Read what bet365's Steve Freeth had to say after plenty of European heavyweights failed to back-up their tagging as pre-match favourites on what proved a productive weekend for the bookmakers.
Weekend Review
You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes to work out how the trading went this weekend at bet365 with a number of big clubs-both home and abroad-unable to justify their status as odds-on favourites.
Only Arsenal’s win over Chelsea made a dent in the Premier League in what was a favourable set of results.
2/1 was the biggest that Arsenal got to after going 1-0 down to Morgan Rogers’ early opener with the Gunners at 8/11 for the title and 25/1 to remain unbeaten.
Saturday saw five draws on the Premier League coupon, one early payout as Bournemouth threw away a 2-0 lead at Newcastle, a 2/11 shot winning 1-0 in the form of Manchester City and outsiders Crystal Palace winning at Fulham.
There was a story to that 3-2 result at Craven Cottage with a defender credited with a hat-trick despite scoring just two. Ben Chilwell replaced Tyrick Mitchell after the left-sided defender had scored two goals. Chilwell then scored the winner, leaving one bet365 customer delighted having backed Mitchell at 500/1 to bag a treble.
Everton and Manchester United served up an entertaining second-half as bet365 customers benefitted from the Sub On Play On offer. Benjamin Sesko (replacing Cunha) scored for the Red Devils, Hayden Hackney (Rohl) assisted for the Toffees’ opener and Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Garner) equalised late into injury time.
Liverpool backers were paid out before 10 minutes were on the clock after Alexander Isak’s early brace. However, that was as good as it got on Friday for fans of multiples with Real Madrid and PSG both suffering surprise losses.
Troy Parrott stole the headlines from Kylian Mbappe as the striker hit the winner for Real Betis against 4/9 Real Madrid with the world-class Frenchman missing a late penalty. Barcelona produced a five-star performance at the Mestalla with all the big names turning up to the party.
Punters found the most joy in Serie A. 8/13 Inter went 2-0 down to Napoli (paid out) before reaching 11/1 in-play, eventually fighting back for a 3-2 victory. 4/6 Roma went 40/1 in-play when 1-0 down before two very late goals saw them maintain their perfect record at the top of the league.
The Bundesliga was the place to be for goals. Odds-on pair Stuttgart & Leverkusen bagged four, while 10/11 Borussia M’gladbach scored three but lost. However, we paid out on the favourites after they took a 3-1 lead versus Elversberg. Substitute Maurice Krattenmacher then replaced Cole Campbell to score a late brace, leaving those who backed 25/1 Campbell for 2+ delighted as the Bundesliga newcomers won 4-3.
We also paid on Hoffenheim when they went 2 goals ahead against Dortmund, before the visitors scored an 86th minute winner. However, let’s get it straight though, one of the best results of the European weekend was at the Veltins Arena as 1/5 Bayern Munich were held 0-0.
Ligue 1 was littered with surprises, starting with the aforementioned PSG, as the double UEFA Champions League winners continue to search for their first win of the season. Lens & Nice dropped points on Saturday and 10/11 Marseille, who were beaten at home to Paris, a result that saw the visitors climb to second in the table.
Trading Talk
Tyrick Mitchell isn’t renowned for his goal-scoring ability, but one bet365 customer who backed the wingback to score a hat-trick at 500/1 was celebrating despite him scoring two goals.
That was thanks to bet365’s Sub On Play On Offer, where the substitute replacing your selection carries the bet on.
When Mitchell’s replacement, Ben Chilwell, scored the third on 77 minutes, the solitary hat-trick backer collected. That must have been some dream!
The UEFA Champions League is back with PSG aiming to win the famous trophy for a third successive season. Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid, and it’s the 15-time winners that have attracted the most support so far with 26% of slips being for the 13/2 Bernabeu outfit.
They are ahead of 6/1 Barcelona, who have taken 21% of the share. 5/1 favourites PSG sit just behind in third with 20% followed by Harry Kane’s 6/1 shots Bayern Munich with 13%. 6/1 Arsenal are the best of the English sides with 8%, but there’s not much love for 9/1 Manchester City who have taken less than 2% - a side that were 2/1 favourites just 2 years ago.
As a neutral, I thoroughly enjoyed the Arsenal v Chelsea clash, and my observation, like many others, is that the Gunners are going to take some stopping this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side are 8/11 to retain their crown and 25/1 to go unbeaten through the Premier League campaign. Kai Havertz bagged another and is now 20/1 to finish as Top Scorer.
The German’s assist that wasn’t an assist for Odegaard’s winner was a thing of beauty and the Norwegian has shortened into 12/1 to win the PFA Player of the Year award, down from a pre-season quote of 25/1.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
