Wednesday Night Football Tips: Real Madrid to boss it

Real Madrid will go four points clear of Barcelona with victory

Michael Lintorn offers best bets for the televised matches at Real Madrid, Napoli and Monaco...

Real Madrid v Sevilla
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1

Match Odds: Real Madrid 1.292/7, Sevilla 12.5n/a, The Draw 6.611/2

As impressive as Sevilla have been, there isn't much of a case for them winning at the Bernabeu. They have been beaten on all six visits this decade and have lost away to each of their other top-five rivals, while Real Madrid have won every home game that wasn't against Atletico Madrid this term.

Instead, the value appears to lie in the half time/full time double. Sevilla were behind at the break in all six of their defeats to fellow Spaniards this season, while Real Madrid were leaders on both 45 and 90 minutes against six of their last seven La Liga guests, with Barcelona the sole exception.

Recommended Bet: Back Real Madrid to lead at half time and full time @ 1.834/5

Napoli v Inter
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 5

Match Odds: Napoli 1.865/6, Inter 5.04/1, The Draw 3.814/5

Both Rafael Benitez and Roberto Mancini love the Coppa Italia. Benitez won it in his first campaign at Napoli, while Mancini reached the final in each of his previous five years active as a Serie A coach.

Their cup record against one another is mixed. Benitez's Liverpool took Mancini's Inter out of the Champions League in 2007/08, accelerating the Italian's exit, but Mancini's Man City saw off Rafa's Chelsea in an FA Cup 2012/13 semi-final.

Napoli are worthy favourites on Serie A form - five wins in six to Inter's two in 12 - yet the cup is different: the Azzurri needed penalties to see off Udinese while Inter felled fifth-placed Sampdoria. Mancini has reached nine domestic cup finals in a 14-year coaching career, winning six, so this writer isn't taking him on.

Instead, the prospect of a penalty being awarded entices. Benitez's men have converted one in three of their past four home fixtures, while Inter clumsily conceded one at Sassuolo at the weekend.

Recommended Bet: Back there to be a penalty awarded @ 3.7511/4

Monaco v Bastia
Wednesday, 20:00
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Monaco 1.548/15, Bastia 9.28/1, The Draw 4.03/1

Both the odds and the Ligue 1 positions (fifth versus 16th) paint this Coupe de la Ligue semi-final for the right to face Paris St-Germain as a mismatch, but there is strong case for some favourite-laying.

Bastia have the third-best Ligue 1 record against top-half teams in 2014/15, losing just three of their 12 such contests. Monaco by contrast have triumphed in only five of their 12 home league games, or three in ten if you ignore clashes with bottom-three sides. Even those three victories were scraped by 1-0 margins.

Recommended Bet: Lay Monaco to win @ 1.558/15