European basketball has produced some of the game’s top players, with the likes of Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and the Gasol brothers all successfully converting to the NBA and taking it by storm.

Even now, the production line from the continent continues, with the emergence of future superstars Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo and recent arrival Luka Doncic – the latter of whom is 9/4 with 888sport to win NBA Rookie of the Year.

Who will be named #NBA regular season MVP?

— 888sport (@888sport) October 16, 2018

However, the European game lags behind its North American cousin in almost every way – despite such stunning playing talent and exceptional coaching.

Here, we’ll explore why the chasm between the EuroLeague and NBA remains wider than ever.

 

The All-Encompassing Presence Of Football

Football absorbs everything and almost everyone around it in Europe. From Sunday league hobbyists to professional football academies syphoning athletic talent from a young age, it leaves little room for anything else.

If a child has any sporting promise at a tender age, the chances are a football scout has looked at them and their athletic path is sealed.

Football is in Europeans’ blood; it dominates back pages, front pages, social conversations and the aspirations of generations of children, who are eager to emulate the stars they see on TV.

It’s a cultural behemoth that will not be moved and encapsulated perfectly by legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

Football consumes resources – financial, emotional energy and physical talent – with little left for the same kind of investment in basketball.

Meanwhile, America has traditionally focused on three or four major sports: baseball, ice hockey, American football and basketball.

So, instead of growing up with a ball at their feet like most Europeans, North Americans grow up with a ball in their hands and dreams of the NBA in their heads. No sport dominates like football in Europe, allowing for far greater investment in basketball in the USA.

Although famous football teams such as Real Madrid, who are 4/1 with 888sport to win EuroLeague this season, Bayern Munich and Fenerbahçe also possess basketball sides, investment comes nowhere near the levels of football, nor interest.

 

North America: The Birthplace Of Basketball

Born of two Scottish immigrants in Canada, James Naismith, the creator of basketball, established North America as the home of the sport from the very beginning.

From its primitive beginnings at Springfield college in 1891, to the global phenomenon it is now, Europe has been playing catch-up ever since.

Meanwhile, the EuroLeague (originally called the FIBA European Champions Cup) was established in 1958. That’s 67 years after Dr Naismith had introduced the game to his students.

EuroLeague basketball may be some way apart from the quality of the NBA, but it’s the closest thing the rest of the world has to challenging the USA’s superiority.

Like almost everything in sport, it comes down to money. The fact is the money just isn’t there for anyone else to compete with the NBA on the court in terms of attracting talent and off it. North America demands elite basketball as one of its major sports; Europe does not.

 

Talent Migration To The NBA

Coaching in EuroLeague is at an elite level, with managers constantly innovating with plays and styles, focusing on quick, slick ball-movement to run opponents ragged, resulting in easy buckets. Many of these plays end up in the NBA, but so too do the standout players.

There is a magnetism that draws the continent’s best out west and over the Atlantic. If you are the best player in EuroLeague basketball – a true star – you will never be as famous or rich as the best footballers.

Compare that to the NBA, and the sort of fame and fortune a player can achieve is beyond anything that can be offered in Europe.

A parallel can be drawn in the other direction, too. A footballer in America dreams of playing in Europe, a place where the demand for quality play is immense and a fortune can be made playing for the best teams.

Just as North America is the home of basketball, Europe is the home of football.

Talent retention in European basketball is a problem, but with the sort of money available across the pond, the continent is unlikely to stem the flow.

That being said, there are exceptions to the rule, including the likes of Nikos Galis, Theodoros Papaloukas and Sergio Llull – the latter of whom has repeatedly turned down huge NBA offers to remain at Real Madrid.

 

NBA's Perpetual Creation Of Competition

For a nation so virulently capitalist, American sports boast a socialist backbone that perpetually creates competition and, therefore, interest.

The draft, in layman’s terms, rewards those sides at the bottom of the table with some of the highest picks in the upcoming draft – a chance for those teams struggling to snare a future superstar and therefore their place at the top of the competitive food chain.

2014 - Spurs
2015 - Warriors
2016 - Cavaliers
2017 - Warriors
2018 - Warriors

Will the Golden State Warriors make it four titles in five years? ?

The #NBA season starts this week ? pic.twitter.com/0NBrBc1ZxE

— 888sport (@888sport) October 14, 2018

Bag a generational talent and your once struggling side, could transform into title contenders.

Meanwhile, in EuroLeague basketball, if you’re bad, you’re bad. The dream of your NBA side rocketing up the rankings and challenging for a title is a very real possibility and keeps fans hooked.

While, for example, over in Europe, the chance of Montenegrin minnow Budućnost VOLI challenging Real Madrid is very low indeed.

 

NBA vs EuroLeague Clash

Throughout the decades, these two organisations have pitted sides against each other, the first of which saw defending NBA champions Washington Bullets and Maccabi "Elite" Tel Aviv clash in 1978, with the Israelis coming out on top.

However, since then, the NBA sides have dominated the fixtures, featuring numerous blowouts and vivid displays of quality gap between the two leagues – despite the North American sides frequently treating it as a preseason friendly.

Out of the last eight meetings, the European outfit has won three, perhaps an indication of the two leagues drawing closer in quality? Or, more likely, NBA sides simply failing to take the meeting as seriously as they should.

 

Reasons To Be Cheerful

It isn’t all doom and gloom for EuroLeague basketball. Yes, the NBA is miles ahead in terms of revenue and talent – but that doesn’t mean basketball on the continent is on its last legs; far from it.

EuroLeague is going from strength to strength and has a bright future, now being seen across 213 countries worldwide, watched by up to 245 million people in China weekly and broadcast on NBA TV in America and Canada.

European arenas are packed with hardcore fans, with anyone who has attended a EuroLeague game knowing the atmosphere created is equal or better to that of any around the world in any sport.

Thanks to increased exposure and money flowing into the league, hopes of retaining talent in Europe has increased and teams are now able to offer multi-million dollar contracts.

For example, Alexey Shved of BC Khimki reportedly earns over $4m a year for the Moscow side, who are 10/1 with 888sport to finish inside the EuroLeague’s top three this term.

In recent years, there has also been a trend for some potential college players to skip a year of non-paid labour at university in favour of playing professionally overseas.

China, Australia and now Europe are all destinations where youngsters can get a taste of grown-up, professional-level competition, while getting paid a year earlier than some of their college classmates.

If this trend continues, TV money will continue to flow into Europe. This should, in turn, allow it to retain more talent, and the considerable gap between the NBA and EuroLeague may shrink. However, at present, it remains large and almost unmoving.

---

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Darko Vojinovic / AP Photo*

With the exception of football, rugby is one of the most popular sports, both in terms of betting and purely watching for enjoyment, in the United Kingdom.

Whether you are a union fan or passionate about league, there is usually some form of rugby on the television on your regular sporting weekend.

Rugby union is arguably the bigger of the two in the Northern Hemisphere whilst league is played mainly in Australia.

However, Super League is growing on this side of the world and it is now potentially the second biggest and most competitive division behind the National Rugby League.

For the purposes of this guide, we are going to focus predominantly on rugby union.

This is the dominant code when it comes to the United Kingdom and it is developing into one of the most popular sports on the planet. And with the 2019 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, this is the perfect time to get involved in the sport.

What Are Rugby Outright Betting Markets?

Without a doubt, the most popular method for betting on any rugby competition is to place an outright bet on the ‘winner’.

Whether you are looking at the Six Nations or Premiership Rugby, punters can find a large number of tournaments that take place on a yearly basis – as well as other competitions, such as the World Cup, that follow a certain cycle.

The Rugby World Cup, hosted by Japan in 2019, takes place once every four years. International fans keep a close eye on the summer tests and autumn internationals but the Six Nations is the priority in a non-World Cup year.

These competitions appeal to most bettors, as those with terrestrial television can follow the results closely, making it very easy to follow the progress of your bet.

You can bet on the outright market of upcoming tournaments but also on long-term rugby events, such as the next British & Irish Lions tour.

In the most recent trip, Warren Gatland’s side recorded a drawn series in New Zealand. These events, as well as Premiership Rugby and the Six Nations, are arguably the most viewed competitions and outright betting is available on all of these.

Outright betting is simple – you predict the winner of a particular competition. In a nutshell, your selection will need to advance through the tournament and emerge victorious in the final for your bet to be a winner.

You will usually find one team will head into major international events as clear favourites but, with both codes getting more competitive, you can find value further down the market.

 

What Is An Each Way Bet?

Most major tournaments, such as the Rugby World Cup, will offer each way terms of the top two.

Therefore, if you bet on England to win next year’s competition and Eddie Jones’ side reach the final, you are going to have some sort of return on your initial bet.

If England win, you will receive a full pay-out. If England lose in the final, you will be paid at 1/2 of the odds.

In essence, an outright bet at 24/1 will be paid out at 12/1 should your team lose in the showpiece event.

 

Researching Rugby Betting Markets

The most important aspect of any bet is research. When placing an outright bet, you should be confident in your selection.

New Zealand, currently 11/10 to win the Rugby World Cup next year, have won the last two editions of the competition and that may convince some punters to back the All Blacks.

However, Steve Hansen’s side were recently defeated by the Springboks – who also secured a series victory over England this summer – and that may sway bettors to look elsewhere.

There are so many factors to consider when placing an outright wager. As in most team sports, injuries and squad selection are some of the most important aspects.

Some players will be ruled out of the competition and an influential star out of action can make the world of difference.

For example, an injury to Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton would be detrimental to their hopes of adding a World Cup crown to their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. Be sure to commit time and effort to research ahead of such a long-term bet.

In addition, the draw and pooling of certain tournaments can affect betting. Meanwhile, the odds for Six Nations success varies on a yearly basis depending on fixtures.

In 2019, Wales will play at home against England and Ireland but away in the three ‘easier’ fixtures against France, Scotland and Italy.

Beating England and Ireland at home is no easy feat but ask any Welsh fan and they’d rather face both teams at the Principality Stadium than elsewhere.

 

What Other Rugby Markets Can I Bet On At 888sport?

It isn’t all about outright betting when it comes to rugby, though. There is a range of markets relating specifically to certain matches and tournaments; all of which can be found at the rugby section.

Handicap Betting

One of the most popular ways of betting on specific matches is handicap betting. Domestic fixtures can be quite one-sided at times and punters can enhance odds by looking at ‘to win by x amount of points’ markets.

For example, South Africa were -9.5 on the handicap to beat Australia in their recent Rugby Championship fixture. Essentially, that meant that South Africa needed to beat the Wallabies by 10 points or more for the bet to be a winner.

The handicap also works the other way. If punters fancied Australia to keep the scoreline close or even win the match but weren’t confident enough to back Michael Cheika’s side, they could have opted for +9.5 on the handicap.

If Australia won, drew or lost by less than 10 points, that bet would have also been a winner. It is as simple as that.

Half-time Betting

This is another relatively straightforward market for punters. If you fancy a particular side to make a fast start, you can bet on the result of the first half.

In addition, you can usually bet on over/under a certain amount of tries in the half, handicap betting for the half and the total points in the half.

In-Play Betting On Rugby

Most punters have dabbled in in-play betting and it is growing in popularity.

The chance for bettors to make a judgment on any given match before placing a bet is appealing to some punters and there are a few ways to bet during matches when it comes to rugby:

How To Bet In-Play

Clicking the ‘Live Betting’ button at the top of the page will take you to the events currently available for in-play betting. Simply click on rugby and check out the latest prices available – click a specific match for odds on that encounter.

The majority of markets will relate to points, the number of tries and the outright winner, but you will see some betting options on certain events.

For example, major international fixtures may allow you to bet on cards, specific try scorers or even next try scorer.

As always, in-play handicap betting is one of the most popular rugby markets. Once you’ve decided who is going to win the game and by what margin, you can make your choice on which way to go on the handicap.
 

Differences To Consider Between Union And League

The main difference is the number of points scored in the two codes. In league, teams are awarded four points for a try, two for a conversion and one for a drop goal.

In union, you receive five points for a try, two for a conversion and three for a penalty or drop goal. This can affect the total points, over/under a certain number of points and handicap betting by a considerable margin.

Furthermore, there are 15 players per team in union compared to 13 in league. The extra space available for teams can help players to exploit defensive units and that leads to higher scoring games in league.

In union, the onus is on using power and grinding out results and that can mean some closer outcomes.

 

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

Speaking exclusively to 888sport Gary Pallister has offered his thoughts on all things United this week; a club he still loves dearly after enjoying nine extremely successful years under the charge of Sir Alex Ferguson in an era that saw the Reds win silverware by the bucket-load.

And while the towering ex-centre back & four-time Premier League winner may not be presently too enamoured with the club’s Belgian forward the opposite applies to a fellow defender who has dug deep and turned his circumstances around.

 
“Luke Shaw has had his knockers about his fitness levels and how he looks after himself and taken a bit of stick off Jose along the way as well so a weaker man might have buckled and thought ‘I need to get away’ But he has taken it on the chin, worked hard and got himself a fitness coach during the close season. Now he is reaping the benefits from that.”

 
“He has been one of our most consistent players so far this season and that’s been rewarded with a new contract. Long may this continue because he was touted as being one of the best left-backs in the world three years ago.”

While Shaw’s transformation is impressive the laws of physics sadly dictates that players can also go the other way, regressing after initially shining so bright. Such is the case of Marcus Rashford whose downturn in form of late concerns the 53 year old. 

“He scored in the friendlies during the last international break but at United he has struggled. He’s been in and out of the side. There is a debate whether he prefers to play on the left or down the middle. He gives it everything he’s got whenever he plays but he’s finding the expectation put on him at Old Trafford a little bit too much. He hasn’t looked like the Rashford that burst onto the scene.”

If the youngster’s lessening impact remains a worry that goes double for Alexis Sanchez who has yet to make his mark in Manchester following his January move from the capital. The man known to Reds worldwide as ‘Pally’ admits to being perplexed by the Chilean’s drop-off in performances since leaving the Emirates.

 
“I was absolutely buzzing when United signed him because his performances at Arsenal showed he was a world class talent. But for whatever reason it has not been working out and I’m sure Alexis will be one of the first to say he has not been producing the form we expected of him.”

 
“Maybe he doesn’t suit the manager’s style of play. Maybe he hasn’t been hitting it off with the forwards he’s playing alongside. But I think he will turn it around and he will score goals and excite the crowd. It’s about getting the balance right and then we’ll see the best of him.”

Which naturally leads our conversation to the biggest conundrum of them all: the sometimes brilliant, sometimes underwhelming, but always talked about Paul Labile Pogba.

 
“At times he can look a little bit lackadaisical with the ball but at other times he can light up the whole stadium. The latter is what people at Old Trafford want to see: I mean that ball he played for Fred against Wolves was a moment of absolute genius. He saw the pass, he executed it, and it was right out of the top drawer and he has the ability to do that god knows how many times in a game.”

 
“When we’re out of possession people look at Paul and think he could give a little bit more for the team. And that comes from being a £95m player and being talked about as one of the best players in the world.”

 
The French midfielder’s mixed displays have been mirrored by his team this term and with United languishing outside of the top six eight games in that has inevitably led to loud murmurings of crisis with manager Jose Mourinho’s job very much on the line. Indeed at the half-time interval against Newcastle United a fortnight ago it was impossible to imagine United’s situation getting any worse trailing as they were by two cheaply conceded goals.

 
A stunning second half comeback however not only spared the club further apocalyptic headlines but also acted as a reminder – not that one was needed – to Pallister and others that attack was often the best policy for a side with adventure running through its history and veins.

 
“I’m not saying you should go for the jugular when you’re playing Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City because they’re teams who are performing at a higher level at the moment. But against sides like Newcastle and especially at Old Trafford teams should be intimidated about going there and for a long time now that hasn’t been the case. That’s something that the players have to deal with and make it a difficult place to come to again.”

“They need to put teams on the back foot and take the game to them from the first five minutes: let them know they’re in for a really tough afternoon. It’s a collective thing and the manager and players are all in it together so they have to find a way between themselves to turn this very average start to the season around.”

 
Beginning perhaps with Stamford Bridge this Saturday and the unenviable task of besting a Chelsea eleven that is full of confidence right now and unbeaten heading into autumn. Pallister however remains defiant.

Gary Pallister’s quickfire questions

Score prediction for Chelsea v Manchester United?
1-1. More Chelsea v United odds
First goal-scorer?
Lukaku
Who will win the Premier League?
Manchester City. More Premier League odds
Who will win the Golden Boot?
Sergio Aguero. More top goal scorrer odds
Who will win the Champions League?
Barcelona. More Champions League odds
 

The latest round of UEFA Nations League fixtures is here – and we’ve got a tasty four-fold for punters to get stuck into.

Unfortunately, our accumulator opens with an England defeat at the hands of Spain; not the ideal result for Gareth Southgate’s side after drawing against Croatia in Rijeka on Friday evening.

Spain can make it three wins from three Nations League fixtures on Monday night and they may prove too strong for the Three Lions in that encounter. Without further ado, here’s our 13/1 four-fold ahead of this week’s international fixtures…

SPAIN vs England

With six points from their opening two Nations League fixtures, Spain are sitting pretty at the top of Group A4. Luis Enrique’s side were ruthless against Wales in their friendly clash on Thursday night, putting four goals past Ryan Giggs’ men in Cardiff.

Spain have now scored 10 goals in their last two encounters – they put six past World Cup finalists Croatia in their opening Nations League contest. Punters should take the 3/4 on offer for over 1.5 home goals on Monday night.

England's midfield trio of Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson & Ross Barkley vs Croatia's midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic & Ivan Rakitic.

It's like 'frozen pizza vs takeaway pizza' - there's only ever going to be one winner...#CROENG pic.twitter.com/4Kven0DDj7

— 888sport (@888sport) October 12, 2018

For England, this is about building momentum. The Three Lions were arguably the better side on Friday night in Rijeka and Southgate will be demanding more of the same. This one could be an entertaining watch if England go for the jugular.

TIP: Over 1.5 Spain goals @ 3/4

PREDICTED SCORE: Spain 2-0 England (Priced at 13/2 with 888sport)

 

FRANCE vs Germany

The 2018 World Cup champions battled from two goals down to draw with Iceland on Thursday night; France were lucky to avoid defeat in that clash. Didier Deschamps may wring the changes ahead of Tuesday’s encounter in Paris.

Expect a much-improved performance from France against Germany. Les Bleus will want to send out a statement of intent after the disappointment of Thursday evening – and that brings the 8/11 for two or more home goals into play.

Joachim Low is a man under pressure and Germany’s 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands on Saturday will do the 58-year-old no favours whatsoever. Another embarrassing loss could signal the end of his tenure as Germany head coach.

TIP: Over 1.5 France goals @ 8/11

PREDICTED SCORE: France 2-1 Germany (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND vs WALES

Ireland were second best for large parts against Denmark on Saturday evening and Martin O’Neill will be demanding an improved effort from his side. They haven’t had much time to prepare for Wales and backing a home win may be unwise.

Gareth Bale will miss Wales’ trip to Dublin and the Real Madrid man will be sorely missed on Tuesday night. Giggs had hoped that Bale would pass a late fitness test but the 29-year-old will not feature; making this one rather difficult to predict.

Opting for both teams to score at a very appealing 23/20 might be the way to go. Wales were second best against Spain but managed to get on the scoresheet whilst Ireland will fancy their chances on home soil – this could be surprisingly exciting.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 23/20

PREDICTED SCORE: Ireland 1-1 Wales (Priced at 5/1 with 888sport)

 

UKRAINE vs CZECH REPUBLIC

Ukraine snatched a positive result away at Italy on Wednesday evening in a friendly match and the hosts will be hoping to build on that draw here. After winning both Nations League fixtures so far this year, a third win will put Ukraine firmly in control of Group B1.

In a surprising turn of events, the Czech Republic claimed a 2-1 win away at Slovakia at the weekend – a massive result for the visitors. Despite being outplayed for most of the night, the Czech Republic hung in there and scored when it mattered most of all.

The selection landed in the last meeting between these two sides in September and 57/50 is a solid price for a goal at both ends of the pitch. This might not be the most exciting match for neutrals but goals do look likely.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 57/50

PREDICTED SCORE: Ukraine 2-1 Czech Republic (Priced at 15/2 with 888sport)

 

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

British Champions Day at Ascot is now billed as the finale of the European Flat racing season and has been running for eight years. It is the richest raceday in the British racing calendar and some of the finest horses around battle it out at the Berkshire track.

As the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, this raceday features the end-of-season championship races for five racing divisions: Ten-furlong horses (The Champion Stakes), Milers (The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), Sprinters (six furlongs), Long distance horses (two miles) and Fillies and Mares (one mile and four furlongs).

Here is a brief guide to what you can expect on the afternoon of October 20th:

QIPCO Long Distance Cup

The staying stars are the first to take to the track in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. In 2017 Order of St George gave Aidan O’Brien his second victory in the race.

Owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen has confirmed his million pound star Stradivarius will line up in the race as long as the conditions are not too testing.

Joining him in the line up could be Aidan O'Brien's Irish Leger winner Flag Of Honour after he was recently pulled out of the Arc.

Race Trends

13/15 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
12/15 – Won at Listed or better class previously
12/15 – Winning distance – 1 ¼ lengths or less
11/15 – Aged 5 or older

 

QIPCO Champions Sprint Stakes

The sprinters take centre stage in the £600,000 Champions Day Sprint, one of the most hotly contested races on the card. Last year Librisa Breeze flew home to take home the spoils under Robert Winston and is an 8/1 shot with us to do so again this time around.

In fact, the past two winners of the Champions Sprint, The Tin Man and Librisa Breeze both feature among the remaining entries for the race.

Other possible contenders Brando, Limato, Tasleet, and the recent ParisLongchamp scorer, Mabs Cross.

Race Trends

15/15 – Won over 6f previously
14/15 –  Raced within the last 6 weeks
14/15 – Raced at least 4 times that season
14/15 – Returned 12/1 or shorter

 

QIPCO Champion Fillies And Mares Stakes

The top female stars of the turf will battle it out here for the £600,000 end-of-season climax.

The first three home in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes from last year – Hydrangea, Bateel and Coronet – remain on course to meet again.

St Leger runner-up, Lah Ti Dar is the current market leader, with horse racing odds of 6/4.

Race Trends

6/9 – Rated 110 or higher
5/9 – Favourites placed
5/9 – Aged 3 years-old
5/9 – Won their last race

 

QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Some of the best horses in training line up to contest Europe’s richest mile race, with an impressive roll of honour which includes Solow, Minding and Frankel.

French trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias is hoping that his stable star Recoletos can follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Solow and score another Queen Elizabeth Stakes victory for France.

The Karl Burke-trained Laurens holds an entry in the Champion Stakes but is very likely to be supplemented into this race.

The daughter of Siyouni will be bidding for her fifth Group One success of the season.

Race Trends

15/15 – Returned 7/1 or shorter
15/15 – Raced at least 3 times that season
15/15 – Aged 3 or 5 years-old
14/15 – Had won a Group 1 or 2 race previously

 

QIPCO Champion Stakes

Europe's richest ten furlong race was won in scintillating fashion by Cracksman in 2017. Can the son of Frankel win again in 2018? We make him a 2/1 chance to do so again.

Just edging out Cracksman in the horse racing betting is Roaring Lion who has enjoyed a magnificent campaign, completing a Group One hat-trick with victories in the Coral-Eclipse, the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes.

The race looks like being the one of the showdowns of the season.

Race Trends

14/15 – Finished in the top 3 in their latest race
13/15 – Won over 1m2f previously
13/15 – Won a Group 1 or 2 race previously
11/15 – Raced within the last 6 weeks

 

Balmoral Handicap

The £250,000 Balmoral Handicap brings down the curtain on QIPCO British Champions Day and always attracts a bumper entry.

A maximum field of 20 will line up for the Ascot finale which is Europe’s richest mile handicap. Last year all bar three of the runners had an official rating of at least 100 so it certainly attracts some top-rated horses.

Raising Sand, who finished eighth of 33 in the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket and recently won at Ascot, has been installed as the ante-post favourite at 8/1.

Despite hanging left on his last run, he quickened nicely to beat Ripp Orf, who is also in the field and is rated a 12/1 chance.

David O’Meara, who trained Lord Glitters to win the race last year, is likely to be represented by Waarif, Firmament, eighth and third in the past two runnings of the Balmoral Handicap, and Escobar.

Race Trends

Just 4 previous runnings
3 x 5-year-olds, 1 x 4-year-old have won
All 4 previous winners draw 10 or lower
3 previous winners ran at Newmarket last time out and one at Ascot

 

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

All 20 Premier League clubs have the same managers they started the season with.

Sure, that might not seem an achievement given that it’s only mid-October and we are only eight matches in, but clubs have shown in seasons past that they are not afraid to pull the trigger early.

Rumours of managerial change, for the most part, have been rare this season. That might just be because most teams are playing somewhere near expectations.

The sides that have struggled are the ones we all expected to struggle. The top six, with one notable exception, have been around par.

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United are the obvious exception. Mourinho has led the sack race betting for the majority of the season after a rocky summer.

Comments criticising his superiors during preseason were followed by indifferent performances and it looks/looked like Mourinho was in third season mode.

Rumours circulated last Friday that Mourinho would be sacked over the weekend whatever his result was against Newcastle.

He did not get sacked. Maybe he would have been had Manchester United not completed the dramatic comeback against Newcastle. We might never know the answer to that.

What remains to be seen, though, is whether this is a turning point or a false dawn for Manchester United.

Manchester United's decision to extend Jose Mourinho's contract until 2020 was a stroke of genius.

Well done, Ed. pic.twitter.com/Tjghd9LdMh

— 888sport (@888sport) October 6, 2018

Mourinho is still the very short 3/5 favourite to be the next manager to go. It’s surprising the odds aren’t a bit longer, but that’s understandable considering Manchester United are already five points off the top four.

It was a throwback to the Alex Ferguson years as a poor first half was corrected with bold second half attacking and a cinematic win.

Their victory came from a do-or-die display against a struggling team. It’s not unreasonable to expect Mourinho to revert to tactical type, which would see the same problems arise.

The victory will have earned some credit for the once Special One. More dropped points and limp performances, though, will see that credit vanish quickly.

Mourinho is out alone atop this market. Three managers, however, sit on 6/1. Neil Warnock, Rafael Benitez and Mark Hughes have combined for one win in 24 Premier League matches this season.

Benitez is extremely unlikely to get the boot, but his tetchy relationship with the Newcastle hierarchy could see him leave the position.

At this point, it seems improbable that would happen before another Premier League manager departs. Newcastle have had a rough start to the season. Given their fixture list and squad, few would have done much better.

Warnock is under greater pressure than the former Real Madrid boss. Cardiff have been poor this season and are bottom of the table. The question for the board at the Premier League’s solitary Welsh club, though, is whether they have the talent in the squad to do much better.

Mark Hughes has picked up 33 points in his last 38 matches as a Premier League manager.

Is it time for Southampton to make a change? pic.twitter.com/lsjpmYnsUw

— 888sport (@888sport) October 9, 2018

Cardiff’s summer business was clearly insufficient at the time. Several matches they have dropped points in have been a result of a lack of quality as much as anything.

Warnock, you would imagine, would point towards a tricky fixture list, having played Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham in their last five matches.

The 6/1 price is better value for Warnock than Benitez. It’s Hughes who is the man to back if you think Mourinho can cling on, however.

Hughes kept Southampton up last season. It was done with a degree of fortune and little sense that this was the beginning of a long tenure.

As clubs almost always do, though, Hughes was handed a longer deal at the club. His record for the final 18 months of his time at Stoke and now at Southampton is abysmal.

Saints are on just five points. Recruitment has taken a downturn at St. Mary’s in recent seasons, and maybe any manager would struggle to stay away from the bottom three with this squad.

As has riddled Hughes’ managerial career, when his teams are bad, they tend to be dreadful. The second half collapse at home to Brighton was a clear example, as was the 2-0 away defeat to Wolves.

Manchester United and Mourinho could go almost any direction from here. The damage might be done already, but the Old Trafford decision makers will have more patience than many other clubs.

Hughes is the value option in this market. Southampton will make changes if they think it’s necessary. The former Stoke manager might be handed his P45 if he doesn’t win either of his next two (away to Bournemouth, home to Newcastle).

 

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

Two unbeaten colts go to post on Saturday afternoon in the Dewhurst Stakes which has unfortunately only attracted seven runners this year.

Too Darn Hot versus Sangarious will be the hors d'oeuvres on offer before the Cesarewitch that takes place 40 minutes later.

Held over the straight 7 furlongs of Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, the Dewhurst Stakes generally shows us who is the best two year old colt in Britain and Ireland and the race tends to give us a few clues for the following year’s 2,000 Guineas and Derby.

The Group One feature has produced no end of future stars, with Dawn Approach, Churchill,  US Navy Flag and Frankel all stamping their authority on the race in recent years.

Trends And Statistics (Based On The Last 10 Renewals)

• Seven winners had won over seven furlongs or beyond.
• Six favourites have been successful but three winners have been returned between 20/1 & 33s.
• Eight winners made their debut after April.
• All ten winners had raced at least three times.
• All ten winners ran in a Group race on their preceding start.
• Six winners won their preceding start, nine finished in the first four.
• Three winners were unbeaten.
• Five winners had won a race at Group Two or above and all bar one of the exceptions had been placed at Group Two or above.

 

The Contenders

The John Gosden-trained two-year-old Too Darn Hot is the market leader and we make him an EVENS money shot here at 888sport.

The brother of Lah Ti Dar and So Mi Dar is impeccably bred and his season has gone from strength to strength, most recently when he claimed his third victory from as many starts by taking the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month with relative ease.

The son of Dubawi is a short favourite to round off an unbeaten juvenile campaign on the Rowley Mile and will more than likely be made the ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas if he does so.

Naturally something will have to give on Saturday afternoon and one of those unbeaten colts will have to blot their copybook.

Well regarded at home, Sir Michael Stoute’s Sangarious looks the most likely candidate choice to give Too Darn Hot a race on Saturday.

The son of Kingman made a successful racecourse debut at Newmarket in August before stepping up to Listed class to win the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster.

Already well fancied next year’s 2000 Guineas, Stoute’s two-year-old should be able to serve it up to the favourite in this small, but competitive field.

Having missed taking up his entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last weekend, it appears that firing on all cylinders is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck.

Anthony Van Dyck, second in the National Stakes to Quorto last time out, looks to be Ballydoyle’s number one in this field and hails from a stable that boasts six previous Dewhurst winners, including the last three.

As always it would be complete folly to rule out any Aidan O’Brien horse in a big race and as well as holding a leading chance with Anthony Van Dyck, he also sends out Mohawk and Christmas.

Mohawk was victorious in the Royal Lodge last time but gives the impression that his distance is at a mile plus and may be a bit tapped for toe in this field.

Christmas is a likeable sort and came third in the National Stakes last time out. However the suspicion is that he will be used to set up the race for Anthony Van Dyck here.

Another horse firmly in the mix is the Martyn Meade-trained Advertise. Since being narrowly beaten by Calyx in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the colt cosily won the July Stakes at Newmarket, then went on to Group One glory in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

With the emphasis being firmly around the two unbeaten colts and the O’Brien runners the Meade horse could quite easily get overlooked in the betting and could be really good value come the off.

Richard Hannon’s Kuwait Currency completes the field. Winner of his last two races at Lingfield and Salisbury, the Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah will significantly have to step up yet another notch to trouble the market leaders here.

 

Conclusion

With there being every chance that the two market principles get themselves involved in a long protracted speed dual up front, it may fall to Martyn Meade’s Advertise to pick up the pieces should they falter.

888sport suggests: Advertise (e/w).

 

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

The world of motorsports is vast and exciting, and like any sport, there are betting markets for those in the know to win some money on.

Whether it’s Formula One, MotoGP, Nascar, rally racing, speedway, or supercars, there are markets for every motorsports fan to delve into and potentially win big.

In this motorsports betting guide, we’re going to be breaking down all the ways in which you can place a wager on the many popular motorsports from around the world.

Whether you want to bet on the outright winner of a race season or some of the intricacies of race day, we’ll show you how to make the most of your motorsports mind.

 

What Can I Bet On In Formula One?

In Formula One betting, there are many outright markets that you can back. The most popular is for the Drivers' Championship outright winner.

This market is won by betting on the racer who will come out on top of the standings at the end of the season. For 2019, the favourite is Lewis Hamilton at 3/4, with Sebastian Vettel just behind at 6/4.

Then, of course, there is the other world championship decided by the final points tallies of the Formula One season: the Constructors’ Championship.

With the car, naturally, having a major impact on the eventual winner of the Drivers’ Championship, it makes sense for fans to be able to be on which constructors will come out on top.

In the Constructors’ Championship Winner odds, Mercedes lead the way in 2019 at 1/4 to Ferrari’s 11/4.

As Formula One is so popular, other outright markets have emerged as popular ways for fans to predict the events of the season.

In the season specials markets, bettors can back which driver will finish higher in the standing out of Charles Leclerc and Kimi Raikkonen, as well as if either of those two will win a race or claim a podium finish before the end of the campaign.

While shooting for the end of season predictions in outright betting is popular, it’s the race day betting that frequent watchers of the sport like to load up on.

 

What Race Day Grand Prix Markets Are Available?

Coming into any race day, fans all over the world begin debating which driver will come out on top. Backing the race day’s GP winner brings up two options. First, the bettor can back a driver simply to win the race, such as Hamilton to win the Russian Grand Prix at EVS.

Or, motorsports punters can give themselves some wiggle room or back a dark horse to make it to the podium by betting on the Grand Prix winner 1-3 odds – which simply means that your selection can finish first, second, or third for you to win at the odds given.

For example, if Max Verstappen lands a first, second, or third-place finish and you backed the 1-3 market, you will get returns of 6/4 on your bet.

Closer to the start of each Grand Prix race day, more markets open up, such as the drivers fastest in practices and qualifying. On race day, you can often find odds for finishing positions and other more intricate betting markets.

 

What Can I Bet On In MotoGP?

Motorcycling’s fan base continues to grow, leading to even more fans wanting to place some bets on the biggest championships and race days.

As for outright betting, it’s not just the MotoGP Championship that motorcycling fans can bet on, as there are also markets for the winner of the Moto2 Championship and Moto3 Championship.

In Moto3, you can bet on which racer will finish in the highest position come the end of the season, with Jorge Martin leading in the odds at 1/6.

In Moto2 and MotoGP, you can also back which of the selected riders will have the best finishing division, with Andrea Dovizioso leading the odds at 2/5 to Jorge Lorenzo’s 7/4 in the MotoGP Championship 2018 Winner markets.

If you’d rather take the season one race at a time, there is also the option to be on the individual Grand Prix.

 

What Race Day Markets Are There For MotoGP?

If you have a hunch for the winner of the next MotoGP Championship Grand Prix, then get into the individual race markets. Here, you’ll be able to find the long list of riders vying to win the race, which can often produce some titillating odds.

Take the Aragon GP as an example; despite Dovizioso being ahead of Lorenzo in the MotoGP Championship 2018 Winner odds, he sits behind his foe at 7/2 to Lorenzo's 2/1 to win the Grand Prix at hand.

 

What Can I Bet On In NASCAR?

With such a competitive field of drivers and cars in Nascar, the outright winner market has become very popular with patrons of the sport.

By entering the Winner (Monster Energy Nascar Cup Championship 2018) market, you can back the driver who you think will come out on top when the season finishes.

With favourites Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, and Martin Truex Jr at 5/2, 3/1, 17/4 and 17/4 respectively, someone with the inside scoop could certainly capitalise on the long odds offered.

If it’s the upcoming race that’s got you pumped up and wanting to back a winner, then turn your attention to the individual race day markets.

 

What Race Day Markets Are There For NASCAR?

Much like in Formula One betting, fans of Nascar can bet to call the winner of the bet as well as drivers who they think will come in the top three.

On each Race page across the Nascar season, bettors will see two columns, one headed ‘Winner’ and the other headed ‘(1-3)’. If you feel strongly about a driver finishing first, you can take the greater odds for them to win the race.

However, as anything can happen on race day, sometimes it’s smarter to take the odds in the 1-3 markets as insurance.

As shown in the odds for the Federated Auto Parts 400, Kevin Harvick was the second-favourite at 4/1 to win the race, but also had nice odds of 3/4 just to finish 1-3.

 

What Can I Bet On In Rally Racing?

When it comes to rally racing, the eyes of fans is captured by the motorsport’s premier event, the World Rally Championship. So, to enhance the thrills of the season, fans turn to the outright market to back the eventual winner of the 2018 World Rally Championship.

This season, the WRC 2018 seems to have swung in favour of Thierry Neuville with his odds of 17/20 to win it all. But, that’s not to say that Ott Tanak isn’t in with a chance at 2/1.

 

What Can I Bet On In Speedway Racing?

Not to be confused with a single race, the Speedway Grand Prix 2018 is the much-loved season of speedway racing. You can find markets for all of the potential winners of this year’s season with Tai Woffinden set as the near shoo-in to claim the title at 2/5.

But, you can also get a head start and take advantage of the early odds for the 2019 Speedway Grand Prix season. As it stands, you can get Janusz Kolodziej to finish above Antonio Lindback and Niels Kristian Iversen at the conclusion of next year’s season.

Not to be forgotten, you can also find odds on the winner of the coveted Sweden Elitserien 2018 speedway season. Including the results of the playoffs, you could find team Eskilstuna Smederna at 17/20 to come out on top over the 9/10 rated Dackarna.

Furthermore, speedway racing fans can also add another dose of excitement to watching the upcoming stars of the sport compete in the U21 World Championship and betting on the winner.

The 2018 Championship has a clear favourite in the odds, with Maksym Drabik at 1/7. As is the case with most motorsports and their betting markets, you can also place your bets on individual race markets.

 

What Race Day Grand Prix Markets Are Available For Speedway?

Races within the Speedway Grand Prix season get their own Grand Prix market for fans to test their knowledge with.

Given how competitive the races are, there are some very good odds to take advantage of here. For the German GP, both Jason Doyle and Bartosz Zmarzlik stood as the favourites at lengthy odds of 5/1.

 

What Can I Bet On In Supercars?

Down under, one of the most popular motorsports is supercars, with the Supercars Championship standing as the premier Australian touring car competition.

Fans in Australia and all over the world flood the betting markets for the Drivers’ Championship winner of Supercars 2018, with Shane van Gisbergen standing as the consensus 1/2 favourite this season.

Also in the sport of supercars, bettors can wager on the duo who they think will come out on top in the Enduro Cup – the endurance competition of supercars.

The duo of Van Gisbergen and Bamber are in the running at 7/4 to win the Enduro Cup in 2018, with Whincup and Dumbrell leading the odds at 5/4.

The Enduro Cup also yields individual race markets for fans to back and follow over the course of the tournament.

 

What Race Day Markets Are There For Supercars?

As it is with the other calendar-circling race days of Formula One and Nascar, the race days of the Enduro Cup in supercars get two lots of winner markets.

First is the outright winner, often at fairly long odds, as well as the to finish 1-3 odds. These odds are shorter but, as seen in the Bathurst 1000 markets, even the favoured Whincup and Dumbrell are at 17/20 to land a top three final placing.

 

So Much Motorsport Action To Bet On

As you can see, all of the most popular motorsports and the biggest events within boast markets for outright winners of the tournaments.

Many sports cater for fans who wish to back race winners and even just racers to finish on the podium on each race day.

 

Learn About Other Sports To Bet On

• Horse Racing Betting Guide
• Betting Terms Explained – Types of Bet
• Betting Odds Explained

 

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

The call for an end to meaningless international friendlies for European nations was parroted for many years, before UEFA finally paid attention and created the Nations League.

Those involved in football have long believed that international exhibition matches are near-useless exercises that taught coaches little and left fans feeling short-changed.

Friendly match-ups between England and Spain or France and Germany may look great on paper, but in reality, they provide little in the way of a spectacle, with nothing riding on the game and players more interested in getting back to their clubs in one piece.

Fewer Meaningless Friendlies

The problem with friendly matches stems from the fact that few conclusions can be drawn from the performances and they do not help teams to prepare adequately for upcoming competitive fixtures.

A national team only gets a short time together so spending it preparing to face a weakened German or Spanish side when their next competitive match is against Sweden or Italy can feel like a waste of time.

It also limits the time the team can spend working on new formations and tactical exercises on the training pitch.

The international break is SO boring... ?

Bring back proper football, right #BCFC fans? ?

— 888sport (@888sport) October 10, 2018

With such limited time to spend with their squads, most coaches would prefer to spend it in a training camp where they can work on specifics ahead of a tournament, or at least play a competitive match where there is something at stake.

Back in the late 1990s, former Manchester United youth team coach Eric Harrison suggested ditching friendlies for dedicated training camps, but the idea was seen as too radical at the time.

Creating a Nations League offers a better all-around solution as it still keeps fans engaged with the team between major tournaments, while giving sides a taste of competitive action.

 

More Competition For Nations At ALL Levels

The initial Nations League matches might still feel like friendlies as teams adjust to the idea of competitive international breaks. But by attaching extra significance to games that would otherwise be seen as damp squibs, that should change over time.

Most regional bodies are in agreement that the new system will provide improved sporting competition; the overall aim being to improve the quality of international football and raise the standard of lower-ranked teams.

The tournament also fills the summer void between major tournaments by allowing the top teams to compete in the UEFA Nations League Finals, with a top-level trophy at stake.

For middle and lower-ranked teams, the UEFA Nations League offers an alternative qualification route to the European Championships, with the bottom 16 guaranteed a slot in the 24-team quadrennial event.

The consultation process for the league began at a strategy meeting in Cyprus back in 2011, with the final format agreed at a conference in Astana three years later.

The only people that might still have a problem with the new system are club managers, who now face a situation where their players will be involved in competitive encounters during international breaks.

This could increase the risk of injury and affect a player’s fitness at club level. However, most top-level coaches accept that the current system is not working.

 

Will The Importance Of International Competition Be Diluted?

With the expansion of the European Championships (or Euros), more lower-ranked teams will get the chance to feature at the showpiece event. And the structure of the Nations League means those teams will play more matches against rivals of a similar level.

This balance provides a better competitive environment for those teams and should help them develop beyond their historic levels.

Previously, such teams would have been drawn in matches they had little or no chance of winning, or even drawing. Little is learnt from these games and zero progress is made.

Now, those teams will have a genuine chance to win games. This gives them more freedom to experiment tactically and take a positive approach to fixtures. This can boost confidence as well as technical ability.

As lowered-ranked teams improve, the overall standard of international football should be raised.

Hit ❤️ if you still have no clue what the UEFA Nations League is or how it works... pic.twitter.com/BS9GcqhBmW

— 888sport (@888sport) September 6, 2018

The benefits were clear in the opening round of matches, as Armenia and Lichtenstein both recorded wins, lowly Andorra secured a rare draw in their game against Kazakhstan, newly inducted Kosovo grabbed a win and a draw from their first two games, and Malta picked up a point against Azerbaijan.

What’s more, the new tournament works alongside existing competitions, so it is unlikely to dilute the importance of the traditional events.

The European Championships and World Cup will still be seen as the more prestigious events, while the Nations League will offer an additional chance of silverware.

Everyone involved benefits from having a fixed schedule and coaches and players will now have a positive target to focus on during international breaks.

The league will also act as a bridge between the main events, maintaining the competitive interest while also generating greater income through solidarity and bonus fees.

 

Has It Been Tried Before?

Since 1996, the Oceania Football Confederation has organised the OFC Nations Cup. Initially a biannual event, it is now held every four years and since 2010, has formed part of the World Cup qualifying campaign for the region.

However, the lack of competitive nations means top sides must still play friendly matches in order to test themselves against top-level opposition.

Because of the different structure and the smaller numbers of teams involved, it is hard to use the OFC Nations Cup as an indicator of how successful the UEFA Nations League might be.

 

Are Other Federations Doing The Same?

In 2017, the member associations of CONCACAF, which covers North, Central America and the Caribbean Islands established the CONCACAF Nations League.

This 40-nation tournament is similar in structure to the Nations League. The league will also give teams a chance to qualify for CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The fact that other Federations are following suit suggests that this will be the standard approach going forward.

 

Is This The End For Friendly Matches?

With some of the top teams drawn in groups of three and the fixtures spread out over ten months, there will still be room for the odd friendly game.

Coaches will be able to use these games to test their players against teams from other continents or to prepare for upcoming Nations League fixtures.

However, friendlies will no longer be seen as central to the formation and development of the national team and no one will expect much from these matches.

And with the next competitive match never too far away, international breaks will no longer feel like such an intrusion upon the domestic campaign.

 

A Boost For National Team Coaches

For national team coaches, having extra competitive matches will give them more opportunities to make their mark on the team.

They will play against full-strength opposition of roughly the same level and can implement formations and tactical plans in the same way they would for a tournament game.

This means that the whole philosophy and identity of the national team can be established between major competitions so they arrive at the top events in the best shape.

Sometimes, the start of a new season just doesn’t go to plan.

Here, 888sport looks at some of the worst starts to a football season ever seen across the European continent.

Serie A: Napoli (1997/98)

Nothing much was expected in 1997/98 of what was then a consistently mid-table Napoli side, and one far from the Serie A outright frontrunner it is today. A 2-0 defeat to Lazio, followed by a home win over Empoli seemed par for the course.

The first real signs of trouble began on 20 September 1997, when Napoli were held to a disappointing draw at Vicenza. Then came a run that only the worst nightmares of a Napoli fan could generate.

The Neapolitans took precisely three points (via three draws) from the next 48 available. Along the way, Napoli lost by margins of three or more goals on six occasions, and failed to win again until 10 February 1998.

89 mins: Napoli 0-0 Liverpool

Full time: Napoli 1-0 Liverpool

Non #LFC fans be like... ? pic.twitter.com/6sHToavDF3

— 888sport (@888sport) October 3, 2018

Unbelievably, it was to be Napoli’s final win of the season, and the team took just four points from the next 45, for a paltry grand total of 14.

The more seasoned players in the squad had lost a yard of pace over the summer of 1997, and that proved to be the difference between the 13th place attained in 1996/97, and the horrors of the following campaign.

Also of severe detriment to Napoli’s team spirit was the continual change of coaching staff. No fewer than four different head coaches took to the helm, but none proved capable of doing the impossible.

 

Ligue 1: Grenoble (2009/10)

While the last two Ligue 1 seasons (2017/18 and 2018/19) have each seen a team draw a blank from the first five rounds of action, those teams in question look like PSG with cybernetic enhancements compared to the Grenoble team of 2009/10.

The club’s venture into greatness was conceived back in 2004, when it was taken over by Index Holdings. The funds of the owners enabled the construction of a new ground, which opened in 2008, and the rebuild of the playing squad.

It was a venture that worked, with promotion to Ligue 1 sealed at the end of 2007/08.

The team held its own in the top flight, finishing 13th. Under the surface, however, financial difficulties were brewing, thanks in no small part to the global recession that shadowed the world at that time.

Thus, with players eying greener pastures, the rapid decline of the club began.

Grenoble Foot 38, as they are now known, remain the only Ligue 1 side in history to lose the first 12 games of a season, after doing so in the autumn of 2009/10.

Frustratingly, perhaps, the only real thrashing they took in that sequence was a 4-0 drubbing at home to Stade Rennais. In most other cases, their defeats were settled by a single goal, indicating that only a slight upping of efforts would reverse the rot.

Naturally, the idea of Grenoble doing so was laughable. They were as good as gone by Christmas, but still managed to scrape five wins and 23 points.

Just two years later, in 2011, the club was liquidated and plunged into the fifth tier of French football under its current name.

 

Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund (2014/15)

This was nowhere near the actual worst start of a Bundesliga season. That accolade belongs to the Saarbrucken team of 1963/64, but by the standards expected of Borussia Dortmund, the start of 2014/15 was nothing short of terrifying.

Under the management of Jurgen Klopp, Borussia Dortmund once again stood as equals to their main rivals Bayern Munich. Klopp’s class first shone through in typically emphatic fashion, as Dortmund won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

He also guided them through to the Champions League final in 2013, and with his squad approaching 2014/15 on the back of successive second-place finishes, hopes were high that the Bundesliga shield would return to the Signal Iduna Park.

It all began innocuously enough, with two wins in the first three rounds of the Bundesliga. However, there then followed a run of just one point from the next twenty-one available, and Dortmund plummeted like Lucifer from heaven.

79th minute - Dortmund 1-2 Augsburg

84th minute - Dortmund 3-2 Augsburg

87th minute - Dortmund 3-3 Augsburg

95th minute - Dortmund 4-3

Remarkable. pic.twitter.com/RQ61mBHvok

— 888sport (@888sport) October 6, 2018

A 2-1 defeat at Bayern Munich on November 1st 2014 saw them sink into the relegation zone.

A run of just two more wins until February 4th saw Dortmund flit in and out of the drop zone. Naturally, rumours were rife that the man who had put the club back on the map was about to be sacked.

In England, that would have long since been the case, but the Dortmund faithful continued to back him, and it worked.

Between early February and late March 2015, the team’s form surged.

Their superior fitness relative to the rest of the league began to pay dividends, and Klopp’s men took 17 points from 21 to survive relegation comfortably, and set a route to a respectable seventh-place finish.

 

La Liga: Grenada (2016/17)

Up until their relegation from La Liga in 2017, Granada were one of the more unassuming sides in the league. In the early 2010s, the club had scored back-to-back 17th-place finishes, having always done just the bare minimum required to survive.

Finishes improved thereafter, and a 12th-place finish in 2016 was seen by some as an indication that the club was all set to make a real assault on the top half of, perhaps, the second-most competitive league in the continent.

It was not to be, and the need to sign an extraordinary number of players on loan proved disastrous. The Granada squad of 2016/17 was – quite literally – a bunch of strangers that had never met.

They certainly played like it too, though the first matchday brought a respectable 1-1 draw at home Villarreal. Beyond that, however, the season soon descended into farce.

A series of chastening defeats, most notably a 7-1 thumping away to Atletico Madrid, gave Granada a return of just four points from the next 42 available after their respectable opening-day result.

The first match of December brought a maiden victory of the season, but the rejuvenating effect was short-lived.

Three home wins in February were the last throws of Granada’s hopeless case, and a return of just one point from the final thirty-nine available sealed the club’s fate.

 

Premier League: Crystal Palace (2017/18)

There are many contenders from the Premier League. However, in terms of raw numbers, the mantle of ‘worst-ever’ start to a Premier League season belongs to the Crystal Palace side of 2017/18.

Frank de Boer’s appointment as Crystal Palace manager in the summer of 2017 raised many an eyebrow.

The idea of a revolutionary brand of total football, after a myriad of turgid performances from his Palace predecessors, was hugely welcome.

Four defeats and zero goals later, the Dutchman was drummed unceremoniously out of the Selhurst Park gates forever.

Jose isn't a massive fan of Frank 'worst manager in Premier League history' de Boer ?? pic.twitter.com/OqRa4EGiHD

— 888sport (@888sport) March 12, 2018

His successor, Roy Hodgson, inherited a difficult start to life as Palace manager, and by October, his team’s record was played seven, lost seven, scored zero.

Then, in mid-October, Palace stunned the reigning champions Chelsea 2-1 at Selhurst Park, thanks to a goal after a great solo run from Wilfred Zaha.

Although an amazing result, Palace would not really kick into gear until December, with back-to-back wins before Christmas edging them gradually further away from danger.

Finishing 11th after such a dismal start was nothing short of a miracle for Hodgson’s men, and it is a tale that gives hope to any team seemingly bereft of it.

 

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