This Saturday sees the eighth staging of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot racecourse and it will once again break all records as the most valuable day's racing in the history of the sport in Britain.

As the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, this raceday features the end-of-season championship races for five racing divisions.

Here at 888sport we will concentrate on the two major races that have attracted the most betting turnover and the biggest interest globally.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Roaring Lion has kept on improving throughout the campaign, establishing himself as the leading colt of his generation with fine performances in the second half of the season.

During the year, he completed a hat-trick of Group One wins in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, the Juddmonte International at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

His trainer, John Gosden, had the option of either running him in this or in the Champion Stakes and the connections opted for this race.

Whether the conditions underfoot are going to blot his copybook remains to be seen but he certainly won’t lack for fitness and resolve.

The French-raider Recoletos ran well in the Champion Stakes last year on the same type of he will encounter this Saturday when fourth to Cracksman.

His Royal Ascot performance can be forgiven in the Queen Anne over this course and distance, and he comes into this off the back of a good win in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

Lord Glitters can handle a variety of ground types but appears to excel himself when conditions are soft.

David O’Meara’s grey was a popular winner of the Balmoral Handicap on this card 12 months ago and this has likely been the long term plan for the five-year-old for some time with conditions right up his street.

The Karl Burke-trained Laurens takes on the boys for the first time, but that should hold no fears for her and she still looks to be progressing.

She has landed four Group One contests this season and she looked like she could win a few more when taking the Sun Chariot at Newmarket earlier this month.

William Haggas’ Addeybb was a real stamp of a horse on a soft surface at the start of the season and his run in the Lockinge on fast ground can be forgiven. Since then Haggas has given the Pivotal gelding the summer off to recover.

Unfortunately his comeback plans have been scuppered twice now because of a quick surface. He was pulled out of the Irish Champion Stakes on the day of the race and he was also removed on the day from the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Ready for the track for almost six weeks now, and choosing this race over the Champion Stakes, the match fit four-year-old could quite easily run a few of these into submission.

888sport selection: Addeybb (e/w).

Champion Stakes

In what will be his final race before being retired to stud, Cracksman is the clear favourite to go out on a high on his favoured ground.

Cracksman was the clear cut winner of last year’s Champion Stakes, but comes into Saturday’s feature with something to prove having not been seen in public since his surprise defeat in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes back in June.

That defeat was attributed to the rattling fast ground that was experienced over the summer, so when the Clerk Of The Course predicted soft ground for Champions Day, the money piled in for Cracksman who will wear blinkers for the first time on Saturday.

All these quirks of fate will be music to the ears of the Cracksman team given that the son of Frankel has had to sit out the King George (July), International (August) and the Arc (October) all because of unsuitable ground.

Unbelievably, Sir Michael Stoute has never trained a winner on British Champions Day, but he will be hoping to rectify that with Crystal Ocean.

The four-year-old son of Sea The Stars won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot before being touched off by his stablemate Poet's Word, in a rousing finish to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

On his latest start he had to concede 8lb to Enable in the September Stakes at Kempton and valiantly came off second best.

Last year’s Irish Derby and St Leger winner Capri has had a mixed bag of a season but showed some encouragement with a close fifth behind Enable in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

A greater stamina test will be ideal for Capri and Aidan O’Brien is happy that the predicted rain has arrived just in time for the grey.

Monarchs Glen came back better than ever after 12 weeks off when winning the listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot by a length from Euginio, putting the race to bed quickly in the final furlong.

He has not been seen on the track since but that form has been franked and he could easily come into the reckoning at a nice price.

888sport selection: Capri (e/w).

 

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

Although more than a year has passed since the much-hyped bout between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, one question remains constant: can UFC ever match boxing in the long term?

In order to gauge this, McGregor’s key financial stats will be compared to Deontay Wilder’s.

Although Wilder (as of August 2018) holds only one heavyweight belt to Anthony Joshua’s three, his greater fight experience, and status as an American, gives a clearer view of how UFC athletes compare with their boxing counterparts.

The rate of the development of female athletes in the UFC franchise is also rising at a considerable pace, and thus, the question of just how marketable female MMA fighters could become is also raised.

There can be no doubt that Conor McGregor’s bout with Floyd Mayweather boosted his net worth above and beyond some of the finest boxers on the planet. Thus, in the interests of fair comparison, only his financial earnings from UFC fights will be taken into account.

It is also worth remembering that Wilder has opted to shun the sort of large sponsorship deals that have been the financial making of McGregor, and Cris Cyborg, who is arguably the female ‘face’ of the UFC franchise.

Without sponsorship and endorsements, McGregor would still lag behind Wilder, but the rate at which his marketability rose before fighting Mayweather in August 2017 provides a massive clue that the most charismatic UFC fighters are closing the gap on boxers in terms of the rate at which they accumulate personal wealth:

Although Cris Cyborg’s fight earnings continue to undulate around the $500k mark, and do not rise in the same uniform fashion as fellow martial artist McGregor, there is every indication that her average will rise over the next couple of years. Her recent sponsorship deal with Reebok has also grown in value.

Perhaps the most intriguing observation is that, although ratings are approximate and always subject to manipulation, Conor McGregor’s last UFC bout is said to have outperformed Wilder’s battle with Luiz Ortiz.

The tagline is, of course, a major part of a PPV fulfilling its expected buyrates, and there is the additional question of what storyline the audience wants.

For McGregor v Alvarez, it was a story of a comeback fight, and establishment as a multiple belt holder.

Meanwhile, Wilder’s own agenda was simply to go 40-0, and get within ten victories of the all-time record. In the short term, McGregor’s backstory is arguably more marketable.

This is especially true, given that Wilder hitting 50-0 is a long shot, and one for the more distant future, in any case.

Ultimately, rather than it being a case of UFC slowly eclipsing boxing through natural order, the PPV buys are created by shrewd marketing and the presence of a true ‘face’ to go with a storyline.

A lot has been made about the increasing cost of Premier League match tickets over the last decade or so, let alone how much they cost before each increase.

So, through analysing attendances at top-flight games in the biggest leagues in Europe, we’re going to see if the ticket pricing has had an impact on attendance numbers at the biggest clubs across the continent.

Bundesliga

Germany’s top division boasts the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and the newly emerged team from the east, RB Leipzig.

The Bundesliga regularly averages better attendance at league games than the Premier League or any other of Europe’s elite divisions.

As of 2016, they boast only the third most expensive average ticket price, perhaps lending to their immense and increasing attendance numbers.

La Liga

Some people see La Liga as the best league in Europe because of two reasons: Barcelona and Real Madrid.

These two football powerhouses have been able to flex their financial muscles in the transfer market every year to the extent that even Premier League clubs must bow before them.

However, these two global brands have been draining the rest of the league of television rights revenue for years – to the extent that they’d combine for a third of the total profits from broadcasting services.

This will have influenced La Liga’s standing as the second-highest in average ticket price at £31.40. The disparity between the clubs may have also influenced the dive in attendance numbers.

Serie A

Over the first eight years of attendance numbers taken in this analysis, Serie A experienced a nose dive in attendance numbers.

But, over the last couple of seasons, those numbers have nearly recovered, likely helped by the low average cost per ticket.

Ligue 1

Like Serie A, but nowhere near as extreme, Ligue 1 suffered a downward turn in attendances through the 2008 to 2016 seasons.

However, over the last two seasons, those numbers have rocketed.

Of England, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Italy, Scotland, Belgium, and France, Ligue 1 boasts the lowest average price per league game at £17.40.

Premier League

As you can see, Premier League match tickets are, by far and away, the most expensive on average at £44.50. Despite this, the Premier League has experienced a lot of growth in its attendance numbers.

From an average of 35,630 in attendance at each game in 2008, there’s now an average of 38,297 attending each game as of the 2017/18 campaign.

The Premier League boasts the greatest increase in average attendance over the last decade at 7.49%.

So, perhaps the revelry of the occasion, the huge sums of money spent by almost every Premier League club, and the football culture in the UK overrules the negative of lofty ticket prices.

Attendances aren’t as high as he average of 44,646 in the Bundesliga, but those in the Premier League are growing at a faster rate in spite of what many deem to be overpriced tickets. 

To celebrate Europe's showpiece club competition making a return, now seems as good a time as any to take a look back and muse over the finest individual Champions League performances.

There isn’t a tournament like the Champions League and its presence on a school night gives football fans the chance to witness Europe's best inspire and thrill whilst all the pressing commitments of a working week are put on hold.

Indeed, the Champions League seems to offer hope to football fans in the northern hemisphere as it arrives at a time when the summer begins to make way.

A Lionel Messi hat-trick and a Tottenham Hotspur collapse. 

What a way to kickstart the 2018/19 Champions League campaign!#UCL pic.twitter.com/gqjd4BsMT5

— 888sport (@888sport) September 18, 2018

It is during those weeks that the nights begin to draw in that the Champions League starts to breathe life into the continent of Europe.

So often, the exhilarating Champions League fixtures that bring living rooms to a standstill and stadiums to their feet are down to one individual deciding to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

These are the six most memorable individual performances that have shone brightest in the modern era.

 

Frank Lampard (CHELSEA vs Liverpool, 2008)

Six days before the second leg of the all-English semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool took place at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard was to suffer a tragic family bereavement as his mother Pat passed away after a battle with pneumonia.

There were doubts as to whether Lampard would even play, but Chelsea boss Avram Grant made the brave decision to pick the midfielder after he declared himself available to play.

The first leg at Anfield finished 1-1, with the Blues looking on-course to reach their first ever Champions League final. When Didier Drogba opened the scoring on 33 minutes in the reverse fixture, Chelsea fans could be forgiven for looking at the price of flights to Moscow.

However, a cracking sliding finish from Torres on 64 minutes after being sent through by Benayoun was enough to send the game to extra time.

The Heavens Opened

All this time, Frank Lampard had been pulling the strings in midfield and creating chances. Every shot Lampard took was on target and with every touch, he seemed to break away into space and make something happen.

It was in the driving rain in South West London that Sami Hyypia fouled Michael Ballack and Chelsea were awarded a 98th-minute penalty.

Lampard stepped up and slotted home the spot-kick in a moment that must have taken an enormous amount of courage given the traumatic week he had endured.

Thanks to ‘Super Frankie Lampard’, Chelsea would reach their maiden Champions League final.

 

Ronaldo (Manchester United vs REAL MADRID, 2003)

After Manchester United had gone down 3-1 in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, there was a desperate need for a big European night under the lights at Old Trafford in order to progress.

It almost seemed inevitable that this would be the case and you have to remember that this wasn't the Manchester United of 2018 -far from it, under Sir Alex Ferguson the impossible became possible on a weekly basis.

When the Red Devils welcomed Real Madrid to Old Trafford on the 23rd of April 2003, there was an expectant feel in the stadium as the players warmed up, which was backed up by an electric vibe in the city during the days that preceded the tie.

Needless to say, there was a clamour for tickets with fans not wanting to miss out on being there to witness one of the great comebacks in Manchester United's history.

As Pierluigi Collina got the game underway, a roar rang out from the Stretford End but it was to be short-lived as Ronaldo ran through on goal on 12 minutes and slid a controlled finish past Fabian Barthez on the Frenchman's inside post.

To the naked eye, it looked like the World Cup-winning goalkeeper should have done better but the replay confirmed it was just one of many thunderous strikes from the boot of Ronaldo that was never staying out the net.

Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed an equalizer on 43 minutes but, before the Old Trafford faithful could blink, Ronaldo had collected a perfectly weighted pass from Roberto Carlos and tapped his finish into an empty net to make it 2-1.

Another blow Ferguson's Manchester United never saw coming and there was a worrying feeling that Ronaldo wasn't finished yet. In true Manchester United fashion, they immediately equalized on 52 minutes and it was game on again.

Ronaldo Brings Old Trafford To Its Feet

However, the knockout blow that sent Manchester United's chances of Champions League glory to the canvas came in the 59th minute.

It was that man again; Ronaldo picked up a ball from Luis Figo on the halfway line and, as the Brazilian turned to run on goal, everyone at Old Trafford shifted nervously in their seats.

Ronaldo let fly from 25 yards and a flailing Barthez couldn't get near it as it rippled the back of the net to an eerie silence.

With three effortless goals, Ronaldo had single-handedly denied Manchester United a chance at a memorable comeback, despite two late strikes by David Beckham to leave the aggregate at 6-5 in Madrid's favour.

On 67 minutes, the fourth official raised the board with Ronaldo’s number on it and, as the Brazilian made his way off the park, everyone at Old Trafford rose to applaud him off in a spine-tingling show of wonderful sportsmanship.

 

Lionel Messi (BARCELONA vs Arsenal, 2010)

A list of the most memorable Champions League performances over the last 20 years wouldn’t be complete without the name of the world’s finest player on it.

In fairness, you could dedicate an entire piece to Lionel Messi’s exploits in Europe. On this occasion, a trip back to the Nou Camp in 2010, when Barcelona were facing Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, is a good place to start.

Arsenal had managed to secure a 2-2 draw against Barcelona at the Emirates in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and despite having conceded two goals at home, there was a feeling that the first leg had been a good night’s work in north London.

It was to get even better with 18 minutes on the clock at the Nou Camp as Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring to the shock of the watching world.

Viewers around the globe rubbed their eyes and adjusted their TV sets but it was in fact not a technical glitch, Nicklas Bendtner was indeed wheeling away to celebrate a goal against Barcelona.

Messi Shoots Down The Gunners

They say a week can be an eternity in football; it’s even said 24 hours can be a long time in football if it's transfer deadline day.

Well, it’s very seldom said that 22 minutes is a long time in football but, for Arsenal, it was, as Lionel Messi scored a 22-minute hat-trick following Bendtner's opener.

It was a typical Messi hat-trick that comprised a tight finish, pinpoint accuracy from 25 yards and a deft dink that left the goalkeeper and defenders lying helplessly on the floor.

It was carnage and it felt like a hurricane had demolished the Arsenal backline. The little magician wasn’t finished either and added a fourth for good measure in the second half as Barcelona ran out 4-1 winners on the night and 6-3 winners in the tie.

Simply breathtaking from the diminutive Argentine on a night where it would have been easier for the Arsenal players to mark thin air

 

Roy Keane (Juventus vs MANCHESTER UNITED, 1999)

Controversy seems to have dogged Roy Keane’s career. Even since hanging up his boots, confrontation never seems far away; the bearded Irishman's latest bust-up with Harry Arter illustrates yet again what a fiery character he is.

It’s been a horrendous few weeks for the Irish national team and at 8/1 to win their UEFA Nations League group, their chances of Euro 2020 qualification look remote at best. Many have pinpointed Keane as the man that has brought disharmony to the camp.

Keane’s most recent altercation with a player he is managing has sparked a massive debate, with questions asked as to why the 47-year-old is so confrontational.

Right then - the BIG question of the day... 

Who wins in a no-holds barred street fight, Roy Keane or Slaven Bilic? 

RT - Roy Keane 
❤️ - Slaven Bilic#BRASUI pic.twitter.com/yPkppO2wuJ

— 888sport (@888sport) June 17, 2018

A range of answers have been forthcoming, but perhaps a look back at a night in Turin during April 1999 may go some way in understanding Roy Keane's uncompromising approach.

1999 was a year never to be forgotten for Manchester United after they won the treble, but how different it could have been but for a selfless performance from Roy Keane in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

Following on from a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, Ferguson’s men needed a result in the away leg and that looked far from likely, especially after Filippo Inzaghi converted two close-range finishes to give Juventus a 2-0 lead after 11 minutes.

Captain In The Cauldron

It really was an utterly desperate situation for Manchester United and the body language of the players suggested their dream of completing the treble had died after 11 minutes of madness.

Just 13 minutes later, though, David Beckham swung in a corner and first to the near post was Roy Keane, who jumped highest to send a glancing header into the back of the net.

It was a moment that galvanized his troops and by 34 minutes, Manchester United had levelled it up thanks to a diving Dwight Yorke header.

Just after Keane scored, he went in hard on Zinedine Zidane as the Frenchman tried to break away and was shown a yellow card, which would rule him out the final.

Keane, with his head to the ground, pulled up his captain's armband and defiantly marched on with his back to the referee.

Over the next 70 minutes, Keane would give everything he had in midfield to ensure his teammates got to the final and it proved to be enough.

If ever you need to understand why Roy Keane is so relentless in his desire to see players go above and beyond, you only have to look back to that fateful Champions League night in Turin to understand why.

 

Gareth Bale (Inter Milan vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, 2010)

The Champions League has a way of introducing the next generation of world beaters and it was fitting that in 2010 and in one of the cathedrals of European football, a Welsh star was born.

If you had asked anyone in the San Siro at halftime whether anyone from Tottenham Hotspur would cover themselves in glory that night, you would have been met with a resounding no as Inter Milan had raced to a 4-0 lead inside 45 minutes.

It was turning into a catastrophic night for Spurs and to make matters worse, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has been sent off in the eighth minute after a wild lunge on Jonathan Biabiany inside the box.

It was another inexplicable moment for Gomes in a career for Spurs that was blighted by regular howlers.

Needless to say, Spurs were reeling at halftime and weren’t so much on the ropes as they were on the stretcher being carried from the ring.

They had been well and truly beaten up and a second-half mauling looked the only logical outcome. Step up 21-year old Gareth Bale.

Hat-Trick Hero

Over the next 45 minutes, Gareth Bale would wrestle the tie back by relentlessly running and shooting at the Inter defence.

This gangly young man threw off the chains and with nothing to lose, he found the bravery within needed to become one of the world's best players.

The Welshman scored a sensational hat-trick with three almost-identical goals as Spurs eventually lost 4-3; however, they would win the return leg 3-1 after Bale stole the show again at White Hart Lane.

Bale's tag as one of the world's finest players has only continued to gain credence since that coming of age night in the San Siro. In many ways, the Welshman’s career at Real Madrid could just be about to kick off, with Ronaldo having moved to Juventus.

With Bale standing at 7/1 to be the top goalscorer in La Liga, you can be sure Lionel Messi won’t be gifted the Golden Boot this season, even if his archenemy has gone.

 

Steven Gerrard (AC Milan vs LIVERPOOL, 2005)

The Miracle of Istanbul would never have been possible if it wasn’t for one Steven George Gerrard MBE. Gerrard’s performance in Istanbul during the 2005 Champions League final will live long in the memories of the neutrals and forever in those of Liverpool fans.

It was a night that changed Gerrard’s life forever and may well be the reason Rangers came knocking on his door when they asked him to be the one to stop years of Celtic dominance.

At odds of 1/6, Celtic look nailed on win the SPL again but Rangers will be hoping Gerrard's legendary man-management will help them reach the big time again. 

The Istanbul Miracle really is one of football's greatest tales and considering how high a mountain Liverpool had to climb, it may possibly be the best sporting comeback of all time.

When Paolo Maldini opened the scoring after less than a minute had passed, there was a collective groan on Merseyside. Even with 89 minutes left to go, an AC Milan win looked written in the stars.

More quick interchanges were to follow as this phenomenal Milan side cut through Liverpool at will to reach halftime at 3-0 up after Hernan Crespo added two more goals.

The Reds trudged off after being completely outplayed and the players gathered in a shell-shocked dressing room. It was then that Steven Gerrard asked the coaching staff to leave as he wanted to have a word with his players.

Leader Of Men

Djibril Cisse said that Gerrard's speech will live with him forever, with the Liverpool captain telling his colleagues that he didn’t want to see his boyhood club being humiliated like this.

Gerrard went on to say that if Liverpool scored the first goal in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, they would win.

You can almost say Gerrard’s impact on the game started in the dressing room and his words of motivation were quickly backed up when he met a John Arne Riise cross to make it 3-1 on 54 minutes.

It was an iconic moment: if you watch the game back now, as Risse crosses the ball, Gerrard can be seen pulling his captain's armband up before rising up to set Liverpool on a course with destiny.

Who can forget Clive Tyldesley's reaction to the goal – "Hello, hello, here we go!" – as Gerrard wheeled away to the Liverpool fans and gestured in wild movements for them to keep believing.

His goal would start a six-minute revival that football had never seen before; by the 60th minute, the Reds were all square again. Liverpool would go onto to win the game in a penalty shootout and lift their first Champions League title for 21 years.

Out of all the memorable Champions League performances the world has been treated to, Gerrard’s has to be the greatest, given the stage and the size of the task at hand. Even today, it is a game that raises the hairs on your neck when reflected on.

 

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

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*