The international break has come to an end and club football is back.
The Nations League has improved these fortnights without the Premier League but watching semi-competitive internationals still cannot compete with the buzz of Saturday 3pm kick-offs.
Some managers might just be fighting for their jobs this weekend. This break could be a turning point for some, and a confirmation of what we’ve seen so far for others.
Bournemouth have started the campaign brilliantly. Aside from the bizarre 4-0 defeat to Burnley, the Cherries have performed very well (and even then they were unlucky).
Eddie Howe’s side have a tendency to have bad days, but they are one of the best sides to watch in the league when they are on form.
It’s bleak for Southampton again. Mark Hughes’ side have lost their last three without scoring a goal.
Hughes is one of the favourites to be the first manager to lose his job – Southampton must be close to handing him his P45, despite keeping the club in the Premier League last term.
PREDICTED SCORE: Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton (Priced at 13/1 with 888sport)
Cardiff City vs FULHAM
Cardiff are bottom of the league with two points in eight matches. Neil Warnock’s side were expected to struggle this season and a difficult run of fixtures has made for a particularly poor start.
Home matches like these are crucial if Cardiff are to have any chance of safety come Christmas.
Slavisa Jokanovic is in that group of managers who might be a loss or two from the sack. Fulham have just five points and the league’s worst defensive record.
This is a massive match for both sides and it could be a very tense occasion, despite the fact it’s not even Halloween yet...
TIP: Fulham to win OR draw @ 11/20
PREDICTED SCORE: Cardiff 1-2 Fulham (Priced at 9/1 with 888sport)
WEST HAM UNITED vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
It’s a little surprising that this London derby wasn't selected for the television cameras this weekend.
Tottenham, led by a return to form for Harry Kane, have pulled themselves together after a September dip, while West Ham have begun to resemble a football team after a torrid start to the Premier League season.
Manuel Pellegrini has tinkered with his midfield to build some protection from his defence. It’s his front three, though, that make West Ham a real force.
Marko Arnautovic has picked up where he left off last season and his new teammates, Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko, have hit the ground running.
This should be a good match to watch with plenty of goals. The hosts’ attacking trio are capable of causing Spurs problems, but the visitors will fancy their chances of goals against this West Ham defence.
TIP: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/6
PREDICTED SCORE: West Ham 2-2 Spurs (Priced at 11/1 with 888sport)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS vs Watford
These two teams got out the blocks quickly. Wolves sit just three points short of the top four, while Watford are in the top half despite picking up just one point from their last four matches.
The home side have won four of their last five. Wolves have combined an inventive attack with a very resilient defence.
The newly promoted side are giving up fewer chances than any other non-top-six side.
Watford’s defence was similarly resolute in the first few matches, but they have leaked goals lately, conceding nine in their last four.
Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.
He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.
Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.
Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.
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.
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.
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.
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*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“I think it’s disrespectful at times if you start mentioning other clubs when you’re actually contracted to the club you’re at. If it’s in your mind I’ve got no problem with that but to put it in print I’ve got a problem with that. At a time when a club is under real pressure to have their leading goal-scorer say he’d like to move abroad – if that’s what he has done – is not the ideal scenario."
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.
“A win at Chelsea will send out a big statement because people have been looking at Manchester United as a club that’s in trouble. Chelsea have hit the ground running and Sarri has brought a real attacking style of football to Stamford Bridge. It’s given them a real fast start and if we can win and take some of the steam from that it would send out a statement that the worst of the troubles are behind us and the players are united in a team looking to move forward.”
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.
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.
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.
Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.
He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.
As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.
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.
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.
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*
Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.
He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.
Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?
He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.
