Undoubtedly, the broadest range of sports betting opportunities are given to individual categories within a team sport such as football. The final outcome of a match is limited to the three well-known options (1, X, 2). In theory, there is no limit for the exact result, but the real outcomes are about 10-12. And with the goalscorers in one match, even if we exclude goalkeepers (and even they score in modern football), there are still at least 26 variants - 10 field titulars and 3 reserves per team. And if predicting who will score in a match is made a day or two in advance, when the group has not yet been announced, then the list of players may be longer.
Types of bets for goalscorers
Most bookmakers like Bet365 offer three main markets for goalscorers in one match:
- First goalscorer
- Last goalscorer
- Goalmaster at any time
The challenge for people who know football reality well is to predict who will score first in a match. It is no less difficult to predict which player will make the last hit. And sometimes the author of the first and last goal can be the same - with a score of 1-0, but not only. Compared to these, the Goalmaster Anytime option is comparatively easier to predict, especially in cases where we have a prominent performer (s) participating in the particular meeting.
Let’s take the Juventus home game for example. Having broken many shooting records, it is normal to expect Cristiano Ronaldo to be among the favorites to score. The odds for a goal anytime by the Portuguese in matches where the Old Lady is a host will not be very high - around 1.50-1.60, and if the opponent is weaker, the stakes will fall even lower. However, the first goalscorer prediction is usually paid at least double the one where Ronaldo scores a goal at any time during the match.
The same examples can be found in Barcelona and Leo Messi, or in Liverpool and Mohammed Salah. It is not difficult to explain why the odds for a goal anytime are lower - because one choice can be profitable within 90 minutes or at least until the football player we chose is on the field. The moment he is replaced, if he started as a titular and has not scored, the bet becomes a losing one. While with a bet for the first goalscorer in the match, the issue is decided by a specific event - namely the first goal. It gives a direct answer to the question of whether a bet is profitable or not. Either we chose the right person or we didn't guess. And that answer can be given both in the 15th second of the duel and in the fourth minute added after the 90th as well. And there may be no winning prediction if the match ends 0-0 or starts with an auto goal.
The last goalscorer in a match bet is usually the least sought. The odds for these predictions are usually equal to or close to those for the first scorer Specifically, the success of this prediction can only be made clear after the end of the match or the end of the regular time, since only then it will be certain that no further hit will be made.
Higher profit for a goalmaster at any time
That choice also can make a good profit if the bet is on a player who is not among the most prominent players on a team. However, it is recommended that the chosen player be a regular titular in the matches of the respective club to ensure that he will at least be present on the field from the start. What options can be profitable?
- Central defenders. These players' commitment is primarily connected with defense security. In modern football, however, defenders regularly engage in attack when performing static positions - corner kicks or free kicks. Virgil van Dyke for Liverpool, Gerard Pique for Barcelona, Sergio Ramos for Real Madrid are among the most striking examples.
- Football players playing heavily in the air. Most of the goals are scored with a head, whether in a static situation or after centering in an open game. Knowing the players who are strong in this component (but are not the leading shooters of their teams) provides another good opportunity.
- Permanent “penalty kickers”. When a title player is a player other than the lead scorer, this is not a bad option, especially if we are not talking about an offensive player. Once again we mention Sergio Ramos, who performs from the white spot for Real Madrid. It could be Danny Parejo of Valencia, Santi Cazorla of Villarreal, Jorginho of Chelsea, Marco Mancosou of Lecce, Vilan Cyprien of Nice. For each of the players listed, the realization asset for at least 50% is due to accurate performances from the white spot.
- Masters of direct free kick. It takes a little more knowledge of the qualities of players who are able to send the ball into the net from a static position, dealing with both the wall and the goalkeeper. In general, this factor is more difficult to predict because it is unclear how many times in a match there will be a real chance for a free-kick.
- Reserve with a good asset. You can also rely on the “joker” - a person who more frequently scores when he plays as a substitute. In such situations, the risk is also slightly higher, as the development of the game may not even lead to the field entry of our chosen player. But in most cases the ratio promises good returns.
Overall, the markets for a goalmaster at anytime and even more for a first goalmaster are among the toughest predictions for most sports betting fans. As the possibilities are greater, the unknowns and the variations are also considerable. But the predictions related to these individual achievements bring good profit, which in the described cases of an alternative implementer can at any time exceed the ratio of 5 to 1. In any case, it is good to know the game of the team (s) and players that will be selected for this type of predcition.
