Alongside the “overs” and “unders”, the “goal/goal” market is just as popular. Of course, its success depends on both teams scoring in the same match.
A number of factors can make a team more likely to record goal/goal outcomes than another, which include but are not limited to personnel and tactics.
Yet, the balance in the quality of players available to a team plays a huge role. Some teams are top-heavy, with more potent forwards and outstanding midfielders than resolute defenders. Hence, while the team will create chances and score goals, they will be susceptible to conceding goals in almost equal measure.
The coach’s style of play and philosophy is just as important. A style of play that relies on possessing the ball, making dynamic movements, and committing numbers offensively will more than half the time lead to goal/goal outcomes. As they try to pin the opponents in their box to take advantage of turnovers, they make spaces available for exploitation during defensive transitions.
With the above factors in mind, as well as supporting statistics and patterns, some teams will continue to deliver goal/goal outcomes this season.
Here are four teams that punters can trust to consistently deliver this season:
Sevilla
This time last year, Sevilla were in second place, four points off Real Madrid, the eventual La Liga champions. Yet, this season, Jorge Sampaoli’s men are only two points off the relegation zone.
And plenty of their woes this season are linked to the sale of top-quality defenders. Jules Kounde moved to Barcelona, and Diego Carlos joined Aston Villa. The latter has been injured for most of it, though. More players have since found homes elsewhere, including Julen Lopetegui.
Last term, the Rojiblancos conceded the fewest goals in the division. This season, only two teams have conceded more goals than Sevilla. Both teams sit in 19th and 20th positions, respectively.
And as they get desperate to survive the drop, the most successful Europa League side continue to pile up red cards, further thinning out the squad. Still, they continue to stretch themselves continentally.
Youssef En-Nesyri and Lucas Ocampos are still playing at almost the same level as last season, at least in recent weeks, yet the team continues to ship in goals.
This season, Sevilla have played out 17 goal/goal results, including their last four matches.
Strasbourg
Strasbourg are only two points above Ajaccio, who sit in 18th position in Ligue 1. Last season, they finished just three points behind Rennes, who qualified automatically for the Europa League, and six points behind Monaco, who earned the Champions League spot.
Things have now turned for the worse. Julien Stephan has been fired after managing one win in 17 matches. They have an interim consortium of coaches that has brought the team out of the relegation zone they were once in.
Strasbourg have conceded more goals in 27 matches than they did in 38 last season. Clean sheets have also been difficult to come by, with none in their last five matches.
However, with Kevin Gameiro, and Habib Diallo, they are almost guaranteed to score goals at the other end.
So far, Strasbourg have played 20 goal/matches, including three of their last five matches. This is therefore a solid option for punters in the goal/goal market.
Ajax
The Eredivisie giants are back to within five points of Feyenoord, who are in first place. Ajax had begun the season terribly, leading to the sacking of Alfred Schreuder, who could not maintain the heights set by Erik Ten Hag.
Schreuder had failed to win seven matches before he was let go. Now, John Heitinga, who was promoted from the second team, has stabilised things, winning nine of the 11 matches he has overseen.
Ajax have arguably the richest squad in the country, especially in attack. Dusan Tadic, Steven Bergwijn, and Mohamed Kudus continue to plunder the goals. The defending champions have scored more than any other team.
However, by their extremely high standards, they have been guilty of conceding cheaply at times. The Dutch side have conceded more goals than they did last season. Indeed, they conceded 16 goals in just six matches in the Champions League group stages.
Ajax have recorded goal/goal outcomes in 68% of the Eredivisie matches they have played the season, including two of their last three matches.
AC Milan
The Serie A champions are through to the quarterfinals of the UCL for the first time in eleven years. Yet, this feat is perhaps coming at the expense of successfully defending their league title.
The Rossoneri are a whopping 20 points behind the leaders, Napoli. Of course, Luciano Spalletti’s men are playing on a different level this season. Still, Stefano Pioli’s team has struggled defensively all season. Only Bologna have conceded more goals than Milan among the top ten teams.
Simon Kjaer has laboured to stay fit. Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu have had a poor season until now, keeping just five clean sheets between them. This has led to Pioli settling on three central defenders.
And with Milan journeying deeper into the crunch stages of the UCL, they will likely suffer from fatigue, leading to more goal concessions. Still, you can expect Rafael Leao and Olivier Giroud to continue finding the net.
They have played 17 goal/goal matches in Serie A, including their last two matches.
