As the English game was reeked with postponements leaving fans and punters with lesser number of matches to add to their slips. Other leagues all around Europe were on full throttle, with seemingly straightforward fixtures that promised possible huge returns on investments.
But in football, nothing is ever guaranteed as most punters found out over the weekend. As the international break was at the corner, it was a perfect opportunity for punters to cash out till the next fortnight when club football returns.
With most big teams having matches that were seemingly straightforward and only PSV vs Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid and to a lesser extent, Lyon vs PSG and AC Milan vs Napoli looking like the most competitive matches of the weekend.
Few would've still bet on any surprises in those matches. But it turned out to be a bleeding weekend as slips were spoilt left, right, centre, leaving many punters reeling. Starting with the Saturday upsets :
BAYERN WOES CONTINUES
Bayern might have failed to win in their last four league matches, but few would've suspected that to continue at Augsburg not to predict them going two steps lower and lose without scoring. The Bavarians failed to score in a match for the first time in 87 games.
The Bavarians had more shots on target, more shots off target, more blocked shots, more possession, more corners, basically more positive stats except goals. Basically no option played out in this match except for home win.
UDINESE HUMBLE INTER
Whatever happened to Inter at Udinese, no one will know. It all started normal, and when Nicolo Barella gave the Nerazzuri the lead in the 5th minute of first half, it felt like just another day at the office. Inter were definitely going to stroll through the match from that point on.
But the home side had other plans along with the otherwise dependable Milan Skriniar, who put through his own net in the 22nd minute to make sure both teams went into the break level. Inter huffed and puffed in the second half to no avail.
The home team eventually exploited the spaces that were being left behind by the away team to score twice in the dying minutes of the match, winning 3-1 at the end. At least options like ov2.5, 12 and 1 all played. But then most must've still gone for the away side to win.
NAPOLI CHIPS AT THE CHAMPS
AC Milan must've been happy after hearing that their neighbors were humbled at Udinese. This was their opportunity to put some daylight in between both teams. But they had a Napoli team who has been impressive so far standing in their way.
Playing at home, they were confident of getting all three points especially after Giroud canceled out Politano's earlier penalty. But it wasn't to be as super sub Simeone came up with the crucial winner to give Napoli a 1-2 win away from home. Popular options like GG played out along with ov2.5, but home win didn't again.
MONZA SINKS JUVE
The depths to which Juventus can fall hasn't yet been realized. The giants were beaten by newcomers Monza by a lone goal with new signing Di Maria getting sent off in the first half. Perhaps if circumstances were different, they might have gotten something out of it. Here no option played except the underdogs winning which I don't suspect many people played.
AJAX LOST
The champions were brought down to earth at AZ Alkmaar even after opening the score through Kudus. The home team scored twice after the 40th minute mark to turn the game around and hold on in the second half to run out winners. Again ov2.5 and GG played out even while the favorites lost out.
CELTIC LOST
The most successful team in Scotland who were in good form in the league were reminded that complacency is not allowed. They were soundly beaten by St Mirren who scored in both halves and defended with their live to run out 2-0 winners. Only ov1.5 and home win played out here.
SPORTING CP AND PORTO FALL SHORT
Another away loss for supposed favourite over the weekend. After leveling things early in the second half after going behind late in the first half, Sporting conceded a penalty late in the game which was duly dispatched for a winner by the home team. GG played as well as ov.2.5.
Porto on the other hand failed to get the better of Estoril. They needed both a red card and a penalty deep into injury time to salvage a point away from home. Ov1.5 and GG, the popular options that played.
Honourable mention to PSG whose match many would've expected to see more goals but ended up with a lone strike. On the positive side, the won for a change. Marseille also failed to win, only managing a draw at home to Rennes.
It was indeed not a particularly good weekend for many punters who must be reeling from their losses this week. They can only hope that their fortunes get better in a fortnight and they can recover all they must've lost last weekend.
All other images are screenshots from Livescore.com
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