SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
To the elation of football fans all over the globe, the Champions League returned this week and with it came strong away performances from Premier League clubs.
A four goal drubbing at St Jakob-Park meant that tournament favourites, Manchester City set the record for the biggest away win in the knockout stages by an English side in the history of the competition.
Only for the record to subsequently be broken by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool the following night, who defeated Porto by five goals with the help of a Sadio Mane hat-trick, to all but book a place in the last eight.
Both resounding wins enhanced the faith of punters that one of two well backed sides could win the tournament, prior to Tuesday night City attracted 24% of all bets in the Champions League winning market. Pep’s side were the most backed side, followed by Barcelona, who were responsible for 18% of all bets placed.
Despite a disastrous opening ten minutes in Turin, Tottenham and Harry Kane valiantly fought back to earn a draw against Italian champions Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
If Pochettino’s side can can defy the odds and achieve European success this season, then it Oddschecker revealed that it would “almost certainly” lead to the odds being slashed on England winning the World Cup this Summer.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek commented: “Tottenham fans are often reminded that, despite possessing a promising squad and manager, they are yet to win anything with them.
“Given that a huge proportion of their squad will be representing England at the World Cup, a European success would surely see the Three Lions’ price tumble for Russia’s World Cup.”
Tottenham aren’t the only side from North London that are looking achieve success in Europe this season, Arsenal head to Sweden this evening to take on Ostersunds FK in the Europa League.
Arsenal are attracting 13% of bets to win the tournament however, perhaps surprisingly, the most backed team for the Europa League by Oddschecker punters are Villarreal, despite being available at 25/1 long shots.
The Spanish outfit have accounted for 34% of all bets on the winner of the Europa League despite being well down the pecking order.
