Weekend Review: Heartbreak for the Lionesses while Super Sarr sinks United

It was heartbreak in the World Cup final for England (2/1) as an Olga Carmona strike just shy of the half-hour mark was enough for Spain (7/4) to claim their first-ever World Cup title. 

The Lionesses did the nation proud as they valiantly battled against La Roja, with Lauren Hemp hitting the crossbar early on, and even after Spain’s goal, England battled on. 

The tide of the game looked like it might turn after Mary Earps saved Jennifer Hermoso’s penalty mid-way through the second half, but alas, for all of England’s efforts, it was Spain who lifted the title. 

Punters were feeling patriotic before the final, with Flutter Entertainment revealing that 80% of UK customers betting on the match result in the final backed the Lionesses, with 25% of bettors going for a 2-1 England win. 

Betfred’s Alan Firkins said: “Those brave Lionesses. Fred pushed Spain to the top price in 90 minutes to relieve us of a few quid, but interest and turnover throughout the competition was good, and England’s efforts were outstanding as they grew into the tournament. Spain were worthy winners, but we’re very proud of our European champions.”

Kindred Group’s Ali Gill added: “Spain, paper thin favourites and marginally the better team on the day, came through 1-0 winners to lift the World Cup. Patriotic punters had piled into England, and at the final whistle our book was showing a healthy margin. With all their off-field problems in the lead up, Spain winning the tournament also meant the outright market was layer friendly.”

Moving back to club football, it was a thrilling weekend of Premier League action, with bookies edging out the punters.

Brighton (4/5) continued their impressive start to the season with a 4-1 humbling of Wolves (16/5) at Molineux, with Solly March taking an early lead in the golden boot race after his brace took his total for the season to three. 

In the first big game of the weekend, Ange Postecoglu enjoyed his first Premier League win as Tottenham boss, as his Spurs (2/1) side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners against Manchester United (6/5) at an electric Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

A first Spurs strike from Pape Matar Sarr and an unfortune own goal from Lisandro Martinez kept all three points in North London as Manchester United once again failed to impress.

In the late Saturday night football, Manchester City (4/5) beat Newcastle United (16/5), despite Erling Haaland blanking for the first time since Brighton away last season. The Citizens’ new hero Julian Alvarez sealed the win on 31 minutes.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “Those that kept the faith with City and took the big prices were rewarded but with just one goal and a misfiring Norwegian, the result suited us just fine.

“As did the penultimate game of the day in North London as Manchester United put in another worrying performance at Tottenham, so often a happy hunting ground for the Red Devils. Pape Sarr wouldn’t have been the most popular choice to open the scoring and with a Lisandro Martinez own goal sealing the points for the hosts, as well as just four cards, it was a decent end to the day after getting off to a slow start.”

Onto Sunday’s action, which saw Mauricio Pochettino’s return to the capital as Chelsea manager continue to get off to a stuttering start after his side fell 3-1 to West Ham (5/2).

The Hammers took an early lead at the London Stadium through defender Nayef Aguerd before Carney Chukwuemeka levelled for Chelsea shortly after. Enzo Fernandez saw his penalty saved by Alphonse Areola before goals from Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta restored the Hammer’s lead, despite Aguerd seeing red for a second yellow card halfway through the second half. 

Kindred Group’s Gill said: “In the Premier League, City’s 1-0 win over Newcastle topped the turnover table, and while City were heavy favourites the 1-0 scoreline, without Haaland finding the back of the net, meant we actually managed to find significant profit on that one. Bookmakers’ heroes over the weekend were Spurs and West Ham, beating a very poor United and Chelsea to take heaps of accas as well as singles bets down.”

Elsewhere, Firkins detailed how the top four race is shaping up after just two games into the season.

He said: “Chelsea were heavily backed for top four before that London Stadium hiccup, while the reaction to Manchester City losing some key players, plus that long-term De Bruyne injury absence, has slightly dented market confidence.

“Manchester United have been supported to finish outside the top four and a modest showing at Spurs will have emboldened those judges. They’re Evens to achieve top four – sounds about right to me.”

In the lower leagues, Che Adams popped up in stoppage time to give favourites Southampton (3/4) a win against Plymouth Argyle (18/5). On the continent, Jude Bellingham continues to impress in Spain as he netted a brace in Real Madrid’s (2/5) 3-1 win over Almeria.

Napoli (2/5), Juventus (Evens), and Inter Milan (2/5) also picked up wins over the weekend, with the biggest surprises coming from Lazio (Evens), who lost 2-1 away to Lecce (13/5) and Roma (1/2) being held at home by Salernitana (6/1). 

Freeth commented: “There were a few sighs when Che Adams popped up in injury time at Home Park to get punters off to a flyer as the well-fancied Saints won at Plymouth, and Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth was our worst of the 3pm kick offs. A favourite winning 3-1 is our least favoured scoreline these days, and you’ll notice that the well-backed Real Madrid and Napoli both won by that margin, with Messrs Bellingham and Osimhen helping themselves to a brace, never good for bet builders.”