Weekend Review: Brilliant Bentancur salvages Spurs as O’Sullivan makes sporting history again

A limited weekend of Premier League action saw results swing the way of the punters as the title race begins to intensify at the start of the second half of the season.

The first big match of the weekend saw Manchester City (7/10) move within touching distance of the summit thanks to a second half cameo from the returning Kevin de Bruyne. City found themselves 2-1 down against Newcastle United (7/2), but the Belgian scored within five minutes being subbed on and then set up Oscar Bobb for the winner in injury time to give the Citizens all three points. 

Chelsea (3/5) returned to winning ways after a disappointing mid-week loss to Middlesbrough in the League Cup, with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the West London derby against Fulham (9/2). Cole Palmer continued his good form with a goal from the spot to notch his ninth of the season so far.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth commented: “Saturday was brutal. Favourites Chelsea may have only won 1-0 but the pain was inflicted by the super-boosted Cole Palmer, who obliged with a shot on target, and then we had Manchester City winning from behind.

“The narrative of Kevin de Bruyne turning the game from off the bench went to the script as the Belgian worked his magic much to the joy of in-play punters. 

“Not only did we have to endure the pain of a 3-2 Manchester City win, we also had an offer of stake £10 pre-game and get £2 in free bets for every goal scored. One word – costly.”

De Bruyne’s cameo has shifted the betting for PFA Player of the Year and top playmaker, as Freeth explained: “De Bruyne may not be at full tilt right now but he’s 20/1 from 66/1 to be named PFA Player of the Year, and 20/1 to finish the season with the most assists despite only having one, the match-winning one against Newcastle.”

Moving to Sunday’s action, a stalemate between Aston Villa (7/4) and Everton (29/20) was followed by an entertaining game at Old Trafford between Manchester United (19/20) and Tottenham Hotspur (9/4). 

Rasmus Højlund gave United the lead after three minutes with a thunderous strike. Richarlison nodded in Spurs’ equaliser from a pin-perfect Pedro Porro corner, taking his total for the season to seven. Marcus Rashford restored United’s lead just before the break. However, the lead didn’t last long as Tottenham newbie Timo Werner played in Rodrigo Bentancur to equalise 55 seconds into the second half. 

Betfred’s Alan Firkins detailed how the result was the only bright spot for the bookie, while also laying out the latest title odds following City’s victory and de Bruyne’s return.

He said: “United entertained Tottenham at Old Trafford under the watchful gaze of new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe and shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw – rarely a bad outcome for us layers. Hojlund continued his acclimatisation with a glorious, violent finish for the Reds, while Spurs masked fairly effectively their selection limitations with so many missing for one reason or another.

“The latest Premier League outrights read as City 8/15, Liverpool 11/4, Arsenal 15/2, Spurs 28/1, Aston Villa 33/1, and it’s 300/1 bar those quoted.”

Kindred Group’s Sam Farley revealed the operator’s boosts and glut of goals across the games were blows.

He said: “We did very well on United versus Spurs despite a couple of our boosts hammering us, including one for Richarlison to score.

“The Newcastle versus City game was a wild one and a definite win for the punters who did very, very well thanks to the topsy turvy nature of the game, a City win and the sheer volume of goals. As much as it was great as football fans to see Kevin de Bruyne back on the field, it certainly didn’t help us.”

Away from the UK, the Spanish Super Cup took centre stage with Real Madrid (21/20) getting one over on their bitter rivals Barcelona (23/10) with a resounding 4-1 victory in Saudi Arabia. 

A hat trick from Vinicius Junior and a Rodrygo goal saw Los Blancos blitz their Catalan opponents, who had pulled the game back to 2-1 thanks to Robert Lewandowksi, before Ronald Arajuo saw red for a second yellow with the game out of reach for Xavi’s side.

Francisco Cano, head of trading at LiveScore Group, said there was a “good turnover margin across the weekend” but El Clasico proved to be a different kettle of fish.

He remarked: “The Spanish Super Cup final was also another entertaining game for football fans, however, the game produced a negative margin for us.”

Elsewhere in Spanish football, La Liga’s rock-bottom side Almeria (5/2), who have yet to win a league game this season, held surprise title challengers Girona (19/20) to a 0-0 draw in Andalusia.

Freeth said: “Almeria holding top of the table Girona took us into the Super Cup El Clasico with a chance of ending the weekend unscathed. A low-scoring dull affair might have even put our noses slightly in front. A 4-1 win for Real Madrid was certainly not at the top of our wishlist.”

Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan made snooker history once again by becoming the oldest winner of the Masters, which means he now holds the records for the youngest and oldest winner of the Masters and UK Championships. 

The Rocket emerged a 10-7 victor over Ali Carter despite finding himself 7-6 down at the start of the 14^th frame. Carter had slammed the crowd at Alexandra Palace for shouting before taking his shot.

He said: “It’s hard enough to beat him but when you’ve got people shouting when you are on your shot and saying stupid things at important times because half of them haven’t got enough brains, it’s ridiculous.”

Firkins added: “Ronnie O’Sullivan pocketed his eighth Masters snooker title, beating Ali Carter 10-7. He was quick, though, to play down his World Championship chances at The Crucible, for which he’s our 7/2 favourite. Greatest player ever? He’s surely in the top one.”

Kindred Group’s Farley noted that due to the lack of football this weekend, betting activity peaked elsewhere. He said: “Outside of football, there were lots of other events getting people’s attention. O’Sullivan’s win at the Masters garnered a lot of interest, and we also saw activity increase on the NFL with the playoffs beginning, which is a good sign with the Super Bowl just weeks away now.”