Barcelona’s Tremendous Turnaround a Headache for Bookmakers

UK bookies pay up as Barcelona stage an amazing Champions League comeback.

Last Wednesday was a day to remember no matter whether you favour Barcelona or you simply enjoy watching a great football match.

Champions League Round of 16 return match between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) saw a seven-goal thriller, with a last-minute goal sealing the fantastic performance by the Spanish side.

It Seemed the Game Was a Formality

Barcelona had been outplayed in the first match in Paris, with 4 goals down on aggregate against the French champions. But in front of their Camp Nou crowd they managed to do what many thought was impossible – to go through to the quarter-finals.

We doubt many football fans will forget this match, but the same goes for bookmakers, who found no joy in Sergi Roberto’s goal since it cost them a lot of money.

High Prices Were Tempting

Before the game started, Barcelona were priced around 10/1 to make it to the quarter-finals, which attracted many punters who believed in Luis Enrique’s players and the fantastic atmosphere at the Camp Nou stadium.

In-game pricing fluctuated throughout the game. Barcelona were three goals up at the beginning of the second half. Cavani scored half an hour before the final whistle and at the time it seemed the game was over. The pricing reached 100-1 with 10 minutes of the game remaining. The match was close to stoppage time when the impossible happened.

The Turnaround

Neymar scored two goals in three minutes, with last-second goal from Sergi Roberto sealing the fantastic turnaround.

PSG players were devastated, as were many bookmakers. The day after the game, Bet365 reported a payout of eight figures, while Paddy Power and Sky Bet also reported huge payouts.

For many, this will be the worst result of the season, and possibly even the worst result ever. The aftermath of the Barcelona spectacle is yet to be seen.