bet365 suffer multi-million-pound loss after Real Madrid win over Manchester City

Liam Williams Updated: 12 Feb 25 16:17

It takes a brave punter to back against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, and their dramatic comeback win over Manchester City handed bet365 a multi-million-pound loss on Tuesday night.

bet365's Sports and Trading expert Steve Freeth said: "We've been on a decent run but we got a right mauling on Tuesday night suffering our worst result of the UEFA Champions League campaign at the Etihad with a monster swing in the 3-2 thriller.

"Real Madrid were attractively priced at 13/5 pre game despite Manchester City's troubles, so we were sitting pretty at 2-1 with the visitors trading at 66/1 but the two late goals have really hurt us.

"Erling Haaland ended his drought against Real Madrid with a brace, including what we thought and hoped was a late winner from the penalty spot after Kylian Mbappe had levelled with his shinned volley getting the better of Ederson.

"Former City man Brahim Diaz then scored Real's second equaliser of the game, but what had gone from a dream scenario for us quickly turned into a nightmare, with Jude Bellingham scoring a stoppage-time winner.

"Five goals, Haaland, Mbappe and Bellingham all on the scoresheet and a Real Madrid win means we're very much licking our wounds this morning!"

The dramatic turnaround also has significant implications in the outright market, with Real Madrid second favourites behind Liverpool.

Freeth added: "Carlo Ancelotti's men have been well backed throughout the campaign to win a record-extending 16th UEFA Champions League. Although the Italian has had to tweak his system to accommodate both Vinicius and Mbappe, seemingly to the detriment to the side as a whole, Real remain impossible to write off in Europe.

"In 2022, they came from 2-0 down to Paris Saint-Germain before winning 3-2; they were 10 minutes away from a shock exit to Chelsea before going on to win in extra-time, and no City fan needs a reminder of their semi-final collapse...

"Even in last season's semi-final they needed an 88th-minute equaliser from Joselu to force what we thought would be extra-time, before the veteran popped up with a second in stoppage time."

"City will now need a Real Madrid-esque miracle of their own to avoid being dumped out prior to the last-16 for the first time since 2012/13, and are as big as 20/1 to win a second European crown, with Real Madrid 5/1 behind only Liverpool who remain 4/1 favourites."