Who were the Big Winners as the Champions League Returned?

The Champions League returned with the usual fanfare on Tuesday night, and in a night of surprise results and ill-discipline, there was plenty of opportunities to make big returns for bettors.

How did Manchester United lose to Young Boys?

Young Boys v Manchester United

United lost to Swiss side Young Boys thanks to an injury time winner, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deciding to try and protect their 1-0 lead after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card. Ronaldo had put the visitors ahead with his third goal in two games back with United, but it was the hosts who prevailed in the end.

Young Boys Performance (settled at 69)

United were hot favourites to win this match, and when their own old boy scored early against the Young Boys, this looked like it was going to script. However, thanks to Moumi Ngamaleu’s equaliser and Jordan Siebatcheu’s late, late winner, the Swiss side completed the upset, although digging down into the numbers, maybe it wasn’t so unexpected. United have now lost 7 of Ole’s 11 Champions League matches in charge, and those predicting Young Boys to impress, buying their Performance at 20 before the match, banked 49 times their bet. The Performance markets award 25 points per goal, 10 points for a draw, 15 per goal scored, 10 for a clean sheet and three for a corner. Red and yellow cards take away from the total, -15 and -5 respectively.

Bookings Shirt Numbers (settled at 128)

Buyers of Bookings Shirt Numbers, with a spread of 67-70, made a 58-point profit, thanks largely to Wan-Bissaka’s early dismissal. United’s right back was sent off for a bad challenge on Chris Martin, and with red cards earning double points, that added 58 to the total as the number 29 left the pitch, paradise for buyers.

What has happened to Barcelona?

Barcelona v Bayern Munich

With no Lionel Messi, Barcelona look a shadow on their former selves, relying on Premier League rejects Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay to lead the line these days. Given that, maybe it wasn’t too surprising that they failed to muster one shot on target, and fell to their third straight European defeat for the first time in their history.

Robert Lewandowski Goal Minutes (settled at 141)

Bayern’s main man started the game with a Goal Minutes spread of 38-42, and rewarded buyers with a profit of 99 times their stake. Having scored at least one in every game he’s played this season bar one – Poland’s 1-1 draw with England – Lewandowski took his tally to 13 in nine games this term with goals in the 56^th and 85^th minutes. Buyers of Super Mega Minutes (which doubles the minutes of a second goal and trebles that of a third) at 75 enjoyed a 151-point profit, that market settling at 226.

What happened in the Sevilla v Red Bull Salzburg  game?

Sevilla v Red Bull Salzburg

Sevilla held on for a 1-1 home draw with Reb Bull Salzburg despite playing the final 40 minutes with 10 men. But that’s only half the story – this game had four penalties awarded in the first half, three of them to the visitors, who managed to miss two of them. This was the first time four penalties had been awarded in a Champions League game, and remarkably, they were all given within 30 first-half minutes.

Penalty Goal Minutes (settled at 63)

While buyers enjoyed a profit of 46 times their wager, that could have been even better if Salzburg could put their spot kicks away. German wonderkid Karim Adeyemi won all three penalties for the visitors, missing the first himself in the 13^th minute. Luka Sucic took over responsibilities in the 21^st minute and made no mistake, but the same couldn’t be said when the Croatian had another opportunity from 12 yards 16 minutes later. In the 42^nd minute Ivan Rakatic made the visitors pay with a penalty of his own, settling this market at 63, but also leaving buyers working out what might have been.

How did Chelsea start their Champions League campaign?

Chelsea v Zenit St Petersburg

The holders weren’t on top form, but eased to a 1-0 win against stubborn Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg. After providing little threat in the first half, the Blues stepped up the pace after the break and yet again it was new boy Romelu Lukaku who grabbed the all-important goal.

Headed Goal Minutes (settled at 69)

There seems to have been a lot of headers scored so far this season, and Lukaku obliged buyers of Headed Goal Minutes again in this game. The spread was set at 23-26, winning buyers 43 times their wager as the big Belgian met Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross at the far post.