Will Tottenham sink or swim? The first leg of the 2018/19 Champions League semi-finals will take place on Tuesday evening and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be quietly confident of taking a lead into the second leg in Amsterdam.
Spurs will have to cope in the absence of two of their most important players though. Harry Kane is out through injury while Heung-Min Son is suspended for the first leg. However, the 13/10 for Tottenham to win in 90 minutes still represents decent value.
Ajax are no slouches though and the Dutch outfit have been one of Europe’s standout teams this season. With knockout stage victories over Real Madrid and Juventus already acquired in 2019, the visitors will fancy their chances of a positive result.
Erik ten Hag will have his side fired up and ready to go. Ajax only know how to play one way and I’m expecting the Dutch giants to attack Spurs from start to finish. The 16/25 on offer for Ajax to avoid defeat is well worth considering given Tottenham’s woes.
Spurs will be looking for a repeat of the 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester City but keeping a clean sheet against Ajax will not be very difficult indeed. Without further ado, let’s take a look at 888sport’s Champions League betting odds ahead of Tuesday’s contest.
Tottenham have won just five of their last 13 matches in all competitions and Pochettino’s men will need to raise their game for Tuesday night. 23/20 for over 1.5 Spurs goals is a solid price if you trust the hosts to get the job done.
With Kane and Son forced to watch from the side-lines, the onus may be on Lucas Moura to lead the line. Priced at 43/20 to get his name on the scoresheet, the Brazilian has 10 goals to his name this season and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Lucas get in on the act.
Ajax have scored over 150 goals in all competitions this season and the visitors will be tough to stop if they take the lead. Spurs will be wary of conceding an away goal on Tuesday night but nerves could easily creep in if the Dutch side start well.
The 27/10 for Ajax to take a lead into half-time is a price worth taking. All of the pressure is on Tottenham and that should play into Ajax’s hands. We could see the visitors send out a statement of intent with a fast start under the Tottenham Stadium floodlights.
Both teams to score looks likely on Tuesday evening and the 13/20 is worth sticking in an accumulator. European matches are often cagey but this may be an exception to the rule: Tottenham and Ajax could put on a show for neutrals.
EVS for five or more Ajax corners represents excellent value for punters – the visitors should create plenty of chances in the final third. Pochettino’s men may find themselves under the cosh on a regular basis if the Dutch side find their best form.
Looking at the tie as a whole, Ajax are my pick to advance to this year’s Champions League final. 4/5 is an excellent price for the Dutch giants to go on and compete in the European showpiece and we could see another masterclass on Tuesday night.
TIP: Ajax to win OR draw @ 16/25
LONGSHOT: Ajax to lead at half-time (Priced at 27/10 with 888sport)
PREDICTED SCORE: Tottenham 1-1 Ajax (Priced at 6/1 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
Manchester United had failed to win their first four matches wearing their grey away kit in 1995-96. With United 3-0 down to Southampton in April 1996, Sir Alex Ferguson forced his players to change into a blue strip.
Whether born out of superstition or to improve players’ vision, the change slightly worked as United only lost 3-1. They won the Premier League title in 1996 and never wore the grey kit again.
Cameroon are one of football’s great fashion pioneers. Having previously caught the eye with a sleeveless kit, in 2004 Puma delivered a surprising onesie design in the classic Cameroon green and red.
FIFA didn’t love the kit as strongly as fashionistas, with a $154,000 fine and World Cup qualifying points deduction for Cameroon only overturned after appeals from Puma.
Nike turned Barcelona’s famous red-and-blue vertical stripes on their side in 2015, making the stripes horizontal for the first time. Kit sales at Barca had declined because fans saw no reason to buy another version of the same thing.
Barca played their usual fashionable football on their way to a league title, with the club one of Europe's strongest sides whatever their attire.
Brazil’s yellow shirts are now iconic because of the country’s success, but they were created as a result of failure. A defeat to Uruguay at the 1950 World Cup shocked the nation, which expected Brazil to claim the trophy.
Brazil ditched their white shirts for the yellow, adopting the design of the artist Aldyr Garcia Schlee. Schlee was actually a Uruguay fan, but things haven’t gone too badly for Brazil since.
The Colorado Caribous only lasted one season in the NASL, but they’ll always be remembered for wearing a shirt with tassels across the midriff.
The players also entered the field wearing cowboy hats, although they removed them for the match. The Caribous wanted to use a western theme to create a strong brand. 22 defeats in 30 league matches had the opposite effect.
The 2019 Punchestown Festival will take place from Tuesday 30th to Saturday 4th May and is considered to be the most prestigious jump festival in Ireland. This year’s event boasts a record breaking prize fund of €3,222,500.
Racings Hometown Heroes will take on their UK counter parts at the home of Irish racing across a programme of 39 contests. Punchestown is the 'Grand Finale' of the Irish Jump season and the champions of the season will be crowned on the final day, Saturday 4th May.
Punchestown Festival 2019: Schedule
Tuesday 30th April - Champion Chase Day
3.40: Kildare Hunt Club Fr. Sean Breen Memorial Cross Country Steeplechase of €15,000 over 3 miles 1 furlong 4.20: The Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards - ENTRIES 4.55: The Killashee Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 2 miles 100 yards 5.30: The Grade 1 BoyleSports Champion Steeplechase of €300,000 2 miles - ENTRIES 6.05: The Goffs Land Rover Bumper of €100,000 2 miles 100 yards- ENTRIES 6.40: The Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase of €100,000 3 miles 120 yards- ENTRIES 7.15: The Sanctuary Synthetics Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 100 yards
Wednesday 1st May - Punchestown Gold Cup Day
3.40: The Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 5 furlongs
4.20: The Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final of €75,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 4.55: The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 5.30: The Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle of €100,000 3 miles- ENTRIES 6.05: The Grade 1 Coral Punchestown Gold Cup of €300,000 3 miles 120 yards- ENTRIES 6.40: The Grade 1 Racing Post Champion I.N.H Flat Race of €100,000 2 miles 70 yards 7.10: The Guinness Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 7.45: The Weatherbys GSB Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) of €50,000 2 miles 70 yards
Thursday 2nd May - Champion Stayers' Hurdle Day
3.40: The JLT Handicap Hurdle of €30,000 2 miles 40 yards 4.15: The Pigsback.com Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €65,000 2 miles 4.50: The Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country race of €30,000 4 miles 2 furlong 5.30: The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle of €300,000 3 miles - ENTRIES 6.05: The Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles 6.40: The Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Steeplechase of €115,000 2 miles - ENTRIES 7.15: The Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) of €35,000 2 miles 40 yards 7.45: The Kildare Post (C&G) Flat Race of €17,500 2 miles 40 yards
Friday 3rd May - Champion Hurdle Day
3.40: The KFM Hunters Steeplechase for the Bishopscourt Cup of €15,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 4.20: The EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) of €100,000 2 miles 5 furlongs 4.55: The Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Mares Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €75,000 2 miles 5 furlongs 5.30: The Grade 1 BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle of €300,000 2 miles - ENTRIES 6.05: The Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs - ENTRIES 6.35: The Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase €30,000 3 miles 120 yards 7.10: The SalesSense International Novice Hurdle of €25,000 2 miles 7.45: The GVA Donal O'Buachalla Property Advisors INH Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 2 furlongs
Saturday 4th May - AES Festival Family Day
2.35: The Dooley Insurances WFA Cross Country Steeplechase(Banks) of €15,000 3 miles 3.10: The Boylesports Handicap Steeplechase of €50,000 3 miles 7 furlongs 3.50: The Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs - ENTRIES 4.25: The Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle of €100,000 2 miles - ENTRIES 5.00: The Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Steeplechase (Grade B) of €60,000 3 miles 120 yards 5.35: The Ballymore Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) of €100,000 2 miles 4 furlongs 6.10: The K Club Hotel and Resort (Pro -Am) Flat Race of €15,000 2 miles 6.40: The Carry An Organ Donor Card Punchestown Charity Sweepstakes 1 mile 7 furlongs
Big Race Pointers (Tues):
Min and last year's winner Un De Sceaux are two of three runners for Willie Mullins in the BoyleSports Champion Chase.
Winner of this race last year, Un De Sceaux has run just twice since – serving it up to Altior in the Tingle Creek at Sandown before finishing fifth in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Un De Sceaux's stable companion Min could only manage fourth 12 months ago, but is the odds-on favourite for this year's renewal following his emphatic win in the JLT Chase at Aintree at the beginning of April.
Big Race Pointers (Weds):
Undoubtedly the biggest highlight at this week’s Punchestown Festival is going to be the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup, where Kemboy and Al Boum Photo are all set to clash.
It’s a contest that showcases the current young stars of National Hunt racing. Kemboy has won all his five completed chases since he fell at the first fence in last year’s Irish Grand National, the Savills Chase at Leopardstown and the Bowl at Aintree among them. Al Boum Photo has won his only two races to date this season with the pinnacle being his victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Big Race Pointers (Fri):
Dual Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D'Air could make his first appearance on Irish soil in the BETDAQ Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
The Nicky Henderson-trained eight-year-old returned to Cheltenham last month bidding to become the sixth horse in history to win a third Champion Hurdle but he came to grief at the third flight and then had to make do with the runner-up spot behind Jessica Harrington's Supasundae when bidding for a second victory in the Aintree Hurdle earlier in the month.
888sport Early Fancies:
Thurs 6.40pm – Moon Over Germany (14/1) e/w.
Fri 6.05pm - – Battleoverdoyen (11/2) e/w.
You can find all our Punchestown horse racing odds here by clicking the highlighted link.
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
Have you heard of friends making money from accumulator bets? Accumulator betting is fast becoming one of the most adrenaline-fuelled forms of tennis betting, both online and offline.
'Accas' give you the chance to generate huge returns from just a small stake. The biggest pay-outs require the most selections. It rewards those brave enough to take the risk and find the right selections.
Accumulator Betting: Tips
In its simplest form, an accumulator is a bet that combines at least two selections into a single wager. An accumulator bet only generates a return when all selections win.
When you place an accumulator, your winnings from the first selection carry over to the second selection and so forth. This ensures your winnings are much greater than if you had placed a number of single bets on individual sporting events.
The beauty of accumulators is that they can be used for all the leading sports. However, some sports lend themselves better to accumulators than others, which we’ll discuss in greater detail shortly.
There are a number of names used for accumulator bets based on the number of selections in a wager:
Double – an accumulator bet consisting of two selections
Treble – an accumulator bet consisting of three selections
Four-fold – an accumulator bet consisting of four selections
Five-fold – an accumulator bet consisting of five selections; and so on.
In fact, there is no limit to the number of selections you can make in an accumulator bet. This flexibility has enabled some punters to turn small bets worth £1 or £2 into hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of pounds.
Accumulator Betting: Pros & Cons
Pros:
It’s a chance to generate massive returns on the smallest investment. To make the kind of returns from a multi-leg accumulator with a single selection bet, your stake will have to be astronomically bigger than the size of your accumulator bet.
You can’t beat the adrenaline-fuelled nature of an accumulator. Sitting there knowing that you only need one more selection to go your way to win a huge pay-out is a huge thrill. Those adrenaline rushes rarely come with basic single selection bets.
It’s a chance to find good value in alternative betting markets. Whether it’s the number of yellow cards awarded, the number of corner kicks taken or the likelihood of a horse placing in a race, if you can find and combine a string of value bets into one accumulator, you will be on the right path towards long-term profit.
You can now “cash out” of accumulator bets midway through if some of your selections have already won and some are yet to play. This allows you to take a percentage of the overall payout if you lose confidence in your other selections.
Cons:
The biggest disadvantage of an accumulator bet is the high level of risk attributed to all such wagers. All it takes is one selection to fail and you lose the entire bet.
Given the risks involved with accumulator betting, be prepared to lose plenty of accumulator wagers before hitting a winner.
As we’ve already outlined, some sports are better than others when it comes to acca bets. The most beneficial sports for accumulators are those with a high frequency of events, often within the same day, as well as those sports that have enough volatility to spot value odds.
Accumulator Betting: Best Sports
Football Accumulators:
If you are looking for a sport that offers daily accumulator betting opportunities, football is a great starting point for any punter.
At 888sport, we offer football markets on a vast range of matches played around the world. Whatever the time zone, there is always some football action to include in an accumulator, day or night.
Another reason why football is great for accumulator betting is that it allows football fanatics and enthusiasts to spot value in prices.
Perhaps a team is out of form or has a few key injuries, making them easier to bet against than usual. Knowledge is power and this can really help you find those big acca pay-outs.
Horse Racing Accumulators:
Horse racing also has a packed schedule of race meetings throughout the calendar year.
In the winter, it’s the jump (National Hunt) season – including the Grand National – and in the summer, it’s the flat race season. The volume of runners and riders in each race provides plenty of horses to incorporate into your accumulator.
Another benefit of horse racing accumulators is that most betting sites tend to price horses at higher odds than in football match odds markets, so you don’t need as many selections to generate exciting pay-outs from a horse racing acca.
Tennis Accumulators:
Tennis is another acca-friendly sport to bet on. This is also due to the high volume of tennis tournaments available to bet on each week around the world. These tournaments range from Grand Slams and ATP/WTA events through to Challenger and Futures events.
Tennis fanatics that are aware of in-form players or up-and-coming stars – or players that perform well against certain players or types of players – can often find value in match odds or set betting markets to include in a multi-leg tennis accumulator.
How To Place An Accumulator Bet With 888sport
Whether you are logged in to the 888sport website or the 888sport mobile app, placing an accumulator bet with 888sport has never been easier:
Use the menu to find the sport and the sporting events you wish to bet on
Click the odds you wish to include as a selection to add the event to your betting slip (you will see multiple selections placed in a single betslip under the “Multiples” tab)
Repeat this process until all selections are added
Once all selections are included in your betslip, enter your stake in the box provided and hit the ‘Place Bet’ button.
Using The 888sport Bet Calculator
If you are trying to calculate your first ever accumulator bet, we’ve made things nice and simple for you by launching our very own bet calculator.
All that’s required is for you to input the odds of every back bet you wish to make, and the calculator will do all the rest and let you know the projected returns from your chosen sports betting stake.
Remember: an accumulator bet requires all of your chosen selections to win in order for you to win the overall bet.
Discover Clever Sport Betting Strategies
Looking for new betting types and strategies to add to your sports betting arsenal? Read our ultimate guide to all the different types of sports bets available, each explained in great detail with working examples. If you are particularly interested in betting on horse racing, don’t forget to look at our in-depth guide to horse racing betting in the UK and overseas!
So many of the world’s biggest and most successful players and managers have a thirst for challenges and have taken seemingly huge leaps into the footballing wilderness to try to prove themselves at a lower level.
For some lesser-known football clubs, the arrival of high-profile managers and players can be a huge distraction.
The media circus that inevitably surrounds the club can either make or break them. The following big names from football have proven that managing and playing in the lower leagues isn’t always the cakewalk it may appear.
High-Profile Managerial Appointments:
Sven Goran-Eriksson (Notts County)
A consortium from the Middle East rode into Nottingham city centre in 2009, promising to bring untold riches to Notts County.
The Meadow Lane faithful could not believe their luck when it was announced that former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson would take charge of the League Two club as a result of the fresh investment.
Eriksson was promised the players and training facilities to take County to the promised land of the Premier League, but the club’s offshore-registered parent company, Munto Finance, proved to be a bunch of shysters.
The Swede was left in limbo and the Football League’s oldest established club on the brink of financial meltdown.
Kevin Keegan (Fulham)
After feeling like he had taken Newcastle United as far as he could as manager, Kevin Keegan then found himself on the banks of West London at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.
Keegan was initially appointed chief operating officer of the then-Division Two club, working alongside head coach Ray Wilkins. Wilkins was eventually sacked, and Keegan took the reins.
His appointment came just months after the arrival of Harrods boss, Mohamed Al-Fayed, as new Fulham owner.
Al-Fayed gave Keegan a multi-million-pound budget to work with, with the manager succeeding in delivering promotion to Division One before becoming the sports betting favourite to take the England hot-seat from Glenn Hoddle in February 1999.
Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Portuguese boss Nuno Espirito Santo had already developed an impressive reputation for himself on the continent following a successful managerial spell at Valencia in La Liga, culminating in a fourth-placed finish in 2015.
A somewhat less inspiring spell for Portuguese giants FC Porto – which was trophy-less – meant that Santo had to take a gamble to rebuild his reputation. He ventured to England and the Black Country to take the reins at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Molineux side were chasing promotion from the Championship and were somewhat outsiders for the title among football betting operators; despite the increasing influence of “super agent” Jorge Mendes on the club’s acquisitions.
Santo had an immediate impact, taking Wanderers to the title with four league games to spare.
Brian Clough (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Following a hugely successful six-year spell in charge of Derby County, taking the Rams from the foot of the Second Division to the First Division title in 1972. In 1973, Clough and side-kick Peter Taylor took County to the semi-finals of the European Cup.
However, a boardroom fall-out between the management duo and chairman Sam Longson meant that the pair would eventually resign in October 1973. Clough and Taylor were eventually tempted to Third Division big-spenders, Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, Clough's time in charge of the Seagulls was ill-fated, with a loss to non-league Walton & Hersham in the FA Cup characterising a failed mission on the south coast.
Diego Simeone (Estudiantes De La Plata)
Argentine midfielder Diego Simeone was famed as a tenacious, ball-winning midfielder, with a habit for scoring important goals, too. He was part of the drama that saw David Beckham sent off in Argentina's World Cup second round match with England at France '98.
After a glittering playing career, Simeone slotted neatly into the world of management, too. After a brief spell at Racing Club, he took charge of Estudiantes in 2006, a team that hadn't won a Clausura in 23 years.
By December 2006, Simeone had masterminded the team's first league title in a generation, cementing his status as Argentina's brightest managerial prospect.
High-Profile Player Signings:
Paul Gascoigne (Boston United)
Towards the latter stages of his career, Paul Gascoigne had a somewhat nomadic period. After leaving First Division side Burnley, Gazza eventually rocked up with China League One outfit Gansu Tianma, agreeing a player-coach role.
He scored on his debut, but mental health reasons restricted him to just three more appearances in the Far East.
Gazza returned to Blighty, but few betting experts would have predicted he would agree to play for lowly League Two side Boston United, also in a player-coach capacity.
During a shortlived three-month spell, Gazza turned out five times for the Pilgrims before leaving Lincolnshire. It won’t go down as one of the most iconic failed transfers, but he flattered to deceive.
Lothar Matthaus (MetroStars)
Lothar Matthaus was Germany's most capped player of all time, amassing an incredible 150 appearances in 20 years.
As a dynamic box-to-box midfielder, he had the lot - a great engine, incredible vision and a dependable positional sense. In the latter stages of his career, he dropped back to play as a sweeper.
He would play this role at his final club, joining the New York MetroStars from Bayern Munich. He played a full season, helping to enhance the exposure of the MLS in mainland Europe.
George Best (Fulham)
George Best is held in high esteem by the footballing world; many of whom believe him to be one of the most gifted footballers ever to have graced the sport.
The Belfast-born winger was a maverick both on and off the pitch, so it was perhaps unsurprising that Best would agree to play for Second Division side Fulham in the 1976-77 campaign.
It was a surprise move given that Best had flattered to deceive during a spell in the League of Ireland.
However, Best, along with Rodney Marsh and England’s World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, helped the Cottagers to avoid relegation to Division Three by a single point.
Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
At the tender age of 22, Argentine frontman Sergio Aguero appeared to have the world at his feet.
A five-year spell with La Liga side Atletico Madrid yielded 74 competitive goals, marking him out as one of the most feared marksmen in world football. It was therefore surprising to see Aguero join Manchester City in July 2011 for a fee in the region of £35 million.
Three years prior to Aguero’s arrival, the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired Manchester City and invested £100 million in new faces in 2009. Aguero was one of the final pieces of the jigsaw for a City side that was chasing its first ever Premier League title.
Ironically, the championship was secured in Aguero’s first season, with the Argentine defying the Premier League odds to score a late winner on the final day of the season against QPR.
Pele (New York Cosmos)
Pele is one of the most prolific strikers in the history of football. Playing 638 times for Brazilian club side Santos, he averaged nearly a goal a game for club and country.
A two-year spell with the New York Cosmos in 1975-77 was more of a gimmick given that Pele was already semi-retired. However, his presence did raise the profile of football in the United States, leading to the birth of the MLS as we now know it.
One of the things that continues to drive the popularity of football betting is the sheer number of matches that take place worldwide, and that’s each and every week throughout the season.
Punters can tuck into a huge menu of games most weekends in the winter across Europe’s key leagues, before moving onto pastures new in the summer with the European Championships and World Cup, as well as summer competitions such as the MLS.
From pre-match wagers to the thousands of live betting markets available at 888sport, there really is something for everyone. Here’s your guide to the top European leagues, and some football betting pointers to follow.
Premier League Betting: Tips & Hints
What happens when billionaires decide to invest some of their fortune into a football club?
Despite the idea of money buying success not being a particularly comfortable one for many, it generally rings true in football. Wealth has been a major fact in creating league champions, as has been the case for Manchester City and Chelsea in recent times.
The stranglehold that those two clubs have had on English football is loosening slightly in the presence of Liverpool, who are emerging as the leading pretender to the throne in 2018/19.
Jurgen Klopp has purchased a number of quality players in recent seasons, including the irrepressible Mo Salah, and the current Reds squad are closing in on creating history for the club.
The beauty of the English Premier League is that there are at least six teams capable of producing the most entertaining football.
Tottenham have flirted with challenging for the league title before, and perhaps a move to their new ground can be the spark that sees them challenge for honours.
Arsenal and Manchester United have both dominated the English Premier League at various times. Can either of those teams reach great heights once more in the coming seasons?
EPL bettors, of course, will never forget the moment that Leicester City won the title back in 2015/16. They did so at odds of 5000/1; you won’t find many times in sports betting history where that has happened!
The English Premier League is a fascinating competition to bet on, with hundreds of outright winner and match-based betting markets available.
La Liga Betting: Tips & Hints
If you think there’s a monopoly on success in the English Premier League, just wait until you see Spain’s La Liga.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have shared the title for 14 of the past 15 years; the only aberration coming in 2013/14 when Real’s Madrid neighbours, Atletico, gatecrashed the party.
Barca have been blessed with the presence of Lionel Messi for years now. The Argentine is one of the most iconic figures in world football history, and it helps that he’s an amazingly skilled player, too.
Real lost their own icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the summer of 2018, and they seemed to lose their mojo, too, with a disappointing domestic campaign backed by an early exit from the Champions League.
Can the Galacticos knock Barcelona off their perch in the coming seasons? Only time will tell.
The Spanish La Liga doesn’t quite have the strength in depth of, say, the EPL. Atletico Madrid are always a tough team to beat, but they generally save their best work for the continental competitions.
Clubs like Sevilla and Valencia, meanwhile, have to be filed under the heading of ‘fallen giants’ these days.
From a betting perspective, it is hard to look past Barcelona and Real Madrid in the outright market, but there’s plenty of games to bet on every week where value can be found with the best betting sites.
Bundesliga Betting: Tips & Hints
There are few forces in European football quite like Bayern Munich, who have won six straight German Bundesliga titles. Between them and perennial rivals Borussia Dortmund, they have captured each of the last ten editions of this competition.
Those two clubs show no signs of slowing down, either, so it’s no wonder that they are so strongly favoured in the outright betting market.
Behind them, this is a division that always throws up an intriguing race for the rest of the Champions League places.
Clubs like Schalke, Borussia Monchengladbach, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig have all qualified for the continent’s biggest tournament, and bettors always have lots going on as far as German football is concerned.
There’s usually a lot of Bundesliga fixtures played on a Sunday, which appeals to those who normally have a wager on the Premier League because they can bet on their favourite German teams while watching the action unfold.
The Bundesliga is also a notoriously high-scoring league, which lends itself to the excitement of live betting opportunities.
Serie A Betting: Tips & Hints
Juventus see Bayern Munich’s achievement of six straight league titles and they raise it by one; the club known as the ‘Old Lady’ have produced a magnificent eight straight Serie A title wins.
They have added to their squad with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, the world icon who can almost win football matches single-handedly, and so perhaps Juve’s dominance isn’t set to come to an end any time soon.
As ever, Italian football has a strong supporting cast of teams jostling for second place behind the traditional champions. Napoli have emerged as one of the strongest teams in recent years, with the likes of Inter and AC Milan doing their best to get back into the title picture.
Once upon a time, there was a stigma about Serie A that the games were slow-paced, devoid of action and usually low scoring, but that trend seems to have been kicked to the kerb in recent years.
For most of the 2018/19 season, all 20 teams had an average goal per game count of two or more, and you can imagine how that fed into the betting.
Punters had many opportunities to bet on the Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals markets, as well as many other football betting markets where goals are the main currency.
Ligue 1 Betting: Tips & Hints
In France’s Ligue 1, Paris St Germain have taken the template of the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid – persuading a cash-rich investor to come on board – and run with it.
They’ve been able to flash the cash at young stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and they have dominated football in the country in recent times.
Monaco’s golden generation of 2016/17 has been broken up, and they are now a shadow of the side that thrilled everyone with their title win.
Others, such as Lyon, Marseille and Lille, are trying to bridge the gap to PSG, but you suspect the giants will continue to rule the roost in France for many years to come.
Remember, you can bet on all of the best football action from across Europe, and beyond, with 888sport.
There are millions of athletes all over the world contending at the highest level of their respective sports. They have earned massive and devoted fan bases: either for themselves, if they’re in solo sports such as boxing, or for the team that they represent.
But people tend to be drawn to those top-end talents who prove to be among the very best of their sport. These top talents demand that fans back them on betting sites as they’re too good to go against.
There is, however, a big difference between being very talented and becoming a global superstar. Some of the most successful and talented sportspeople in the world have been unable to reach the upper echelon of superstardom.
So, we’re here to uncover what it takes to reach that peak.
Success In A Popular AND Global Sport:
Talent doesn’t necessarily lead to success. As seen many times in the major American sports leagues, great players can be eternally stuck to poor teams.
Due to the way that the draft system works, the worst teams get the perceived best players each year. If the teams don’t go on to build a team around those top talents, the team won’t win anything.
The limited number of trophies in the American major leagues also limits how many sportspeople can find success each year.
In the NHL, Marcel Dionne and Mats Sundin never won the Stanley Cup. In the NFL, Dan Marino and Barry Sanders never won the Super Bowl.
In the MLB, Ted Williams and Ken Griffey Jr never won the World Series. In the NBA, Reggie Miller and Karl Malone never won the NBA Championship.
The first step towards becoming a global sporting superstar is to play in a sport watched or known globally. Football has immense global appeal.
While the sport of American football is secluded, its aggressive advertising and hyping make its stars relevant around the world. After displaying talent, the sportsperson must then win trophies to prove their ability on the biggest occasions.
It is with solo sportspeople that accolades become more important as it all down to their own work. In boxing, Manny Pacquiao has been able to become a global superstar through his skill and ability to secure the record as the eight-division world champion.
Ability To Do The Unexpected:
Sport is an entertainment medium. People turn up to watch teams and sportspeople participate because it brings them excitement, joy, and anger.
For a participant to ascend from sportsperson to global superstar, they have to possess a great deal of talent and an aura of unpredictability.
Having previously shown their flair for being unpredictable, fans then expect them to do something unpredictable and back them in the sports betting to do so. That’s what makes them exciting and why people follow them in each match and beyond.
Overall, injuries and a poor team have hindered Odell Beckham Jr in the NFL. However, ‘The Catch’ and numerous other explosions of brilliance out of the blue have marked him as a global superstar capable of the seemingly impossible.
Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, has been regarded as the best player in the world for a long time, but it was his amazing free kick against Portsmouth in 2008 marked him as a global superstar.
Charismatic And Ability To Connect With People:
Charisma is a major part of any person becoming a global superstar, regardless of their profession. To hit the celebrity status, a sportsperson must be talkative when called upon, and say the right things.
It used to be that interviews in magazines and on television were the only ways for most fans to experience the charisma of sports stars. Nowadays, social media allows fans to follow sports stars in everything that they do, getting hooked on their charisma even further.
Cristiano Ronaldo is by far the most-followed athlete on Instagram, with over 147 million followers. Neymar is close behind, at over 106 million. Lionel Messi trails in third, with over 102 million followers.
Charisma can take a sportsperson to global superstardom, as shown by David Beckham. The retired footballer has the fourth-most followers of any athlete, with 52.21 million on Instagram.
It Helps To Be Photogenic...
There’s an expectation for sportspeople to be fit, due to their profession. But there’s no doubt that also being a beautiful human being helps them to become even more popular if they’re talented in their sport.
Success, skill, and money will help, but most sportspeople who become global superstars are good looking.
They’re who people want to be, and who others want to be with. It’s a reason why many people will tune in to live games, lean towards backing them in live betting, and follow them on social media.
Appeal To Specific Fan Bases:
Ascending a sport to become a global superstar requires the initial backing of the sportsperson’s original fans. Those who follow a sport have certain expectations for the conduct of its professionals, for the most part.
It is very sport dependent. In the NFL, fans tend to be drawn to the enigmatic, big, loud personalities. Those with elaborate touchdown celebrations and show aggression tend to catch the attention.
In ice hockey, despite the physicality and allowance of fighting in the sport, fans greatly converge on humble and clear-thinking stars.
When it comes down to the big games, when temperatures are high, fans will turn to teams with the calm and intelligent stars in the ice hockey betting.
Boxing is in a mixed phase in this sense. As more people are starting to follow the sport and expecting violence and brash personalities, those types of stars are becoming popular again.
For the most part, long-term and knowledgeable fans of the sport tend to drift towards less-outspoken talents like Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor, as well as those who show respect in press conferences.
The likes of Deontay Wilder and Jarrell Miller have fans that like their arrogant personas and do get a look in the boxing betting markets. However, the more popular stars of modern boxing are those who prove their skill and are respectful.
Appeal To Major Brands:
Having earned a massive fan base within a sport, sportspeople can take the next step by brand association. Brands look to sponsor much-loved and recognisable sports stars to promote their products.
In turn, by being in advertising, the sportspeople become even more famous as more people see and recognise them, associating them with top brands.
Whenever looking at the goalscorer markets of the football betting, your mind wanders to the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. All three are among the top five highest-paid athletes in the world.
Messi pulls in £20.5 million in endorsements. Ronaldo earns £35.7 million in endorsements. Neymar earns £13 million in endorsements.
For a sports star to transcend the sport and become a global superstar, they need more than talent. They need success, flair, charisma, the right personality to appeal to their core fan base, and further recognisability through sponsorship.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Christof Stache / AP Photo
While some sports appear to have everlasting popularity, authorities are continually seeking new ways to bring the spectacle to a wider audience.
Money is frequently the main source of motivation. If clubs generate more income overseas, there is more money to invest in improving fortunes domestically. If sports can boast a bigger reach, bigger television and sponsorship deals will follow.
Whether by adjusting old rules or taking events to different places, some of the world's most popular sports have sought ways to break new ground.
A Game Abroad:
For many sports, the most logical method to generate support and exposure is taking a domestic fixture overseas.
While teams of all sports may go on expansive pre-season tours or play friendly games in neutral locations, competitive fixtures are far more effective in retaining the high stakes that make sport so interesting.
The NFL has recognised this to great effect, with several league games played at Wembley in London throughout the past decade.
Research from the NFL in 2018 revealed that nearly four million Britons identified as passionate fans of the sport, double the figure of six years previously.
In 2018, over 80,000 people flocked to each of three NFL matches at Wembley, with the three-week run rumoured to be laying the foundations for a London-based franchise to enter the league in the next few years.
Watching the NFL in person has created American football fans in the UK who may have otherwise never realised their interest in the sport, which is why betting sites give British punters more options than ever on NFL matches.
The Premier League once mooted the possibility of hosting matches overseas, adding an extra fixture for all 20 sides to create a 39-game season. Games would have been played across several continents, but fans and clubs rebelled at the logistical nightmare of it all.
This argument will likely resurface in the next few years. If the NFL can successfully integrate a London-based side as the first move in global expansion, the Premier League may take similar steps to cash in on worldwide demand.
NOT Born In The USA:
Rugby and cricket are both dominated by a relatively small pool of nations, which has made the expansion into new territories a difficult process. The list of nations represented at the 2019 Cricket World Cup reveals the comparatively narrow appeal of the sport.
One European (hosts England), one African (South Africa) and one North American side (Windies) shown the limitations in cricket’s expansion outside of Asia and Oceania.
Conversely, rugby has found it difficult to tackle a lack of support in Asia. The 2019 Rugby World Cup will be hosted by Japan, which could prove crucial in enthusing a new generation of Asians.
However, Japan are Asia’s sole representative at the World Cup. Eight Rugby World Cups have only produced five different finalists. This is why rugby has largely been unable to break new ground, notably in the United States.
Rugby’s similarity with American football has diminished the appetite for a new contact sport, while the USA national team have won just three out of 22 World Cup matches in their history.
However, rugby in the US is beginning to push back against these factors. The return of rugby to the Summer Olympics calendar in 2016 boosted global audiences, while rugby is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the US.
Hosting the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens did the sport’s popularity no harm.
Cricket could do with a similar boost, with the sport overshadowed by baseball in the US. The International Cricket Council (ICC) have stated their ambition to make cricket the world’s most popular sport.
For that to come remotely close to happening, the ICC will need to establish an audience in the US because of the American population size and financial strength.
Expat communities in the US will be vital in introducing cricket to more Americans, but governing bodies will need to be more proactive if they want to end perceptions of cricket as an archaic sport competed by few nations.
For example, the UK has accommodated five out of 12 Cricket World Cups. Cricket will need to travel further afield if it is to increase its audience.
A Game For The Next Generation:
Amid suggestions from some quarters that Grand Slam tennis matches were too long for modern audiences, the ATP put a new spin on the Next Generation ATP Finals.
The continued appetite for Grand Slam tennis and criticism from Next Gen players suggests these changes may be ineffective in reaching new markets. The Next Gen Finals trialled a series of tennis rules that aimed to add some speed and pizzazz to the game.
Next Gen players are those on the ATP Tour aged 21 or under. The creation of the Next Gen Finals is partly the result of a need to establish new stars when the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic finally stop heading the tennis betting markets.
This combination of Next Gen players with some specific rules has made the Finals a unique viewing experience in the past two years.
As with a Grand Slam, matches are played to best of five sets. However, these sets are won by the first to four games, rather than the traditional six.
The removal of ad-scoring and lets, plus the addition of shot clocks, aimed to make matches a more efficient and exciting affair. Only time will tell if these changes are effective in bringing a new audience to tennis.
It is remarkable to think that you could create an acca on a bet calculator featuring six sides owned by the City Football Group, represented across five continents.
Manchester City are the flagship club, with the CFC’s first two acquisitions acting as an extension of City. New York City FC became the 20th side in MLS, while the CFC took the heart out of Melbourne Heart to add their own suffix.
Melbourne City and NYCFC both play in the light blue of their English parent, while the CFC’s financial power has brought the star names.
Melbourne’s captains have included Australian legend Harry Kewell and Brazilian striker Fred, while NYCFC’s first skipper was legendary forward David Villa.
The USA and Australia are both nations that have become more appreciative of football in recent years, with City’s presence in two English-speaking nations easy to develop.
The CFC’s expansion hasn’t stopped there; Japan’s Yokohama Marinos, Uruguay’s Club Atletico Torque and Spain’s Girona have all attracted the investment of the CFC. There are two principal reasons for such vigorous expansion.
Links with clubs across continents gives Manchester City a better chance of unearthing and acquiring the world’s best new talent. Also, local fans of these clubs will be more likely to adopt Manchester City as their Premier League favourite.
No matter how popular a sport or a club gets, there will always be a need to search for fans in unfamiliar places. The sports that evolve are those that will remain relevant, but those which are unable to adapt may find their popularity on the decline.
Sunday’s Premier League action focuses on the upper echelon of the table. Arsenal visit Leicester as they look to undo a nightmare week, Manchester United aim to do the same as they host Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Manchester City, playing nearly 48 hours after Liverpool, will be looking to return to the summit when they visit Turf Moor.
LEICESTER CITY vs ARSENAL
A home loss to Newcastle and a disappointing draw with West Ham have been setbacks for Brendan Rodgers after a great start to his Leicester tenure.
The Foxes are still in with a shout of finishing seventh, despite dropping to 10th. They are only three points behind Wolves, who face Watford on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal have hit a rough patch at the worst possible time. Three defeats in four matches have seen the Gunners drop to fifth even with Chelsea faltering.
A loss on Sunday and a Manchester United win at Old Trafford will see them drop to sixth and make them outsiders for a top four berth. Their away form is dire over the last two campaigns, making the 31/20 price look way too short.
The vulnerable Arsenal defence could struggle against Leicester’s pacey attack. Goals are to be expected at the King Power.
TIP: Over 3.5 goals @ 31/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Leicester 3-2 Arsenal (Priced at 19/1 with 888sport)
Burnley vs MANCHESTER CITY
Burnley have had an up and down season. A resurgence early in 2019 was ended with a blip that pulled them back into the relegation scrap.
Since then, though, Sean Dyche’s side have picked up 10 points in four matches and are only three points behind 11th-placed West Ham. Drawing at Chelsea last time out will have given the Clarets confidence, but two 5-0 defeats to Manchester City this season are fresh in the memory.
Turf Moor has not been a happy place for City, who have only won one of their last three trips. Having won 11 straight in the league, however, Pep Guardiola’s side are flying high.
Kevin De Bruyne remains unavailable, and while that’s obviously a concern, it is unlikely to have too much of an impact here. City played Manchester United off the park in midweek and are overwhelming 2/15 favourites to win against Burnley on Sunday afternoon.
Raheem Sterling was named in the PFA Team of the Year this week and continues to produce in the final third. The England international is a price worth considering at 6/1 to score and assist in 888Sport’s Premier League betting.
City know Turf Moor is a tough place to go. Guardiola’s side are rolling right now, though, and should win this comfortably.
TIP: Manchester City to win (-1) @ 4/11
PREDICTED SCORE: Burnley 0-3 Manchester City (Priced at 11/2 with 888sport)
MANCHESTER UNITED vs CHELSEA
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s record since taking over as Manchester United on a permanent basis is woeful.
The stuttering form of Arsenal and Chelsea has remarkably kept them in the top four race, but this match is a must-win for Solskjaer, who is already coming under pressure. United have lost four of their last six in the Premier League.
Maurizio Sarri is in a similar situation. Chelsea will be fourth at Sunday lunchtime, but they could be down in sixth if they lose at Old Trafford and Arsenal win against Leicester.
A home draw with Burnley was a missed opportunity for the Blues and did little to convince Chelsea fans that Sarri should be manager next season. Injury to Callum Hudson-Odoi is a major blow, though the experienced Pedro is a capable replacement.
This will be a very competitive, and perhaps hard to watch, match. Chelsea’s away record of late is poor, with Sarri’s side struggling to score on the road. Manchester United have been dysfunctional again. Under 2.5 goals at Evens is probably the best bet.
TIP: Under 2.5 goals @ Evens
PREDICTED SCORE: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Priced at 27/5 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
The final stretch of the Premier League season is upon us. Midweek matches have caught the stragglers up, leaving all 20 teams with three league matches to play.
With the top six all in televised action, the scrap for mid-table superiority and Cardiff’s push for a great escape take centre stage in the Saturday 3pm matches.
CRYSTAL PALACE vs EVERTON
Crystal Palace pulled off a stunning win away to Arsenal last weekend as they continue an inconsistent run. The Eagles are 12th before a ball is kicked this weekend.
Roy Hodgson avoided an early season threat of relegation and they are always a difficult team to face, posing a constant threat on the counter.
Everton put in their performance of the season at home to Manchester United last time out and were rewarded with a 4-0 victory.
Finishing best of the rest remains possible for Marco Silva’s men, but a victory here is a necessity. They can go up to seventh with three points.
888Sport’s Premier League Odds is interesting for this one. Both teams are on offer at 17/10 to win, though both teams to score at 3/4 looks the best bet.
TIP: Both teams to score @ 3/4
PREDICTED SCORE: Crystal Palace 1-1 Everton (Priced at 27/5 with 888sport)
Fulham vs CARDIFF CITY
After a long time without a victory, Fulham have won two in a row for the first time all season. It’s irrelevant, of course, as the west London club have already been relegated.
Scott Parker’s side have, against all odds, kept consecutive clean sheets and are working to rebuild confidence that has taken a battering during a turbulent campaign.
Cardiff, meanwhile, are fighting for their Premier League lives. Away form hasn’t been their strength this term, but Neil Warnock’s side pulled off a crucial 2-0 victory at Brighton in their last road match.
Cardiff’s fate isn’t in their hands, though with Brighton facing a challenging schedule, a victory here will change the whole dynamic of the relegation tussle.
The 8/13 price on Cardiff to avoid defeat is great value. Warnock will set his side up to avoid defeat and hope to nick a goal.
TIP: Cardiff to win or draw @ 8/13
PREDICTED SCORE: Fulham 1-2 Cardiff (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)
SOUTHAMPTON vs AFC Bournemouth
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s tenure has been a success. His team are not yet mathematically safe, but they are six points clear with only nine points left to play for.
Saints have won three of their last four at home, including a brilliant 3-1 win against Wolves in their last St Mary’s outing. They are unbeaten in five home matches against Bournemouth.
Eddie Howe is suffering an almighty injury crisis and will be forced to make some interesting line-up decisions.
Indifferent post-Christmas form has seen Bournemouth slip into lower-mid-table, though the Cherries could climb to 11th with victory in the derby on Saturday afternoon.
Saints are in touching distance of safety after another challenging season. Against a weakened Bournemouth, Hasenhuttl’s side are a good price to get the job done.
TIP: Southampton to win @ 22/25
PREDICTED SCORE: Southampton 3-1 Bournemouth (Priced at 12/1 with 888sport)
WATFORD vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Watford and Wolves have been neck and neck all season, battling it out for seventh. The pair played out a thrilling FA Cup semi-final earlier this month, and Wolves will be looking for revenge after Watford’s dramatic comeback.
Split by a solitary point, and with only one goal separating them on goal difference, this match could decide who claims seventh spot.
Watford were left frustrated after a 1-1 draw with Southampton in their last match. Wolves, in stark contrast, bounced back from a disappointing draw with Brighton to cruise past Arsenal.
Midweek action for the Midlands club could make fatigue an issue in what will likely be an intense match at Vicarage Road.
Wolves are on a poor run of away form, picking up just two of the last 15 available points. With extra rest, Watford are a good bet at 31/20 to take all three points.
TIP: Watford to win @ 31/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Watford 2-1 Wolves (Priced at 17/2 with 888sport)
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
