From The Trading Desk: 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout and Sub On Play On Offers triggered

bet365's Steve Freeth takes a look back upon an eventful week of sporting action.

2 Goals Ahead Early Payout and Sub On Play On Offers come through

We benefited from a number of teams having games sandwiched in between key European ties with rotation coming into play and big names being rested. Saturday’s returns were more than satisfactory and it was a similar outcome on Sunday despite a number of early payouts over the weekend.

Manchester City don’t have Europe to worry about now of course in a game where we ended up paying out on both teams before the hour mark due to our 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout, plus the Kevin De Bruyne Super Boosted Shot on Target (1/2 – Evs) being settled within 15 minutes of kick off. We also paid out on Ipswich at Chelsea just after the half hour before the hosts got it back to 2-2.

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brentford was great for both multiples and bet builders with Partey being on the scoresheet and the subs doing no damage from the bench. A different story on the south coast with Aston Villa substitutes Ollie Watkins (for Marcus Rashford) and John McGinn (Morgan Rogers) both finding their way onto the scoresheet highlighting our Sub On Play On concession.

The other Premier League 3pm matches on Saturday were profitable as 2/7 Brighton drew with Leicester and 10/11 Forest lost at home to Everton, but we gave plenty back on Sunday thanks to wins for Liverpool and Newcastle. The 4-1 victory for the Magpies was our most expensive of the weekend and would’ve been a lot worse had Alexander Isak been amongst the goals.

Barcelona and Real Madrid underwhelm in La Liga

Last weekend we had both Spanish giants dropping points and while 1/4 Barcelona and 7/10 Real Madrid both returned to the winners enclosure this week, it was the manner of their victories which helped us enormously with 1-0 wins in under-par performances that aided us on the Bet Builder front.

We did lose on the La Liga games at Athletic Bilbao (17/20) and Osasuna (6/4), but with 6/5 Real Betis losing at home to Villarreal, it was strong weekend in Spain.

McIlroy makes history

I can think of a million or so reasons to be frustrated with Rory McIlroy finally completing the Grand Slam, but sometimes you have to doff your cap to some scintillating sporting action - despite the liabilities. The support for him both pre-tournament (13/2) and in-play (biggest 20/1 on Friday), was the strongest I’ve ever seen at the Masters with many punters predicting that this was his time – and how right they were.

McIlroy’s victory has seen his odds tumble in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year betting with the Grand Slam winner now trading at 8/13 to lift the trophy in December having been 20/1 just a few days ago.