Making more winning bets is every punter’s ultimate goal. The ability to analyze football matches, both pre-match and in-play, across different leagues helps bettors generate profits from their stakes on a consistent basis. Thus, they make their predictions in an educated and knowledgeable manner, leaving nothing to chance.
To assess the football form of two teams that are to play in a forthcoming match, bettors need to take into consideration factors such as Head-to-head results, recent meetings with other opponents, the overall performance of both teams in the current season, as well as player stats, among others.
In the current article, dedicated to determining the football form of two teams, we are going to look into some of the major factors to be examined ahead of a match’s kick-off, along with some examples of how to handle the available statistical data.
Determining the Football Form of Teams
Now that we have established that prior to placing a bet punters should conduct their own survey of the available stats, let us examine what the important indicators are. Apart from the league’s website, punters can also use the available statistical data from both clubs’ own websites.
А team in good form is expected to maintain that form and even if they are about to face a stronger opponent, they stand a chance of winning the match.
Notwithstanding, the recent results of a team do not tell the whole story, and to get a more precise idea of the overall picture, bettors need to factor in several other indicators:
- The ranking of their opponents
- The margins of wins and losses
- The overall performance in games from the league
Results
A lot of bettors place their wagers relying on statistics regarding the teams’ recent results. Let us now have a look at a fixture from the English Premier League, Manchester United vs Leicester.
- Bettors may start their research by looking into the recent head-to-head results, or the last meetings between the two teams and how they fared against each other.
Recent Meetings Results 16 October 2021
King Power Stadium, LeicesterLeicester vs Manchester United / 4:2 11 May 2021
Old Trafford, ManchesterManchester United vs Leicester / 1:2 26 December 2020
King Power Stadium, LeicesterLeicester vs Manchester United / 2:2 26 July 2020
King Power Stadium, LeicesterLeicester vs Manchester United / 0:2 14 September 2019
Old Trafford, ManchesterManchester United vs Leicester / 1:0 While this information is essential and should be carefully considered, it should not be the sole factor that punters analyze. The teams’ tendency to win home and away clashes should be factored in as well. General statistics show that 50% of matches end in a home win, 25% – in a tie, and 25% – in away wins.
- Both clubs’ results against other teams from the current season should be analyzed as well, considering their opponents’ ranking and the goal margins. The latter reveals the style of recent wins – whether it is by more goals or just a single one, for example. The combined knowledge about home and away wins and the number of goals scored in a win is a more precise indicator than recent results alone.
Manchester United Home / Away Stats Leicester Home / Away Stats Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Home win Leicester vs Brentford 2-1 Home win Manchester United vs Manchester City 1-4 Away loss Leicester vs Arsenal 0-2 Away loss Manchester United vs Watford 0-0 Home draw Leicester vs Leeds 1-0 Home win Manchester United vs Leeds 4-2 Away win Leicester vs Burnley 2-0 Away win Manchester United vs Brighton 2-0 Home win Leicester vs Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Away loss - The overall performance of both teams in the current season is to be examined and compared as well, including information for the current position within the league, the number of matches won, drawn, and lost, the average goals scored per match, and the clean sheets, among others.
Indicator Manchester United Leicester Current position in the league 6 10 Number of won matches 14 10 Number of drawn matches 8 6 Number of lost matches 7 11 Average goals scored per match 1.66 1.56 Average goals canceled per match 1.38 1.7 Clean sheets 7 5 Biggest win 5-1 vs Leeds 4-0 vs Newcastle Worst defeat 0-5 vs Liverpool 6-3 vs Manchester City
Player and Management Changes
In between the teams’ meetings, there may be many things that have changed, including a new manager, new players arriving into the teams, as well as injuries, and suspensions of key players. As a general rule, to make sure that analyses are conducted on the basis of up-to-date data, bettors should not look at results that are more than a year old, as they reflect circumstances different from the current ones.
The individual players’ form directly impacts that of the team. The absences of key players due to injuries or suspensions may influence football matches to a great extent. Punters have access to Top Player Stats, where they can check important indicators such as goals, assists, minutes played, yellow and red cards, passes, fouls, and saves, among others.
Playing Styles and Goals
As already mentioned, the number of goals scored in the teams’ last matches is also indicative of their form. Wins with several goals look more promising than wins by a single goal. Although there is an emphasis on the wins and losses, when it comes to determining the current form, the goal difference is of great significance to show the side’s potential. Furthermore, the opponents’ ranking within the league is also to be considered, because winning three consecutive matches against lower-ranking opponents may be misleading at times.
The playing styles of both teams are yet another important factor to consider. Generally, two teams featuring defensive playing styles are expected to generate fewer goals in comparison to teams characterized by attacking playing styles.
Conclusion
Nowadays, the vast range of statistical information on football leagues and championships from all over the world is a powerful tool that all bettors should know how to utilize to their benefit. Learning how to manipulate the available data and considering the relevant factors bring success in football betting at your fingertips.
Taking all of the above-mentioned indicators into consideration, it is safe to assume that knowing the football form of both teams can help punters evaluate correctly a forthcoming match. They should bear in mind that football form is temporary and that it is not guaranteed that a team in good form is going to win, or that a team in bad form is going to lose.
The wealth of available data is to be used to place bets knowledgeably and make consistent wins from football betting.