Weekend Talking Points: Tottenham joy and New Orleans’ magic 10
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We recap the biggest sporting action
Narrowing last weekend’s sporting matters down to just five was a tough ask. As well as potentially season-defining results in the Premier League and on the continent, there was major action in the NFL and Rugby Union.
Here are our top five talking points, kicking off with a crucial Prem encounter in North-West London…
Spurs do the business in Wembley showdown
Tottenham Hotspur may still be waiting on their new permanent home, but it doesn’t seem to be affecting them right now. Spurs inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat of the season at Wembley on Saturday, rising to third place in the process.
Dele Alli continued his impressive scoring streak against the Blues, with a sixth goal in as many outings against the West London club.
Tactically, Mauricio Pochettino got things spot on with his 4-4-2 system. Alli was exceptional in the hole, against a tricky and pacy front duo of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. Chelsea’s defence had no answer.
As it stands, Spurs are now 3/10 for a top-four finish this season.
Unstoppable New Orleans Saints make it 10-in-a-row
New Orleans Saints are on course to be the first divisional champions in this NFL campaign, following a stunning 10th win on the spin last weekend.
The Saints have now chalked up an astonishing 409 points in their 11 regular season games. To give some context, they’re less than 200 points off the all-time record (held by the Denver Broncos), with five games remaining.
This latest win for Sean Payton’s side came by a 31-17 margin against Atlanta Falcons, with Quarterback Drew Brees throwing for four Touchdowns. As it stands, the Saints are 3/1 to win the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010.
Resurgent Terriers climbing out of Prem danger
Many people’s tip for relegation from the Premier League this season, David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town are proving trickier customers than that.
After a difficult start to the campaign, the Terriers have now racked up seven points from three games. And their 2-0 victory at Molineux – masterminded by Aaron Mooy – was their best performance of the season by some distance.
Two superb finishes from the Australian delivered the goals, but they looked strong as a side. The Terriers chalked up 55% possession at Molineux, and recorded 14 shots en route to delivering Wolves’ joint-heaviest home loss since September 2016.
Now up to 14th in the table, they’ve got a two-point cushion over the drop zone. Next up is Brighton & Hove Albion at home, where it’s 29/20 for a Huddersfield win.
Watford loanee puts another dent in Bayern’s title bid
Firm favourites for another Bundesliga title before the season, Bayern Munich’s horror-show campaign continued with a 3-3 draw at home to Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday.
All three goals came from 21-year-old Watford loanee Dodi Lukebakio. The lightning-quick Belgian became the first player to score a league hat-trick against Der FCB since Ebbe Sand in 2001.
His second and third goals were both the result of a spurt of acceleration, followed by an ice-cool finish. Fans of Fortuna and Watford will be rubbing their hands with glee.
As for Bayern, they’re now out to 5/4 to lift the title this season – the first time they’ve been odds-against.
England run riot in Autumn International clash
Eddie Jones’ England chalked up a sixth successive victory over the Wallabies in Saturday’s Autumn International, in front of an 81,275 crowd at Twickenham.
After a tight and engaging first-half which was tied at 13-13, the hosts blew their opponents away after the break. In the end, it finished 37-18, with Owen Farrell the hero.
He bagged a try, four conversions and three penalties to almost single-handedly obliterate an Australian side who looked exhausted and overwhelmed after the interval.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
