General: Moments of the Month: May Review

bet365 News Team Published: May 31 2022 16:48

May is always one of the busiest months in the sporting calendar, with the conclusion of the Premier League season being among the many highlights of the year.

There were also the Champions League and FA Cup finals to enjoy, as well as all the drama from the EFL play-offs, while away from football we crowned a familiar face as world snooker champion.

Throw in the US PGA Championship, the European Champions Cup rugby union final and Challenge Cup rugby league showpiece and May was certainly a month that never stopped giving.

City edge thrilling title race

The Premier League title race went down to the final day of the season and there was plenty of drama as Manchester City and Liverpool battled it out for supremacy.

City retained the title after beating Aston Villa 3-2, but Pep Guardiola's side were made to do it the hard way, coming from two goals behind inside the final 15 minutes to secure their fourth championship in the last five years.

That result meant Liverpool's 3-1 victory over Wolves proved in vain, although Jurgen Klopp's side had already clinched their second title of the year two weeks previous after beating Chelsea on penalties to lift the FA Cup.

Thoughts have turned to next season already, with the Citizens 4/7 to defend their title and Liverpool 2/1.

At the other end of the table, Burnley's six-season stay in the Premier League was ended. The Clarets lost 2-1 at home to Newcastle United on the final day and that, coupled with Leeds United's win at Brentford, meant it was the Lancashire club who joined Watford and Norwich in suffering relegation.

In terms of promotion to the Premier League, Fulham went up as Championship winners, with Bournemouth joining them in securing automatic promotion, while in the play-offs Nottingham Forest beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 at Wembley to secure a return to the top-flight for the first time in 23 years.

Real crowned European champions again

It was not only the Premier League title that Liverpool missed out on during May, as the Reds were beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League final at the Stade de France.

Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the game for Real just before the hour mark, while Los Blancos also had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to thank for their record-extending 14th European Cup success, as he produced a player of the match display.

Real, who had previously seen off Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final, are priced at 12/1 to add a 15th crown next term.

There was also drama in the Europa League final, as Eintracht Frankfurt beat Rangers 5-4 on penalties to lift the trophy in Seville, with the match having finished all-square at 1-1 after 120 minutes of action.

The inaugural Europa Conference League was won by Jose Mourinho's Roma, who beat Feyenoord 1-0 in the final thanks to a first-half goal from Nicolo Zaniolo.

Cachet lands Classic success

It was another busy month for horse racing during May and it was all available to follow on our Sports Live Streaming platform.

With April having concluded with the opening British Classic of 2022, the 2,000 Guineas, it was the turn of the 1,000 Guineas to take centre stage at Newmarket on 1st May.

Cachet, a 16/1 outsider from George Boughey's yard, was the surprise winner of the race and she has since followed up by coming second to Mangoustine in the French equivalent of the 1,000 Guineas at ParisLongchamp.

It was not just in Europe where the big races were taking place, as two of the three American Triple Crown events were also held in May, with Rich Strike landing the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes glory befalling Early Voting.

Attention stateside now turns to the third and final Triple Crown race, with the Belmont Stakes scheduled for 11th June - 9/4 Mo Donegal is expected to be a leading contender in that one.

Thomas produces thrilling fightback

Justin Thomas landed his second US PGA Championship success, five years on from his maiden victory, as he overcame fellow American Will Zalatoris in a play-off at Southern Hills Country Club.

World number five Thomas had trailed by seven shots heading into his final round, but after posting a three-under 67 to set the clubhouse lead at five under, he watched on as overnight leader Mito Pereira imploded.

Chilean Pereira had looked set to land his first major title heading to the 72nd hole, but he proceeded to double bogey after hitting his tee shot into the creek.

That left Thomas and Zalatoris to compete in the play-off and it was the former who held his nerve to claim victory.

There will be more major action to come in June, with the 122nd US Open set to take place in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Ronnie's record-equalling success

This year's World Snooker Championship reached a thrilling conclusion on the first weekend in May, as Ronnie O'Sullivan clinched his seventh world title with an 18-13 victory over Judd Trump in the final at the Crucible.

The Rocket has now equalled Stephen Hendry's modern-era record of seven world titles, and despite becoming the oldest ever winner of snooker's top prize, he is priced at 4/1 to land title number eight next year.

La Rochelle taste glory in Marseille

Top 14 outfit La Rochelle won the European Champions Cup for the first time in their history during May, as they claimed a dramatic 24-21 success over Leinster in Marseille.

Trailing heading into the closing stages of the final, Ronan O'Gara's side clinched victory thanks to a 79th-minute try from Arthur Retiere.

That success helped right the wrongs of 12 months previous, when La Rochelle had been beaten by Toulouse in the final and they are likely to be among the favourites to defend their title next year.

Wigan end Challenge Cup drought

Wigan Warriors ended a nine-year wait for a record-extending 20th Challenge Cup title, as they beat Huddersfield Giants 16-14 in the final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the end of the month.

Liam Marshall's late try proved the difference between the two sides, as Wigan celebrated a first triumph in the competition since 2013, while Huddersfield's wait for a first Challenge Cup success since 1953 goes on.

Both sides will now shift their focus back to Super League, with third-placed Wigan 9/2 to end the year as Grand Final winners, while Huddersfield, who sit a place below the Warriors in the standings, are 16/1.