madrid, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of offering top-quality gaming experiences to their players: “At Gran Madrid, we strive to always offer the best gaming experience to our players. With the exclusive launch of the best titles from Push Gaming, Gran Madrid | Casino Online consolidates its position as the leading casino in Spain, being the first casino to offer its players the best of this industry-leading studio in online gaming, providing our players with a unique and exciting gaming experience.”

Future Prospects

With the successful launch in Spain, Push Gaming is poised for further growth and expansion in other European markets. The exclusive partnerships with Pokerstars and Gran Madrid | Casino Online set a strong foundation for the company to build upon, as it continues to deliver innovative and engaging gaming content to players across the continent.

This latest development underscores Push Gaming’s commitment to excellence and its ability to forge strategic partnerships that drive its growth and success in the highly competitive online gaming industry.

Source:

Push Gaming elevates regulated market growth with exclusive Spain entry, Push Gaming, July 12, 2024.

The post Push Gaming Enters Spanish Market Exclusively with Pokerstars and Gran Madrid appeared first on Keno Wizard.

The Government of Madrid has announced a significant reduction in the number of land-based betting shops within the Spanish autonomous community, with a reported 60% decrease since 2019. The number of betting shops has dropped from 160 in that year to just 64 currently. Additionally, gambling saloons have seen a decreasing trend of 8%.

During a presentation to the plenary session of the Madrid Assembly, Carlos Novillo, the Minister of Environment, Interior, and Agriculture, highlighted the region’s standing in terms of gambling saloons per capita. Madrid ranks 14th out of the 17 autonomous communities and the two autonomous cities in Spain in terms of gambling saloons per 100,000 inhabitants.

Efforts in Regulation and Compliance

Carlos Novillo provided further insights, noting that the Madrid government has conducted an extensive number of inspections to ensure regulatory compliance. In 2023 alone, up to 27,000 inspections were carried out, with an additional 15,000 inspections conducted so far in 2024. These inspections have shown a decreasing balance of sanctions, which Novillo interprets as evidence of the sector’s adaptation and respect for the current regulations.

“The decreasing balance of sanctions indicates that the sector is adapting to regulation and is respecting it,” stated Novillo during his address. He emphasized that the efforts of the regional government to regulate and control the betting and gambling sector are bearing fruit.

Impact on Accessibility and Compliance

The reduction in the number of gambling establishments, alongside the decrease in sanctions, suggests a trend towards greater compliance by operators with the regulations imposed by the regional government. This compliance potentially leads to a decrease in the accessibility of these premises for residents of the Community of Madrid, contributing to a more controlled gambling environment.

Novillo concluded his remarks by reinforcing the positive outcomes of the regulatory measures, stating, “This trend suggests a greater compliance by operators with the regulations imposed, as well as a possible decrease in the accessibility of these premises for residents of the Community of Madrid.”

Additional Context from Regional Data

Supporting the minister’s statements, regional data indicates that the efforts of the Madrid government are effectively managing the gambling landscape. The comprehensive inspections and subsequent reduction in sanctions highlight the commitment to ensuring a responsible and regulated gambling environment.

As the Community of Madrid continues to monitor and regulate the sector, these measures demonstrate a proactive approach to managing the impacts of gambling on its residents. The government’s actions serve as a model for other regions aiming to balance industry growth with social responsibility.

Source: “La Comunidad de Madrid reduce un 60% las casas de apuestas desde 2019”. MadridActual. May 23, 2024.

The post Madrid Sees 60% Decline in Betting Shops Since 2019 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Wazdan, an experienced supplier of premier content to the iGaming industry, has entered a partnership with the prominent Spanish operator Gran Madrid Casino Online. Under the terms of the deal, the supplier will provide its extensive slot portfolio to the online casino through the aggregation platform Light & Wonder, one of the leading aggregators in the industry.

Content Supply Deal

The partnership represents a huge step forward for both companies in accomplishing their respective strategic objectives. Since the launch of its operations more than a decade ago, Wazdan has been working to always secure the best possible content for its operator and aggregator partners. The commitment to quality has resulted in the provider’s expansion across more than 25 markets worldwide. Therefore, the latest partnership deal marks a significant milestone for the provider to extend its reach in the Spanish jurisdiction.

At the same time, Gran Madrid Casino Online has secured a strong foothold in Spain with its customer-oriented approach based on the same business principles as those exercised by its partner to this deal. The operator will use the Light & Wonder platform to offer the Wazdan’s suite of top-performing titles to players. Such an extended offering is set to expand the Gran Madrid Casino Online’s player pool, as well as reinforce the casino’s prominent position in the Spanish market.

Portfolio Now Available

The operator launched its operations in 2011 to now boast the most comprehensive catalogue in the iGaming sector. It currently includes more than 2,000 classic and new slots to anchor the company’s status of a leading online casino in the jurisdiction. The catalogue will now be expanded by the Wazdan’s portfolio of more than 180 premier titles.

The Chief Commercial Officer for Wazdan, Andrzej Hyla, said:“Partnering with Gran Madrid Casino Online marks a pivotal moment for Wazdan as we expand our presence in the Spanish market. We are thrilled to collaborate with a visionary operator renowned for its exceptional gaming offerings and dedication to providing top-notch experiences to players.”

Safe and Responsible Gaming Operations

The strategic partnership will bring the provider’s cutting-edge content to the Spanish market. Wazdan will benefit from the increased presence in the jurisdiction, while Gran Madrid Casino Online expects to benefit from the diversified offerings of high-quality content. As both partners are focused on the adherence to the principles of safe and responsible gaming operations, the deal is likely to be beneficial for the entire Spanish player community.

Source: “Wazdan Announces Partnership with Gran Madrid Casino Online Via Light&Wonder”. European Gaming. December 11, 2023.

The post Wazdan Has Partnered with Gran Madrid Casino Online appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Zitro, a world leader in entertainment offering video bingo and slot games, systems and online gaming, announced that its Mighty Hammer slot is now available at Gran Madrid | Casino Torrequebrada in Benalmádena, Málaga.

The agreement further expands Zitro’s European reach, allowing the company to solidify its presence in Spain. The multi-game slots, available on Allure Glare and Illusion Glare terminals, bring many exciting gaming experiences to players and will allow the property to engage its visitors with unforgettable spins.

According to Zitro, the Mighty Hammer games offer an “unparalleled journey with different emotions at each level of the bonus link.” In addition, Mighty Hammer is very dynamic and always keeps gamblers on the edge of their seats.

The deal with Gran Madrid | Casino Torrequebrada comes in the wake of an agreement between Zitro and VICCA Group in Colombia that saw the provider power several of the operator’s properties with games. This move expanded Zitro and VICCA’s existing relationship, consolidating the provider’s presence in the country.

Zitro Continues Its Global Expansion

Commenting on the current deal, Sergio Rupérez, Gran Madrid’s head of product said that the Mighty Hammer bonus game is something that his company’s players enjoy a lot. He noted that the addition poises the Casino Torrequebrada as one of the most attractive gambling destinations around.

We believe this latest addition will position us as one of the most attractive entertainment destinations on the Costa del Sol, offering a diverse range of choices to suit all tastes and preferences.

Sergio Rupérez, head of product, Gran Madrid

Zitro’s director of Casinos Spain, Jaime Aníbal-Álvarez, also shared his thoughts on the matter. He thanked the Gran Madrid group for realizing the potential of Mighty Hammer and including it in their entertainment offerings.

Aníbal-Álvarez said that he is very content with the ongoing deal between Zitro and Gran Madrid and is looking forward to innovating more alongside Zitro’s trusted partner.

Meanwhile, Zitro continues to expand its global presence. In addition to its recent Pariplay Fusion aggregation agreement, Zitro also launched a new office in Latin America. The hub is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina and will bolster Zitro’s presence in the region, setting it up for further growth.

The post Zitro Launches Mighty Hammer at Gran Madrid | Casino Torrequebrada appeared first on Keno Wizard.

This has been a wonderful season for Olympiacos and the cherry on top would be to win the 2023 EuroLeague. Oddsmakers think they’re going to do it, but you never know with Real Madrid. Los Blancos have already staged many upsets this year, so maybe they could stage another one?

Olympiacos and Real Madrid Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Zalgirio Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania
• Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
• Time: 1:00 PM
• How to Watch: FloSports / EuroLeague TV

Is Olympiacos the Best Basketball Team in Europe in 2023?

The Greek powerhouse finished top of the EuroLeague table in the regular season. Olympiacos went 24-10 in the regular season, which saw their forward Aleksandar Vezenkov put on some really vintage performances. In fact, he was so good that the EuroLeague awarded him the MVP prize for the 2022-23 season.

The best thing is that his teammates weren’t much behind him in terms of performance. Kostas Papanikolaou, Kostas Sloukas, Shaquielle Mckissic, Moustapha Fall, and many other Olympiacos players were absolutely fantastic in the regular season.

Most of them continued to play well in the playoffs, even though they did somewhat struggle against Fenerbahce. Even though it wasn’t an easy series, the Greeks eventually won 3-2, thus booking the ticket to the EuroLeague Final 4.

Then, in the semifinal, they steamrolled Monaco 76-62. It was expected if we’re being frank as Monaco is the worst team of all that qualified for the F4 tournament in Lithuania. On Sunday, however, Olympiacos have a much tougher task on their hands.

Real Madrid Ready for Another Upset?

Los Blancos are coming to Kaunas as +150 underdogs, but this doesn’t seem to bother them much. After all, they’ve just staged a big upset in the semifinal. They were +215 underdogs against Barcelona in the last game, but they ended up smashing their archrivals 78-66.

Truth be told, it’s Barca’s fault really. These guys played horrible basketball on Friday, with their best player Nikola Mirotic scoring just 3 points. Sure, Real Madrid players did great defensively, especially Edy Tavares who’s arguably the best defensive player outside the NBA.

Still, despite impressing against Barca, the boys in white haven’t been too convincing in the 2023 postseason. The best example is the playoff series against Partizan Belgrade, which saw them struggle a lot.

They went 2-0 down after two games in Madrid, both of which saw a lot of controversy. Their players got into a fight with the opposition, the result of which was that a couple of Partizan’s key men ended up suspended. It’s not an overstatement to say that it helped Real turn the series in their favor.

Olympiacos and Real Madrid 2023 EuroLeague Final Prediction

We think Olympiacos will destroy Real Madrid on Sunday. If you compare them player-for-player, Olympiacos might not seem too superior. However, the Greeks have been functioning great as a collective. They just need another big push to end their wonderful campaign in style.

That said, we can see no other scenario but Olympiacos winning the game, covering the spread along the way.

Pick: Olympiacos to win and cover the spread

The post Olympiacos and Real Madrid 2023 EuroLeague Final Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Iga Swiatek has already achieved a lot this season, despite a relatively poor start (R4 exit at the Australian Open). Since dropping out of the Aussie Slam, she’s 21-2, and is on a 9-match winning streak. Can she make it 10 on Saturday against Aryna Sabalenka? Odds suggest so, but let’s see what we think.

Swiatek vs Sabalenka Madrid Open Odds

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain
• Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Time: 12:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

Iga Swiatek Becoming the “Queen of Clay”

Iga Swiatek is the best female player in the world, who plays almost equally well on all playing surfaces. Still, there’s one type of court that she’s been outstandingly good on – clay.

The evidence of this is that despite being only 21 years old, the Polish player has already won two French Open titles. And the French Open is the only Grand Slam tournament that uses clay courts.

Further, Swiatek won her most recent trophy at Stuttgart, another tournament played on clay. In the final of the 2023 Stuttgart Open, she defeated Sabalenka 2-0 (6-3, 6-4). It was her sixth win over the Belarus player, to whom she’s lost twice so far.

What’s interesting is that both of those losses happened on the hard court. When it comes to Swiatek vs Sabalenka matches played on clay, the Polish player is 3-0, winning every time in straight sets.

Is There a Way Aryna Sabalenka Can Stage an Upset?

Aryna Sabalenka is coming into the final of the 2023 Madrid Open as an +275 underdog. Given her history with Swiatek, those odds are actually shorter than they’re supposed to be.

But they’re probably going to get longer before the start of the match. In fact, the growing trend has already started as evident from the fact that Sabalenka’s odds when the markets opened were +250.

Even though she’s definitely one of the best players in the world, she’s not the best one. Instead, it’s Swiatek. Sure, anyone can have a bad day, including the Polish sensation, and if it happens on Saturday, Sabalenka will be glad to use it to her advantage. But will it happen?

Swiatek vs Sabalenka Madrid Open Prediction

In the semifinal of the 2023 Madrid Open, Iga Swiatek steamrolled Veronika Kudermetova (WTA No. 13), winning 2-0 (6-1, 6-1) in just 80 minutes. Sure, Sabalenka is a tougher opponent than Kudermetova, but we’re almost 100% certain Swiatek can handle her. This goes especially because the Madrid Open final is played on clay, Swiatek’s favorite surface.

Pick: Iga Swiatak to win; under 20.5 games

The post Iga Swiatek vs Aryna Sabalenka 2023 Madrid Open Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Real Madrid lost 2-0 to Real Sociedad on Tuesday, the result of which is that Los Blancos are now 14 points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona. Their dream of winning the league is practically over, but they do stand a great chance to win the Spanish Cup. For that, they just need to beat the +850 underdog Osasuna this coming Saturday.

Real Madrid vs Osasuna Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, Spain
• Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
• Time: 4:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: ESPN+

Real Madrid Going All-In on in Copa del Rey

Real Madrid is King’s Club, so it would be more than appropriate for them to win King’s Cup. Even though this is the most successful Spanish club overall, Real Madrid is only third in the list of Copa del Rey winners, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid having significantly more trophies.

Further, it’s been a while since Los Blancos won it the last time (2014), which is another incentive for these guys to give their utmost on Saturday. Still, the No. 1 reason why we expect Carlo Ancelotti’s boys to go all-in in Copa del Rey Final is that one trophy has already slipped from their hands.

They’ve got 14 points fewer than Barcelona in La Liga, and with just five more rounds left to play, Barca just need one point to seal the deal.

On the bright side for Los Blancos, they still have a good chance to retain the Champions League title – they’ve reached the semi-finals of that competition. The first leg of the Man City doubleheader is played three days after the Copa del Rey Final, but you can be certain that this fact doesn’t impact the players’ focus. These guys are coming to Seville determined to get ahold of the trophy.

Can Osasuna Cause the Biggest Upset in Spanish Soccer in 2023?

The short answer is – no. The longer answer is that the boys from the Basque Region just don’t have the quality needed to beat the Madrid powerhouse. So, how did they manage to get all the way to the final game of the Spanish Cup?

Well, they got lucky. In the semifinal, they were better than Athletic Bilbao, winning 2-1 on aggregate. They did okay in both of those games, but it’s the Athletic player who should feel bad about not putting in more effort.

Before that, Osasuna defeated out-of-shape Sevilla, as well as Real Betis. And in the early stages of the competition, these guys routinely beat a couple of teams from the lower tiers of the Spanish league system. Knowing all this, it’s clear that Osasuna’s toughest challenge is on the program on Saturday.

Real Madrid vs Osasuna Prediction

Real Madrid is the team that’s going to win the 2023 Copa del Rey on Saturday. Los Blancos do have some problems with injuries, but even if Ancelotti let only reserves on the pitch, they’d still do better than Osasuna.

Pick: Real Madrid to win

The post Real Madrid vs Osasuna 2023 Copa Del Rey Final Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Lately, Karim Benzema has been hitting on all cylinders just at the right time as Real Madrid continues to strive towards winning both the European Cup as well as the Spanish League trophy.

Plagued by Minor Injuries

Unfortunately, the Ballon d’Or winner in Benzema has been dealing with successions of minor or little injuries throughout this professional football season. Including an injury that managed to keep Karim from playing for the national club of France during their run to the 2022 World Cup final from Qatar.

The highly – skilled 35 – year – old forward is now once again seeming to be mostly healthy and Benzema is starting to play up to his potential as one of the best players in European professional football as Real Madrid prepares to make a serious run at 2 – major football championship titles.

Karim Benzema Scores on Barca!

Benzema managed to net a goal during the 2^nd – half hat trick in order to lead Real Madrid over Barcelona with a final tally of 4 to 0 on Wednesday, April 5^th, 2023 which put his club team into the Copa del Rey final for the very 1^st – time since the year of 2014.

Real Madrid is all set up now to face – off against Chelsea next week during the upcoming Champions League quarterfinals as they attempt to defend their championship title, and if they do come out victorious with a huge win it would become a record – extending 15^th – European Cup trophy they would be hoisting.

Karim was named football’s best male player due to his remarkable 2021 – 2022 campaign in which he has only played a total of 31 out of Real Madrid’s 45 – games throughout all competitions this season all based upon the minor injuries he has endured lately. He has been effective as ever when fully healthy, especially in key contests in the Champions League as well as the Copa del Rey.

Benzema popped in 3 – goals during Real Madrid’s 6 to 2 aggregate victory over Liverpool in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Following Karim being left off of France’s national team for the recent European Championship qualifying matches, the supreme striker has now scored back – to – back hat tricks for the Real Madrid football club. He pushed pass 3 – goals in a range of just 7 – minutes during a 6 to nil rout of Valladolid in the Spanish League only 3 – days prior to his hat trick at Camp Nou. Benzema is on fire right now, and he is exemplifying why he is still one of the best goal scorers in the world at the moment.

“The work during the (international) break has certainly helped him,” the head coach of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed. “He’s found his best condition and with the quality he has, he makes a difference for sure. He’s still one of the best players in the world at the moment and when he’s in good shape he makes a difference.”

The Strategy of Coach Carlo Ancelotti

Coach Ancelotti may possibly be lured to rest Karim or potentially other regular starters on Saturday, April 8^th, 2023 when Real Madrid hosts Villarreal in a Spanish League match prior to battling Chelsea on the following Wednesday.

Ancelotti defeated Barcelona’s counterpart in Xavi Hernández through the play of his attack – minded strategy that started 11 with Benzema accompanied by the Brazilian forwards of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo.

The Italian head coach of Real Madrid also chose to go without a stopper in the midfield as he opted to go with the passing of Luka Modric as well as Toni Kroos to accommodate the lightning – fast speed of Federico Valverde.

To be fair, Xavi had many fewer options available to him because Pedri, Ousmane Dembélé, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen were all out die to various injuries. This may be the main reason of the ultimate inevitable result demonstrating Real Madrid’s biggest victory at Barcelona’s home stadium since their 5 to 1 victory way back in 1963.

“His numbers say it all,” the defender for Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal, stated in regards to Karim Benzema. “He was hugely important for us again and we’re thrilled to have him in this vein of form at this stage of the season because he can give us lots to smile about.”

In the meantime, Real Madrid will now have to heavily – focus on the Champions League title with Barcelona presently being up a solid 12 – points ahead of Madrid at the top of the Spanish League standings.

“We played against a great Real Madrid team,” Xavi Hernández explained. “This was a tough night that will take us time to recover from, but we have to be positive and think about Girona and the league.”

Karim Benzema’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards

Club

Lyon

• Ligue 1: 2004 – 2005, 2005 – 2006, 2006 – 2007, 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France: 2007 – 2008
• Trophée des Champions: 2006, 2007

Real Madrid

• La Liga: 2011 – 2012, 2016 – 2017, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Copa del Rey: 2010 – 2011, 2013 – 2014
• Supercopa de España: 2012, 2017, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League: 2013 – 2014, 2015 – 2016, 2016 – 2017, 2017 – 2018, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022

International

France U – 17

• UEFA European Under – 17 Championship: 2004

France

• UEFA Nations League: 2020 – 2021

Individual

• Ballon d’Or: 2022
• UEFA Men’s Player of the Year: 2021 – 2022
• Golden Player Man Award: 2022
• Onze d’Or: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• French Player of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2021
• UEFA Champions League Player of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorer: 2021 – 2022
• FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2022
• La Liga Player of the Season: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• La Liga Best Player (voted by Marca fans): 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano: 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Pichichi Trophy: 2021 – 2022
• UEFA Champions League Top Assist Provider: 2011 – 2012
• UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2020 – 2021
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021 – 2022
• IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2022
• Globe Soccer Awards Men’s Player of the Year: 2022
• Bravo Award: 2008
• Ligue 1 Top Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• Coupe de France Top Scorer: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: January 2008, April 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007 – 2008
• Golden Lion for the Best Lyon Sportsman: 2007, 2008
• French Rookie of the Year: 2006
• Étoile d’Or: 2007 – 2008
• La Liga Team of the Season: 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2019 – 2020
• La Liga Player of the Month: October 2014, June 2020, March 2021, September 2021, April 2022
• Supercopa de España Top Scorer: 2021 – 2022, 2022 – 2023
• Real Madrid Player of the Season (voted by supporters): 2015 – 2016, 2018 – 2019, 2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2022
• Best French Player playing Abroad: 2019, 2021, 2022
• AS Player of the Year: 2021
• Kicker Player of the Season: 2022
• Madrid Sports Press Association Award (APDM)
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
• L’Équipe’s Team of the Year: 2020, 2021, 2022
• 2005 UEFA – CAF Meridian Cup Top Scorer
• UEFA European Championship Bronze Boot: 2020
• UEFA Nations League Finals Bronze Boot: 2021
• UEFA Nations League Finals Goal of the Tournament: 2021
• Member of Guinness World Records 2021: Player with the most consecutive seasons in the UEFA Champions League (qualified for and played in the competition without interruption since 2005)

Sources:

Wilson, Joseph. “Benzema scoring as Madrid eyes trophies in Spain and Europe”. The Associated Press. Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Football Reference News Services. “Karim Benzema”. Football Reference. Friday, April 7, 2023.

The post Karim Benzema leads Real Madrid towards 2 appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea was a quarterfinal matchup of last season’s Champions League and the same is the case in 2023. Los Blancos won the doubleheader last year, will the same happen again?

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea Champions League Odds

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
• Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: Paramount+

Real Madrid Determined to Retain Their UCL Title

Los Blancos are in top form right now in all competitions. The evidence of their brilliant run is that exactly seven days before the UCL match with Chelsea, they destroyed Barcelona 4-0 at Camp Nou. Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in that game, while we also saw Vinicius Junior score one goal.

We expect a lot from those two in the duel with Chelsea on Wednesday as well. One of the reasons is that those two guys have some really good memories from the games with this rival. Last season, Real Madrid beat Chelsea 3-1 in London with all three goals scored by Benzema. Chelsea fought back in Madrid, getting to 3-1 in the 90 minutes, taking the game to extra time.

The Blues got their dreams crushed just six minutes into the first extra time period by Benzema – he scored the winner on an assist from Vinicius Junior.

Lampard Is Back in Charge of Chelsea

After sacking Graham Potter, the London Blues appointed Frank Lampard as their caretaker manager. He’s back at Chelsea after two years and is hoping his second stint will be more successful. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem very likely that he’s going to be able to take them to the semifinal of the Champions League.

The thing is that he just hasn’t had much time to prepare the team for the clash with Real Madrid. And even if that wasn’t the case, Chelsea would still be seen as the underdog. This goes especially for the first leg, which is played in the Spanish capital.

The Blues have been pretty disappointing on the road this season. Their most recent away game in the UCL saw them lose to Dortmund 1-0. In the group phase of this competition, however, they did okay, going 2-0-1.

They defeated Salzburg 2-1 in Austria and AC Milan 2-0 in Italy, while losing 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia in what was Thomas Tuchel’s final game as the Chelsea boss. After losing to Dinamo, Potter took charge, which lasted until a week ago.

Real Madrid vs. Chelsea Prediction

Carlo Ancelotti’s boys are winning this. No other option but Real Madrid winning on Wednesday seems viable. Everything seems to be going in Los Blancos’ favor. They’ve got the players, as well as the manager who knows how to win big games. Plus, they’re playing on their turf, which is bound to give them even more motivation to destroy Chelsea.

Pick: Real Madrid to win & over 2.5 goals

The post Real Madrid vs. Chelsea UCL Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.

Barcelona is the only team that’s defeated Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu in more than two years. But maybe Liverpool can beat them on Wednesday? Unfortunately for the Reds, just winning isn’t enough. They need a big win instead.

The good news is that they’ve already proved they have a lot of firepower. Some 10 days ago, they demolished Manchester United 7-0.

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Friday, March 10, 2023.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain
• Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
• Time: 3:00 PM ET
• How to Watch: Paramount+

Reigning Champions Taking This Game Seriously

Los Blancos do have a comfortable lead on aggregate, but you can be sure they won’t muck around on Wednesday. Instead, it’s very likely that manager Carlo Ancelotti will pick his best XI for the clash with Liverpool.

The main reason is that he knows that the Reds can be tricky in big games. After all, they did knock-out Real’s archrival Barcelona in the 2019 UCL after a historic comeback from being 0-3 down.

Another reason why Los Blancos will go all-in on Wednesday is that the game is played four days before the clash with Barcelona in La Liga. The UCL game would serve as a general rehearsal for the domestic league game.

The Reds to Attack with All They Got

Liverpool need a big win on Wednesday, with at least three goals in Real Madrid’s net. We say “at least” because a 3-0 win would take the game to extra time. And if they concede a goal(s), they will have to score even more than that.

They do have the confidence they can pull it off thanks to the brilliant performance against Manchester United some on March 5. They destroyed their EPL rivals 7-0 with the goals being scored by four different players – Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, and Roberto Firmino.

This fact shows that the Reds have plenty of offensive weapons in their arsenal. In addition to those four, they also got Diogo Jota in the attack, as well as many offensive-minded midfielders.

Real Madrid vs Liverpool Prediction

Liverpool are going to attack ferociously on Wednesday. Does this mean Real Madrid will defend? No way, knowing that they’re playing in front of their fans. Instead, they’re going to fight back. The result is that we’re going to see an incredibly entertaining game.

There should be plenty of goals on both ends, with the visitors probably winning the game. Still, we don’t think they’re going to beat Real Madrid with a big enough advantage to knock the champs out of the competition.

Pick: Liverpool to win & over 3.5 goals

The post Real Madrid vs Liverpool Champions League Odds, Time, and Prediction appeared first on Keno Wizard.