There are matches whose results are supposed to be foregone conclusions, called sure bankers in local parlance. However, this past weekend, there were some bets that turned into unexpected losses for many football fans.
In the English Premier League, Chelsea continued to show the depths to which they can plunge and there were wakeup calls in the Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.
EPL: Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth
No matter how dismal and disappointing Chelsea have been this season, this was never on the cards. The belief that the Blues had not lost to newly promoted sides in 32 encounters solidified pundits’ decisions here. Whoever placed a bet on Bournemouth taking a win from Stamford Bridge would already be smiling to the bank this week.
EPL: Stoke City 2-0 Manchester City
This result could have been far worse as Manuel Pellegrini’s side fell to a slick Stoke City team. The only positive would be that this could have been far worse – a 4-0 result would not have flattered Stoke City at all.
EPL: Newcastle 2-0 Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp suffered his second loss as Liverpool manager on Sunday away at Newcastle even though they had more of the possession and more shots on target. With the way they had been playing, many were expecting an easy win considering the fact that Newcastle lost 5-1 to Crystal Palace.
Bundesliga: Monchengladbach 3-1 Bayern Munich
When Bayern Munich strut their stuff in the Bundesliga, it is never a question of whether they would win but by how many goals. But last Saturday they were turned back empty-handed with their first league defeat of the season at the Stadion Im Borussia-Park and this was no fluke. Though we have to add that the Bavarians were poor compared to their form before the match, so maybe this defeat will breath some life back into the championship.
La Liga: Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
Barcelona went into Saturday’s match away at Valencia having scored 23 goals in their last five matches, conceding only two. There was the surest betting banker with Valencia in all kinds of trouble with a new English manager. But two minutes to the end of the match, little known Santa Mina made a name for himself by scoring an improbable equalizer. Barca should have been home and dry at this point having frittered away very good scoring opportunities.
Serie A: Bologna 3-2 Napoli
Yes, you read that right and the final 3-2 result flattered Napoli as Gonzalo Higuain scored both goals in the last five minutes of the encounter. Napoli had won their previous encounters going into last Sunday’s but it was not to be and they fell to third place on the table with Juventus breathing down their necks four points away.
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