Soccer is considered the biggest sport on the planet with billions of fans tuning into games throughout the season. From domestic league campaigns to knockout tournaments, there are huge matches of giant significance taking place each month. A number of soccer followers also take to making predictions around the action to boost the excitement on matchday.

There are a number of competitions to wager on and a wide variety of markets to check out when it comes to the game. This article will pick out some of the best and interesting you should explore before placing your next bet.

Top Competitions

Every year, giant clubs and franchises go head-to-head in the battle for supremacy across a number of different competitions. Here are three of the standout tournaments to track this season.

Champions League

The Champions League is Europe’s premier club competition and hosts some of the biggest names on the continent and indeed the world. This is the place where icons like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter and Manchester United fight for the famous European trophy.

Taking place on weeknights, fans participating in online betting around the Champions League can place wagers on specific gameweeks, individual matches and results. The format begins with a league phase featuring a total of 36 teams who play eight games each against drawn opposition before the top eight progress to the Last 16 and the sides in ninth to 24th first compete in a play-off round. With so much action taking place, fans of this tournament can explore various online betting offers and promotions like free bets and bonuses which have the potential to enhance individual betting sessions on Champions League nights.

Premier League

The Premier League is now considered the ultimate division on the planet as it features some of the most storied football clubs on the planet together with unrivalled drama and unpredictability at both ends of the table. Heavyweights like Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have been top dogs, Chelsea and Manchester City have come to the fore in recent decades and historic sides like Everton and Aston Villa have led the way and enjoyed success during the first century of the football league.

With teams struggling at the wrong end of the standings capable of springing a shock on the sides at the top, it’s incredibly difficult to predict correct scorelines which adds to the fun and fuels the popularity of the league. Billions of fans across more than 200 territories watch football in the English top-flight with wagers place on results, goals scored, European qualification and relegation.

MLS

The MLS may not have been around as long as the Premier League but has grown rapidly over the last three decades and now boasts players like the legendary Lionel Messi who turns out for Inter Miami each week. More than five million fans attend live games at stadiums while the league is reportedly the sixth-most viewed on the planet.

This summer’s World Cup hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico showcased North America’s incredible venues and football in these parts will have certainly caught the attention of sports fans everywhere. The fact the MLS is still building and growing with new franchises adds to the intrigue and excitement felt by fans.

Varied Markets

Decades ago, soccer fans would be restricted in what they could wager on. Mainly people would be able to bet on results and goalscorers but not much else while all predictions would have to be made before the first kick of the ball. However, thanks to advances in technology, live in-play betting allows for wagering in real-time and a range of markets covering a wide range of possible outcomes to wager on.

Anytime Goalscorer

Beyond picking out a top scorer for the season, soccer followers can now back an individual to score anytime in an individual game which provides great scope. Whether a player starts a game or comes on from the bench, the wager is alive for the full ninety minutes no matter the scoreline which boosts how fans engage with the play. One strategy for this type of wager is to track players in strong scoring form; so a striker like Erling Haaland who scored five goals in the first five Premier League games for Manchester City this season will likely prove a popular pick.

Total Corners

It’s now possible to bet on both teams combined in terms of certain plays on the field and one of the popular picks is wagering on the total number of corners that will be recorded by the two sides in the match. It’s important to look at attacking and defensive metrics in order to gauge whether the tally will go over or under a specific amount of set-pieces when online betting on games.

Player to Be Carded

Soccer fans can also pick out a player they think will be shown a yellow or red card in an upcoming game. Statistics online will point to the players who regularly pick up bookings while it’s also wise to look at who is giving away the most fouls.

Overall, there are so many leagues, tournaments and markets to check out when it comes to online betting on matchday. No matter your preference for soccer around the world, your favorite division will be covered and so many different events to predict.