Every football fan wants their team to be the absolute best in each department. Whether it is shots on target, tackles, offsides or even corners earned, supporters have an unwavering desire to outperform rival clubs in every statistical category.
It is one thing to proudly boast about your team’s ability to create chances. It is another to profit from it. By taking advantage of UK bookies’ ever-expanding range of markets and betting options, you can earn money when your favourite team wins a tackle, gets a shot on target or catches the opposition offside.
Team Performance Betting Explained
The way it works is simple. You bet on an outcome based on a specific team statistic, such as shots, tackles or offsides. If the outcome occurs, you earn money. Some popular markets in team performance betting include:
- Shots on Target
- Shots
- Tackles
- Offsides
For a full list of bookmakers offering team performance markets, check our football betting sites guide.
Team Performance Betting Terminology
Shots On Target and Shots
A Shot on Target is defined as any goal attempt that goes into the net regardless of intent, or a clear attempt to score that is saved by the goalkeeper or stopped by a player who is the last man.
Any Shot on Target bet where the threshold is met via a successful goal attempt or a clear blocked attempt will result in winnings. A Shot off Target is an attempt to score that goes wide, goes over the goal, or directly hits the frame of the goal and is not scored.
Both shots on target and shots off target are accumulated to reach the Shots threshold for your wager.
Tackles
A tackle is defined as where a player connects with the ball in a ground challenge where he successfully takes the ball away from the player in possession. The tackled player must clearly be in possession of the ball before the tackle is made.
It is also important to note that an interception does not fall under tackling rules. Cut-out passes will not add to the tally of tackles during a match.
Offsides
Offsides are one of the easiest statistics to calculate in football. When a player is standing behind the last defender at the time the ball is played in his direction and he interferes with play, he is deemed offside. VAR technology assists referees in making more accurate decisions on these calls.
An offside offence occurs when a player in an offside position becomes involved in active play by playing or touching the ball, challenging an opponent, or making an obvious action impacting an opponent’s ability to play the ball.
Rules For Team Performance Betting Markets
Now you know the terminology behind these popular football betting markets, it is time to discuss how these in-game occurrences apply to your wagers. It works like this:
- You place a bet on the minimum or maximum number of Shots, Shots On Target, Offsides or Tackles during a game.
- If the chosen threshold is reached for minimum bets or remains within the limit for maximum bets, your bet wins.
- If the number does not meet your selected criteria, your wager loses.
For example, you bet on 15 or more Total Shots on Target in a game between Chelsea and Arsenal at 11.00 odds with a £5 stake. If the match has under 15 shots on target by the final whistle, you lose your stake. If both sides muster 15 or more shots on target during normal time, your bet wins. A win would see you make a £50 profit with £55 total returns including your stake.
Betting Strategy For Team Performance Markets
With numerous possibilities over 90 minutes of football, it is difficult to predict exactly what will take place in any given match. No matter what kind of game you are watching, one thing remains true: you can make money from even the most mundane of occurrences.
Without knowing which teams are good at certain aspects of play, it is impossible to make an educated decision. That is why we have developed an easy-to-follow betting strategy for team performance markets. OnTheBallBets recommends using our Trust Index to find reliable bookmakers for these types of in-play and pre-match bets.
High Defensive Lines Mean More Offsides
Defenders in the Premier League are becoming more comfortable with high defensive lines. This system sees defenders push up the pitch in formation to restrict the space for attackers to move into.
Liverpool have been the most obvious advocates of the high defensive line in recent years. Under both Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, the Reds continue to catch opponents offside more frequently than almost any other Premier League side. Anyone betting on a high number of offsides in Liverpool games has historically done well.
On the other hand, teams using deeper defensive lines tend to catch far fewer opponents offside. When assessing offsides markets, always check which system each team employs.
Poor Possession Leads To More Tackles
Teams that control the ball do not need to make tackles, nor are they on the receiving end of successful challenges. Possession-based teams tend to sit near the bottom of tackling statistics, while more reactive, counter-attacking sides tend to rank near the top.
Manchester City under Pep Guardiola have historically made the fewest tackles in the Premier League due to their dominance of possession. Meanwhile, sides with less possession are forced to win the ball back more often, leading to higher tackle counts.
When assessing tackle markets, look at teams that sit back and defend rather than those that dominate possession.
Greedy Attackers Are Your Best Friend
Watch out for players that shoot on sight. Regardless of whether they are 35 yards from goal or surrounded by defenders, these are the individuals you want to bet on for shots markets.
The best teams in the Premier League take significantly more shots per game than the rest. Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have consistently led the way in shots taken and shots on target per game in recent seasons. Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah are among the most frequent shooters in the division.
How To Research Statistics For Team Performance Bets
You will find all the information you need online. There are plenty of platforms to research shots, offsides, shots on target, tackles and other performance-based statistics:
By staying up to date with the latest statistics, you are better placed to make informed betting decisions. Related outright markets to explore include top goalscorer, finishing position and to win outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a shot on target in football betting?
A shot on target is any goal attempt that goes into the net or would have gone in but for being saved by the goalkeeper or stopped by the last defender. Shots that hit the post or crossbar and do not go in are generally classed as off target.
Are team performance markets available for in-play betting?
Yes. Many bookmakers offer live in-play markets on shots, tackles and other team performance statistics. Odds will fluctuate throughout the match based on the current tally and the flow of the game.
Do team performance bets include extra time?
In most cases, team performance bets are settled based on 90 minutes of normal play including injury time. Extra time is not typically included unless the bookmaker’s terms state otherwise. Always check the specific rules at your chosen sportsbook.
Which statistics are most reliable for team performance betting?
Shots on target and offsides tend to be the most consistent and predictable statistics across a season. Teams with high-pressing, attacking systems will consistently produce similar numbers week after week, making these markets easier to assess.
