Euro review - Barcelona stunned at home
The traditional giants may be back on top of the pile in Holland but there have been plenty of unpredictable results in Europe this weekend, with all the signs suggesting that an exciting season lies ahead across the board...
Spain
On Friday, we flagged the [55.0] on Hercules winning at the Nou Camp as arguably the biggest price on offer this week and - would you believe it - they were 2-0 victors. The champs had lost just one pre-Christmas home league match in the previous six seasons. It was a result La Liga needed after Barcelona and Real Madrid's dominance last term, and Jose Mourinho's men struggled past Osasuna 1-0, with many in the Bernabeu growing restless prior to Ricardo Carvalho's second-half winner. Atletico Madrid and Valencia lead the way after wins over Athletic Bilbao and Racing Santander.
Italy
It was a horrible weekend for favourite backers as promoted Cesena beat AC Milan 2-0 (with Zlatan Ibrahimovic missing a penalty on a horror debut), Cagliari destroyed Roma 5-1, Brescia beat Palermo and pacesetting Chievo won at Genoa. The tastiest clash between Juventus and Sampdoria was a 3-3 thriller while Inter Milan were the only expected title challenger to triumph, defeating Udinese 2-1 to go joint-second. Right now, their status as [2.16] frontrunners to finish top appears to be justified.
Germany
Anyone wagering that last year's runners-up Schalke, the best performers from January onwards Stuttgart and big-spending Wolfsburg would all be pointless three games in will have a very healthy bank balance right now, as the Bundesliga continues to surprise. A goalless draw against Werder Bremen has left [1.66] title favourites Bayern Munich five points off the pace, which is being dictated by Hoffenheim ([28.0]) and Mainz ([100.0]), who finished 11th and ninth respectively in 2009-10.
France
For the fourth matchday out of five, supposed league contenders Marseille ([3.15]), Lyon ([2.74]) and Bordeaux ([16.0]) all failed to win, leaving them all at least seven points shy of top spot. Toulouse's 100 per cent start was ended with a 1-0 home defeat to St Etienne, who are now up to third on ten points. Splitting them are Rennes ([11.0]), with Abdou Mangane's last-gasp goal sealing a 2-1 victory over Sochaux and pushing them to within a point of first place.
Holland
PSV leapfrogged joint-leaders Ajax on goals scored after netting one more than the capital club this weekend - they conquered NEC 3-1, whereas Ajax only won 2-0 against Willem II. Martin Jol's men remain the Eredivisie favourites though, at [1.73] to PSV's [2.58]. FC Twente ([8.2]) head into their first ever Champions League group game, against last year's winners Inter, in great form after enjoying a third straight success, 2-1 away at VVV.
Catch any games? Tell us what you made of the weekend's action below...
Published: 13 Sep 2010
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