Football Bet of the Day: There are no kings in Leon anymore

Juan Antonio Pizzi's looking for his first win as Leon boss

After a dramatic winner last night, Kevin Hatchard hopes to finish the week with a flourish as we head to Mexico.

Pumas UNAM v Leon
Sunday January 08, 18:00

There are often occasions in football betting when you get slammed with a punch in the guts. It might be a late goal, a red card that screws the team you've backed, or a result that goes totally contrary to form. Last night it was nice for us to land a punch of our own, as Villarreal scored with virtually the last kick of the match to beat Granada 2-0 and land our Asian Handicap bet. By all accounts, Villarreal put in their worst home display of the season, but that's for them to worry about.

I know you've all been smiling politely and thinking "when is this guy taking us out of Europe?" so I've booked us a trip to Mexico to wrap up the week. We're focusing on a game between the brilliantly-named Pumas De La Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico (Pumas UNAM), and fallen idols Club Leon.

We'll start with Leon, because they have had an amazing couple of years. They won the 2013 Clausura championship, and then made history by following that up with winning last year's Apertura. However, The Emeralds came back down to earth with a bump in the 2014 Clausura, as they finished tenth and won just seven of their 17 matches.

That fall from grace saw the end of heroic manager Gustavo Matosas' tenure, as he stepped down and was replaced by former Barcelona striker Juan Antonio Pizzi. The ex-Valencia boss hasn't exactly hit the ground running, because Club Leon are bottom of the Clausura table, having taken just two points from their first four games.

Sunday's trip to Pumas UNAM is a tough one for Leon, as the hosts have put together a nine-match unbeaten run at their Estadio Olimpico de Universitario. They have won three of their last four home games in the Liga MX stretching back into the Apertura, while Leon have lost seven of their last ten away games.

Leon haven't beaten Pumas UNAM on home soil since they were promoted to the top flight in 2012, and that includes when they were winning titles. They are in much worse shape now, and I'm happy to back the hosts Draw No Bet at 1.8810/11. That will pay out for a home win, and return our stake if the match is drawn.

Recommended Bet

Back Pumas UNAM Draw No Bet at 1.8810/11

2015 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 20

Points Returned: 17.26

P/L: -2.74 points