The impressive Cheshire Oaks winner Mehdaayih is one of the 16 horses entered in the £523,750 Investec Oaks at Epsom Downs on Friday.

Mehdaayih was supplemented into fillies' Classic at a cost of £30,000 on the back of her Chester romp. The daughter of Frankel is the 9/4 favourite in the market.

Mehdaayih's trainer John Gosden is also responsible for another impressive trial scorer in Anapurna (7/1), who defeated Tauteke (33/1, Roger Varian) by six lengths in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial.

Gosden is looking to land a third Oaks, having won it before with Taghrooda (2014) and his star mare Enable (2017).

Master Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien captured his seventh Oaks triumph last year and his five contenders this year are headlined by Pink Dogwood (3/1).

A half-sister to 2018 Irish Derby winner Latrobe, Pink Dogwood opened up the season with an easy win in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan.

O'Brien's other Oaks entries are the 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa (12/1), who won the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Sunday, plus Fleeting (33/1), successful in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September, Delphinia (40/1) and Peach Tree (33/1).

Further Irish interest comes in the shape of Tarnawa (16/1, Dermot Weld), winner of the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas, and last season's Fillies' Mile scorer Iridessa (16/1, Joseph O'Brien), who has also ran in Sunday’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

William Haggas has two live chances in Maqsad (7/1) and Frankellina (14/1). Maqsad has won twice at Newmarket this year, recently winning the Pretty Polly Stakes, while Frankellina went down by the narrowest of margins in the Musidora Stakes at York.

Ralph Beckett is a dual Oaks-winning trainer and the Andover handler is set to be represented by Manuela De Vega (14/1).

Unbeaten as a two-year-old the filly shaped well on her comeback when second behind Mehdaayih at Chester.

Beckett said: "Manuela De Vega is in good form and we have been pleased with her preparation for the Investec Oaks.

"She did a piece of work Tuesday morning on the grass which was nice and the Oaks remains the plan.

"I was really pleased with her run at Chester. She had to give a penalty away and the winner got first run on us. She ran well and she will improve from that effort.

"She needed that run and it would also have done her the world of good to go round Chester and race in between fillies.

"Hopefully, we will be competitive at Epsom. We have been lucky enough to win the Oaks twice and we are looking forward to running Manuela De Vega on Friday."

Lavender's Blue (12/1, Amanda Perrett), a close second in the Listed Fillies' Trial at Newbury on May 18, Musidora Stakes fifth Blue Gardenia (50/1, David O'Meara) and Sh Boom (66/1, Peter Chapple-Hyam) make up the field.

Investec Oaks - 888sport Horse Racing Betting:

9/4 Mehdaayih; 3/1 Pink Dogwood; 7/1 Anapurna, Maqsad; 12/1 Hermosa, Lavender's Blue; 14/1 Manuela De Vega, Frankellina; 16/1 Iridessa, Tarnawa; 33/1 Fleeting, Tauteke, Peach Tree; 40/1 Delphinia, Blue Gardenia; 66/1 Sh Boom

Each-way: 1/4 odds, 1-2-3

 

Derby Festival: Coronation Cup

There is more Group action on Friday afternoon to look forward to in the shape of the Coronation Cup big race preview, which currently has 14 entered after Old Persian was supplemented into it at a cost of £25,000 to his owners, Godolphin.

The four-year-old colt, the 3/1 second-favourite, produced one of the best middle-distance performances anywhere when scoring in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan at the end of March.

His trainer, Charlie Appleby said:  "He has come out of his victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic in good form and a reproduction of that effort is going to make him very competitive.

"He is a typical Dubawi colt, who is looking the finished article as a four-year-old, and we saw out in Dubai how well he travels through his races, which will hopefully serve him well around Epsom."

Aidan O'Brien is the most successful trainer in the Coronation Cup with eight victories and his five contenders this year include Kew Gardens, who is the 2/1 favourite.

The four-year-old was a dual Group One winner last season, including the St Leger at Doncaster, and finished second to Morando (10/1, Andrew Balding) on his seasonal return in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Kew Gardens finished seventh in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on his final start of last year.

Magical (6/1) and Flag Of Honour (50/1), both successful at G1 level in 2018, may also run for O'Brien along with Cypress Creek (66/1) and Hunting Horn (66/1), who was fourth behind Old Persian in the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Lah Ti Dar (4/1) and Coronet (12/1) will represent John Gosden, while Mark Johnston has two contenders as well in Communique (20/1) and Mildenberger (33/1) who were first and third in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the month.

Salouen (8/1, Sylvester Kirk) was beaten a head by Cracksman in the 2018 Coronation Cup and the five-year-old is looking to take his first Group One.

Last year's G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Marmelo (25/1, Hughie Morrison) and Jockey Club Stakes second Defoe (16/1, Roger Varian) complete the line-up.

Investec Coronation Cup - 888sport Betting Odds:

2/1 Kew Gardens; 3/1 Old Persian; 4/1 Lah Ti Dar; 6/1 Magical; 8/1 Salouen; 10/1 Morando; 12/1 Coronet; 16/1 Defoe; 20/1 Communique; 25/1 Marmelo; 33/1 Mildenberger; 50/1 Flag Of Honour; 66/1 Cypress Creek, Hunting Horn

Each-way: 1/5 odds, 1-2-3

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

We rarely think about how football boots will affect live betting, as we assume that pros have the best that money can buy.

It wasn’t always this way, as footballers in the 19th century used to don their heavy work boots for the match. These boots had no studs and steel toecaps.

Perhaps as a result of players finding out that being kicked by a steel toecap isn’t fun, specialist football boots went into production.

When the Football League kicked off in 1888, players were wearing thick leather boots with high ankles. Leather studs were soon added.

The boot manufacturing industry took off in the 1950s, thanks to the Dassler brothers.

Rudolf Dassler founded Puma and claimed to be the first to introduce screw-in studs to the world, producing Puma Super Atoms that resemble modern footwear far more than the old leather cleats.

Rudolf’s brother Adi, founder of Adidas, also claims to have invented screw-in studs – whoever it was, modern footballers have lots to be thankful for.

Modern sports betting markets wouldn’t know how to react if an entire team came out wearing a new kind of boot, but this is exactly what happened in the 1954 World Cup.

The screw-in studs gave the West Germany team the extra grip they needed to beat Hungary 3-2 on a rain-soaked pitch. The importance of brand names and player endorsements grew through the 20th century.

The Copa Mundials from Adidas remain one of the most iconic boots in history, donned by the likes of Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane.

Wayne Rooney’s DC United may be among the football betting favourites to triumph in MLS this season, but Rooney was wearing Nike’s famous Total 90 Lasers as he was firing Manchester United to Premier League titles.

The sweet spot on the front of the boot aided those technically-gifted stars who were looking to place all manner of curve and swerve on their shots.

Modern boots now come in all sorts of colours and styles. The Adidas Nemeziz boots may not have done Lionel Messi much good as his Barcelona side crashed out to Liverpool this season, despite being huge favourites on betting sites to reach the Champions League final.

However, these laceless boots offer a level of comfort and control that is a million miles away from the leather boots of old.

There are sporting heroes all over the world. Some have been at the top of their game their whole careers, while others have had to fight back. We look into three of the greatest individual sporting comebacks of our generation.

 

Football: Joe Thompson

Arguably the most underrated footballing comeback has to be Rochdale's Joe Thompson. The former Manchester United youth player was diagnosed with cancer, not once, but twice.

After returning from defeating cancer for a second time in December 2017, the 29-year-old went on to score the goal which saw his side avoid relegation from League One in 2018.

Even more amazing, the day he kept his beloved Rochdale in League One, was just 336 days since his stem cell transplant began. Not only did he manage to become a local hero, he also managed to fulfil his life ambition and play at Wembley.

Rochdale drew Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup, which was a touching moment for Thompson and his family when he entered the pitch as a second-half substitute.

The midfielder, who made over 200 appearances for Rochdale, chose to retire in February 2019, after admitting he had given everything to the beautiful game.

Speaking to the media on his retirement, Thompson said: "I feel my story has the power to help others in all walks of life to overcome their own adversities and empower them to fulfil their potential."

Thompson may not have reached the heights of the Premier League and been known worldwide, but his story is a powerful one and has touched everyone in not just Rochdale, but the Football League.

 

Boxing: Tyson Fury

Another sporting hero has to be Tyson Fury and his astonishing comeback after dealing with a number of mental health issues.

Fury stunned Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015 to become the heavyweight champion of the world, but this ultimately saw the Gypsy King sink into a dark place.

After the fight, Fury hit rock bottom. He even announced he would never fight again, as he fell into a deep depression. After calling off a rematch and failing two drug tests, Fury gave up his belts and his boxing license was suspended in October 2016.

As the six-foot-nine man mountain's life began to spiral out of control, he turned to food, drink and drugs. His friends leaked to the media that it was not "uncommon" for the former heavyweight champion to knock back at least 18 pints in an evening.

Fury admitted he had thought about suicide, and almost attempted it. He admitted to nearly driving his Ferrari off a bridge when he was at his lowest point.

"There comes a point where it gets out of hand, and you don't realise it's gotten out of hand until it's gone too far. You think you can just walk away at any time, but you really can't."

After a trip away to Spain to see Billy Joe Saunders, Tyson said he returned home and turned to his faith to seek guidance.

Unhealthy and weighing over 400 pounds, Fury had enough of the life he had chosen to live. He deleted social media and started concentrating on himself, starting with evening walks and writing an autobiography.

Fury went back to step one. He began training, diet and started to turn himself back into the heavyweight champion he once was.

In just over 12 months time, Tyson Fury was stepping back into the ring against the undefeated Deontay Wilder. It is, quite frankly, a miracle that Fury was able to turn himself around in such a short period of time.

Sadly, Fury wasn't able to win back his belt, despite lasting all twelve rounds. He was knocked down, not once, but twice, but was able to get up on both occasions, much to the surprise of Wilder and everyone watching on.

Despite the defeat, there was a happy ending. Tyson Fury had come from the brink, to stepping back into the ring and completely turning his life around.

There's still plenty of debate that Fury is the best heavyweight boxer in the world currently. Of course, he has never faced current heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who faces Andy Ruiz Jr. in New York next month.

Fury had a message for his fans after the Wilder fight, saying: "If I can come back from what I've been through then you can do it top."

His comeback has got to go down as one of the greatest within not just boxing, but sport as a whole.

 

Golf: Tiger Woods

Another more recent comeback that everyone has been talking about involves a certain Tiger Woods. His story is somewhat similar to Fury's, but it is one certainly not to look over.

Woods certainly had his doubters, heading to the Masters this year as an outsider, despite his form being solid throughout 2018. He had however, gone eleven years since he had last won a major. During this period, Woods was struggling with life.

Before his Masters success, there was a time when we were very much expecting Tiger Woods to retire, never mind putting on the green jacket for a fifth time.

Four back operations forced Woods into depression, who could barely pick his ball up from the green, let alone think about playing 18 holes.

Woods hasn't always been on his best behaviour off the course, and was treated for sex addiction after multiple affairs while married.

His life had spiralled out of control, as did the man himself twice behind the wheel. It seemed more likely Woods was going to spend years in a cell, not spending the last years of his career on a golf course.

This is what makes his comeback even more wonderful. Woods stepped up at Augusta and beat the best golfers in the world, and, in the end, with relative ease.

As soon as Tiger built up a two-shot lead on the back nine, no one was catching him. He looked like a man possessed, only this time, desperate to succeed and prove all the doubters wrong.

To many current golfers, Tiger Woods had been an idol growing up and to see him sink that putt on the 18th hole, there was barely a dry eye in the whole of Augusta.

In 2018, Tiger said: "Coming back and playing golf was never in my thoughts. It was just, how do I get away from this pain? How can I live life to the full again? I felt like I couldn't participate in my own life."

From feeling like this, to walking around Augusta as if he owned the place, this was much more than just winning a golf tournament. The world's greatest golfer had hit rock bottom and was able to come back and show the world why all golf fans still love him to this day.

Tiger Woods is the current favourite at 9/1 to win the 2020 US Masters, with bookies clearly not wanting to take any risks with the man in hot form.

All three sports stars come from entirely different backgrounds, but each one showed the mental strength to come back and perform at the top level of their respective sports.

Each and every one of them have shown inspiration, courage and strength to fellow competitors and fans.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to...

 

FIRST PUBLISHED: 27th May 2019

Formula One has a history steeped in legacy. The greats of the sport are lauded for their performances on the track long after their days behind the wheel are over.

It is a proud, traditionalist sport where legacies are handed from one generation to the next – perhaps more than any other in the professional landscape.

Family is at the heartbeat of Formula One as fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and nephews have been linked together in success.

We’ll now look at the most successful dynasties in the sport, looking at whether the traits have been passed on from generation to generation.

Graham And Damon Hill

Graham made his Formula One bow in 1958 at the age of 29, only five years after passing his driving test.

He competed for Lotus Racing in the 12th season of the sport, making a minimal impact. It was a similar story in the following year, although a move to the Owen Racing Organisation kickstarted his career in 1960.

Two years later, Hill claimed the Drivers’ Championship, which included a triumph in the South African Grand Prix to clinch the crown.

Hill finished second three years in a row after his victory, notably finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship in 1964. He moved back to Team Lotus in 1967 and enjoyed one more run to the title in 1968 by claiming three victories.

Graham started his own team in 1973 called Embassy Racing. However, the team and his life were cut short when he was killed in a plane crash at the age of 45 in 1976.

Damon followed in the footsteps of his father, beginning his career in the International Formula 3000. He competed at that level for four seasons before a move to Formula One occurred in 1992.

He did not make an impact in his first term for Motor Racing Developments before moving to Williams in 1993. There, he found his form and finished third in the Drivers’ Championship, collecting his first win at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

In 1994, Hill duelled it out with Michael Schumacher for the crown in the final race of the season. Only one point separated them at the Australian Grand Prix, where it would have taken a bet calculator to break down their odds.

A crash by the German seemed to have handed the crown to Hill. However, Schumacher collided with the Brit in an attempt to get back on the track. The crash knocked both men out of the race, handing the title – controversially – to Schumacher.

The German won the title again in 1995, although Hill was the best of the rest in second. Hill finally got the edge on his rival with his triumph in 1996, winning eight of the 16 races to claim the crown.

His career petered after the success, competing in only three more seasons before he retired from the sport at the age of 39.

 

Gilles And Jacques Villeneuve

Gilles made his entrance into Formula One in the 1977 season for McLaren after catching the eye of James Hunt.

He appeared in only one race for McLaren before moving to Ferrari, beginning at the end of the term in his home Grand Prix in Canada, finishing in 12th. The Canadian earned his first podium at the Austria Grand Prix before making his breakthrough on home soil.

Villeneuve put forward a fine performance, surging through the field and capitalising on mistakes from his rivals to claim the victory. He carried that forward into the 1979 campaign, which would be the best season of his career.

The Canadian won three races out of the 15 contests, but it was not enough to clinch the Drivers’ Championship, losing out to his Ferrari team-mate Jody Scheckter.

Gilles finished second in his last race at San Marino before his death at the age of 32 in a collision in qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982.

Jacques made his first appearance in Formula One in the 1996 campaign, joining Damon Hill at Williams. He enjoyed an impressive start to his career, placing in second twice in his opening three races before securing a maiden triumph at the European Grand Prix.

Further victories followed at the British, Hungarian and Portuguese Grands Prix, although he missed out on the crown to his Williams teammate.

Most betting sites would have counted him out after his near miss. However, the Canadian returned to triumph in the following season, claiming the title by fending off Schumacher over the course of the term and in the final race at the European Grand Prix.

He defeated the German by three points after finishing third in the contest after Schumacher was found guilty of dangerous driving.

Villeneuve became the first Canadian to win the Drivers’ Championship, and although his career failed to hit the high notes after his triumph, he will always have a place in the history of the sport.

 

Keke And Nico Rosberg

Keke made his journey to Formula One the long way around, competing for four years in the European Formula Two Championship.

He got his first opportunity at the highest level of the sport in 1978 when he split time between Theodore Racing Hong Kong and ATS Racing.

The Finn impressed enough to get a shot with Wolf Racing the following year, although he was not able to make an impact. Keke continued to bounce around the lower realms of Formula One teams before earning a spot on the Williams team for the 1982 season.

He seized his opportunity, producing a consistent campaign that put him in position to snatch the Drivers’ Championship with three races remaining.

His maiden triumph came at the perfect time at the Swiss Grand Prix, moving him ahead of Didier Pironi and Alain Prost. Keke saw out the season with two solid performances, claiming the crown ahead of his rivals.

In an era that contained Niki Lauda and Prost, winning the Championship was a huge achievement for the Finn, although he couldn’t reach the high point again.

Nico’s career began on a similar path to his father’s, rising through the ranks of Formula 3 and GP2 before earning his spot on Williams’ team for the 2006 season.

He endured four underwhelming seasons with the team, earning only two podium finishes in the 2008 campaign. His move to Mercedes brought life to his career, making his breakthrough in 2012 with his maiden triumph at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The German was in the right place at the right time in 2014 for Mercedes’ rise to the top. He played second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton in 2014 and 2015, although he was able to place second in the Drivers’ Championship standings.

However, 2016 was to be his year, as Rosberg edged his duel with his teammate to defy the sports betting odds to take the crown in the final race at Abu Dhabi.

It was the last meet of his career, although a third generation of Rosbergs could have a run at the crown in the future.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Every season, the Champions League brings us some of the most entertaining matches in world football, as the biggest European clubs clash for continental glory.

Being crowned the champions of Europe is by no means an easy feat, given the sheer quality of all the teams and players competing to lift the famous trophy.

From the qualifying rounds and throughout the group phase, followed by thrilling encounters as tension intensifies during the knockout stage, the excitement and passion of every game make the Champions League one of the most popular sports betting events around.

Games can be won or lost in a single moment and when glory is at stake, such moments can make all the difference in the final battle to be crowned as champions of Europe.

Although choosing the most memorable moments from such a rich history of finals is eternally difficult, these are three in the last two decades that were decided key moments of inspiration and greatness.

 

Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich (1999)

If ever there was an encounter to highlight that a football match is never over until the final whistle, this 1999 Champions League final clash between Manchester United and Bayern Munich has to be one of the best examples.

Mario Basler gave the Bavarian giants an early lead and in truth, they dominated for most of the game and should have increased their advantage on numerous occasions.

However, the side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson never knew when to quit and had live betting been available back then, they would have been a great in-play choice to make a comeback.

German legend Lothar Matthäus was all smiles as he sat on the bench, substituted near the end.

The Champions League was the only major silverware the Bayern Munich captain hadn’t won, and he was just moments away from lifting the trophy when iconic Italian referee Pierluigi Colina checked his watch with the 90th minute approaching, adding just three minutes of stoppage time.

Nobody could have predicted what was about to happen next. United won a corner and even giant Danish keeper Peter Schmeichel made his way to the rival area.

David Beckham swung in the kick, Samuel Kuffour scuffed his clearance and when Ryan Giggs fired the ball back into the area, Teddy Sheringham was there to poke in the equaliser.

Seemingly destined for extra-time, the Red Devils won another corner in the dying seconds. Beckham provided the delivery again, Sheringham connected with a glancing header, and the outstretched boot of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found the back of the net.

In three remarkable minutes, Manchester United had snatched Champions League victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (2005)

While there has been no shortage of memorable Champions League finals, if pure adrenaline and edge-of-seat excitement are the key factors, along with key moments of inspiration, the 2005 encounter between Liverpool and AC Milan that took place in Istanbul had all this and more.

Arguably the greatest and most popular left back of all time, when Paolo Maldini opened the scoring in the very first minute of the game, it seemed like destiny favoured the Italian side.

When the lead was extended to 3-0 with a quickfire double salvo of goals by Hernan Crespo just before half time, it looked like job done and Milan would be the team celebrating come the final whistle.

One thing that Maldini and company probably didn't count on, or anyone following the football betting odds during the game, was that even three goals behind, Liverpool wouldn't give up the game as a lost cause.

Rafa Benitez changed things around during the half-time interval, adapting tactically and pushing Steven Gerrard into a more advanced role in midfield. The Reds captain then produced one of the most iconic displays of his career, sparking a spectacular comeback for his team.

Proving that one moment of inspiration can change the dynamic of a game, Gerrard led the charge with a headed goal in the 56th minute which restored belief amongst his teammates.

That moment was the key for Liverpool, with a low Vladimir Smicer drive reducing the deficit by another goal just two minutes later.

On the hour mark, Gerrard was felled inside the area and earned his side a penalty, which Xabi Alonso successfully converted from the spot to complete six moments of utter madness.

Neither side could produce a decisive winner in normal time, or the additional 30 minutes of extra-time, with utter exhaustion evident from the effort given by both sets of players. Inevitably, it was the lottery of penalties which would have to decide the outcome.

Liverpool emerged as the victors and Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was heroic between the posts, but it wouldn't have got that far were it not for Gerrard reigniting the flame of belief for his team.

 

Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014)

For much of the last decade, Spanish teams have been the dominant force in the Champions League, with Real Madrid in particular often found topping the list at betting sites as favourites to lift the trophy each season.

After all, they are the club with the most successful record in the competition over the years and in 2014, there was the chance to lift the trophy for an unprecedented tenth time.

Nevertheless, 2014 was also a spectacular year for their rivals across town. Atletico Madrid had already managed to break the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga, beating both to the league title.

Argentine coach Diego Simeone and his physically powerful side were now looking to win the biggest prize in European football.

As the first ever Champions League final to feature two sides from the same city, it seemed like half the population of the Spanish capital had descended upon Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, making the not-too-lengthy trip to Portugal.

Even thousands of fans without tickets were there, watching on giant screens outside the stadium, just to experience the magical atmosphere.

Despite the early setback of Diego Costa limping off injured just moments into the game, Atletico kept their nerve, looking to profit from set-piece opportunities.

From such an occasion, Diego Godin headed them into the lead before half time. Resisting wave after wave of Real Madrid attacks led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the second half, stoppage time arrived, and glory seemed certain.

Time was up when Real Madrid won a corner, which captain Sergio Ramos rose to power home and take the game into extra-time, saving the day for his team at just the right moment.

Atletico were utterly crushed and during the additional period, they fell apart. Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo bagged the three goals that won the trophy for Madrid in extra-time, but Ramos was undoubtedly the hero of the game.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

Barcelona and Valencia will do battle for the Copa Del Rey crown at Real Betis’ Estadio Benito Villamarin on Saturday night and bookmakers are favouring the La Liga champions ahead of this contest. 8/13 for a Barcelona win is a good price.

La Blaugrana have an excellent record in this fixture, losing just one of their last 19 games against Valencia. With that in mind, punters may wish to consider backing Barcelona to win this one quite comfortably. Ernesto Valverde’s men are 13/8 to win by two or more goals.

The majestic Lionel Messi will obviously carry the weight of expectation – as he always does whenever he is on the pitch. 7/10 for Messi to get his name on the scoresheet isn’t the best bet in the world but he makes this Barcelona side tick and he could shine.

However, it isn’t just about Messi. Ousmane Dembele has been simply sublime too and his link-up play with the Barcelona talisman could be decisive. Dembele will relish his chance to shine on the big stage and 7/4 for the Frenchman to score is an excellent price.

Barcelona are both ruthless and relentless in equal measure – the Spanish giants will try to strangle Valencia from start to finish. The 11/20 for Barca to score in the first half is short though, especially given how this game is likely to pan out.

Valencia fell short in their Europa League semi-final clash with Arsenal and supporters will be hoping that lightning doesn’t strike twice. At 4/1 to win inside 90 minutes, Valencia are at a backable price given the attacking talent in their squad.

Incredibly, Valencia finished the 2018/19 La Liga campaign with a better defensive record than Barcelona. Only Atletico Madrid (29) conceded fewer goals than Valencia (35) this season and that may be why Barca are out at 15/8 to score three or more goals on Saturday night.

Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men will want to keep this one tight in the early exchanges and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see a goalless first half. Under 0.5 goals in the first half is a gift of a price at 13/5 while under 1.5 goals (8/15) in the same period is also tempting.

Barcelona are one of the strongest teams in world football and the La Liga champions can end 2018/19 with another trophy. The disappointment of that Champions League defeat to Liverpool is hanging over Camp Nou but La Blaugrana can go some way to making amends here.

If Messi gets his own way and dictates proceedings, things could get ugly for Valencia. This has all the makings of an ‘attack vs defence’ encounter and the onus will be on Barcelona to break their opponents down. It may take some time but Barca’s class should tell.

Everything points towards a Barcelona victory here. Their domestic record this season has been phenomenal and another trophy awaits. Valencia could see chances fall their way but do they have the quality to push Barcelona to the end? Possibly not.

TIP: Barcelona to win @ 8/13

LONGSHOT: Barcelona to win and both teams to score (41/20 with 888sport)

PREDICTED SCORE: Barcelona 3-1 Valencia (10/1 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

RB Leipzig (11/4) will face Bayern Munich (7/25) in the 2018/19 DFB-Pokal final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday night. On paper, Bayern are deserving favourites but cup finals can be deceiving – it would be foolish to write Leipzig off ahead of this one.

Let’s start with Bayern. The powerhouses of German football for the last 20 years, Bayern have been there and done it on the biggest stage of all. With seven successive Bundesliga titles, there is no doubting that Bayern are still the strongest team in Germany.

With that in mind, punters may be tempted by the 11/20 for Bayern to win in 90 minutes. Bayern have lost just one of their last four matches against Leipzig and the Bavarians will be quietly confident ahead of Saturday’s clash in Berlin.

Furthermore, Leipzig have scored in just one of the previous four meetings between the two sides. Bayern snatched a narrow one-nil win over their opponents back in December before a goalless draw in March. 41/20 for Bayern to win to nil looks a solid bet here.

The Bavarians have lost just one domestic contest since a 3-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in February and momentum is well and truly with Niko Kovac’s side. Securing another domestic double is an absolute must after crashing out of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Leipzig have nothing to lose. All of the expectation is on Bayern and that could play into their hands. They are inexperienced at this level but Leipzig will fancy their chances after a run of just one defeat in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Leipzig are out at 9/2 to win inside 90 minutes and plenty of punters will be tempted by that football betting price given their form. Yes, they have struggled against Bayern in recent times but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Leipzig raise their game for this one.

21/50 for Leipzig to score a goal isn’t the worst price in the world. This is a final and Leipzig will push until the very end. Bayern will almost certainly dominate possession but Ralf Rangnick’s side have enough quality to create chances of their own in the final third.

Bayern Munich have dominated the DFB-Pokal since the competition was formed in 1935 with 18 tournament triumphs. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig are yet to lift Germany’s domestic cup and this is their first appearance in the DFB-Pokal final.

That big game experience could prove decisive in the outcome of this contest. Bayern will almost expect to win but they won’t be taking anything for granted. The Evens for Kovac’s side to lead at half-time is one of the bets of the weekend.

The heart may say an emotional triumph for Leipzig but the head says Bayern will emerge victorious. Back against the Bundesliga champions at your peril; this is their stage and a 19^thDFB-Pokal success could be on the cards.

TIP: Bayern to be leading at half-time (Evens with 888sport)

LONGSHOT: Robert Lewandowski to score first and Bayern to win (7/2 with 888sport)

PREDICTED SCORE: RB Leipzig 0-2 Bayern Munich (15/2 with 888sport)

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The clay court season all leads to one place: Paris. The French Open is the second Grand Slam of the calendar year as the schedule ramps up, leading us into Wimbledon later in the summer.

Roland Garros welcomes Rafael Nadal, who is looking to win his 12^th French Open title after defeating Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open last Sunday. Without further ado, let's look at both the Men’s tournament and the Women’s tournament...

 

French Open 2019: Men's Draw

Nadal is unsurprisingly the French Open favourite in 888’s sports betting odds, sitting at 11/10 to make it 12.  

It was vintage Nadal in Rome, defeating Djokovic 6-0 in the first set and battling his way to a three-set victory against his Serbian nemesis. He’s looking to make it three in a row at Roland Garros, an accomplishment he has achieved twice before.

The clay court season hasn’t been without fault for the 11-time champion, however.

Semi-final losses to Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monaco, Barcelona and Madrid are a concern, and suggest a weakness we have seldom seen from Nadal at this time of year.

The victory over Djokovic erased those slip ups from the memory, though, and the emphatic 6-3, 6-4 win against Tsitsipas in Rome was significant in Nadal’s final tournament before heading to Paris.

Djokovic, the 2016 French Open champion, bounced back after the first set embarrassment against Nadal. He boasts the most clay court wins against the dominant Spaniard but has still lost 17 of their 24 meetings on the surface.

Ranked number one in the world, and having won the last two Grand Slams, there is no reason for Djokovic to fear anyone in the draw, including Nadal.

He showed great form in Madrid, not dropping a set and beating Tsitsipas and Thiem along the way. Three-set victories over Juan Martin del Potro and Diego Schwartzman were good preparation for the marathon of a Grand Slam fortnight.

The Serbian is back to his very best. If anyone can go toe-to-toe with peak Nadal at Roland Garros, it’s Djokovic. His 5/2 price is one of the leading French Open tips.

Thiem lost the final to Nadal last season, and is yet to deliver on his obvious Grand Slam winning potential.

There’s plenty of time for the 25-year-old, though, and he’s already placed himself as the best outside the big two.

Priced at 6/1 to win his first Grand Slam, Thiem will be a popular option in the French Open betting markets. Clay is his favoured service, and his game is well-suited.

A round of 32 loss to Fernando Verdasco in Rome was a setback, but we saw exactly what the Austrian is capable of in Barcelona, as he won the tournament without dropping a set, emphatically winning the clincher 6-0 against Daniil Medvedev.

In a similar situation to Thiem, Alexander Zverev has been touted as a Grand Slam winner for several years, and is at his best on clay, but faces the unenviable task of finding a way past Nadal and/or Djokovic.

Zverev is a powerful player from the baseline, capable of chasing down balls that someone at 6’6” should not be able to. His big serve plays even on the slower clay.

Way out at 40/1, the towering German seems like good value for a few pennies – he certainly has the talent, even if his Grand Slam performances have been disappointing so far.

Entertainer and Australian Open semi-finalist Tsitsipas is a shorter price than Zverev at 20/1. Having defeated Nadal and Thiem in the build-up, he will be full of confidence as ever, but unforced errors remain a concern.

Minimising the ambitious groundstrokes is key for the 20-year-old. His price is good value but getting the better of Nadal and/or Djokovic might be a step too far. Tsitsipas has the talent, though, and we know how much he loves the big stage.

Last, and most certainly not least, is the great Roger Federer. Returning to the clay courts, Federer is as much of an outsider as he will ever be for a tournament, priced at 33/1.

Keeping up with the physical demands of clay, and finding his best game again on the surface, is a huge ask, but if anyone can do it…

As the odds suggest, the men’s draw will most likely come down to if Djokovic can stop Nadal.

 

French Open 2019: Women's Draw

Reigning champion Simona Halep tops the Women’s French Open betting at 9/2 to make it back-to-back titles. Halep has thrived on the Roland Garros clay, making the final in 2014 and 2017 before going all the way in 2018.

The Romanian suffered a disappointing defeat to Marketa Vondrousova in Rome, however. The clay court season hasn’t been brilliant for Halep, though she defeated Belinda Bencic and Ashleigh Barty in Madrid before losing to Kiki Bertens in the final.

Bertens has an underwhelming 11-7 record at the French Open, but she is capable of much more.

She followed victory in Madrid with a trip to the last four in Rome, falling to Johanna Konta in a three-set battle. Perhaps the form pick of the draw, Bertens is worth considering at 9/1.

Naomi Osaka lost to Bertens in Madrid and has not had the best time on clay. It’s her least favourite surface, but it’s impossible to overlook the 21-year-old considering her record in Grand Slams.

You have to go back to Wimbledon last year for her last Grand Slam defeat – her 14/1 price will attract plenty of bettors.

Petra Kvitova and Karolina Pliskova follow Osaka at 15/1. Kvitova’s comeback has been one of sports great tales, but a calf injury in the Madrid Open might force her to miss Roland Garros.

The 15/1 price is obviously a big risk considering the injury, but if healthy, there’s no doubt Kvitova could lift the trophy and she could be a lucrative tennis betting option.

Pliskova has not had the best of times at the French Open, owning a 9-7 career record.

The 2017 semi-finalist is developing as a clay court player, however, and her victory against Konta in the final in Rome has shortened her price. The 15/1 odds aren’t great despite her recent success.

Last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens is currently 16/1 to win her second Grand Slam. Stephens showed in the first set of last year’s final that she can unplayable on the clay.

Consistency is always a concern for the 26-year-old American, but after failing to make it past the last 16 previously, last season was a real breakthrough. Her preparation has been sub-par, though, including a round of 32 defeat to Konta in Madrid.

Serena Williams has only played two clay court matches this season, winning one and losing the other to her sister Venus. The three-time champion is lurking at 20/1. Would anyone bet against her?

The women’s draw, compared to the Nadal and Djokovic dominance of the men’s, is wide open. Halep will get a lot of backing to defend her title, but there’s a case to be made for at least 10 different people.

 

Fancying a punt on the French open? get over to 888Sport.com

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*