The cards bet is one of the most fascinating markets in football betting. It is often overlooked by many punters. However, it provides great rewards if properly analysed.
Goals and full-time results are largely irrelevant with this bet option. The only thing that matters is players getting booked for fouls.
The ‘overs card bet’ means predicting the accumulative number of cards to be shown to both teams before the end of the game.
Derbies are a great way to analyse the possible number of yellow cards that can be shown in a competitive football match. As a result, the form of both teams counts for very little. There is a lot of bragging rights at stake when teams from the same city go head-to-head. The Derby Della Madonnina (Milan derby), the Manchester derby and the El Derbi Madrileno (Madrid) are amongst the fiercest derbies in Europe.
The nature of the game also plays a big role in predicting the number of cards that can be shown. For example, a six-pointer of any kind; title, Champions League or relegation will likely produce more yellow cards than one where there is not much to play for.
The playing style of the teams can also lead one to make the right predictions. Defensive-minded teams are prone to attracting more yellow cards than teams who prefer to be on the front foot.
Here are four top teams in Europe and their prospects delivering over 5.5 yellow cards for punters.
Marseille
Marseille has failed to build on the success it achieved last season. The Olympians finished second last term. However, they are currently sixth on the log with no hope of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The French side has struggled with so many off-the-pitch issues all season. In January, the fans stormed the training ground of the club to vent their frustrations with the club’s president, Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
Former manager, Andre Villas-Boas was also let go unceremoniously after publicly expressing his disagreements with the club’s transfer dealings.
There has been news of players unrest in the dressing room, further affecting the performance of the team.
On the pitch, the top players have lost their heads more than once. The former Ligue 1 champions have recorded 7 red cards in this campaign.
Marseille has accumulated 88 yellow cards at an average of 2.51 per match.
For punters interested in the cards market, an over 5.5 yellow cards bet on matches involving Marseille assures massive dividends.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt has had an outstanding season by its standards. The Eagles are a few matches from representing Germany in the UCL as they sit in fourth position.
Borussia Monchengladbach-bound Adi Hutter has done a remarkable job with the team, especially since the turn of the year. The Austrian manager favours a direct style of play in attack while being very combative in defence. This physicality in marking accounts for most of the yellow cards the German team receives.
Frankfurt has averaged 2.52 yellow cards in the Bundesliga this season. With Hutter’s men still deep in the race for a top-four position, some desperate tackles may yet happen in the concluding games of the season.
Lazio
Lazio has remained consistent in the past few seasons in Serie A. This season, however, the Biancocolesti (The White and Sky Blues) run the risk of not qualifying for this season’s Champions League. They are sixth on the log, five points adrift of AC Milan in fourth place.
Simeone Inzaghi favours a particularly direct approach in offence and banks on the clinical prowess of Ciro Immobile and Joaquin Correa.
In midfield, Lucas Leiva is tasked with the responsibility of winning back possession. The Brazilian most times employs a lot of grit and graft. In essence, he commits lots of fouls leading to yellow cards.
Inzaghi’s men have received an accumulative tally of 91 yellow cards this term at an average of 2.76 per game.
Staking on over 5.5 yellow cards in matches involving Lazio is profitable for punters.
Getafe
Getafe has consistently managed to stay relatively successful in La Liga by playing dirty and unfair under Jose Bordalad
The Azulones (Dark Blues) take pleasure in consistently breaking the momentum of the opponent by being physical. They look commit fouls in less dangerous areas of the pitch.
Allan Nyom has gained a reputation for being the most undisciplined player in Spain with 10 yellow cards and 1 red card.
Jose Bordalas’ men have accumulated 110 yellow cards this season (the most in the league)- that is an average of 3.24 cards per game.
Smart punters can stake on over 5.5 yellow cards in matches in involving Getafe in La Liga.
