Corner Betting Guide – Key Strategies for Success

Not too long ago, analysis of an upcoming football match was a simple affair – you’d pick the team you expected to win, provide a reasonable explanation for your selection, and place your bet in the 1X2 market.

How things have changed. In 2025, the simple win-lose-draw punt is but one of hundreds of markets available for the biggest games. These days, we can bet on all manner of stats and statistics – including the subject of this article – corners.

What is Corner Betting?

Nothing complicated here. Corner betting revolves around predicting the number of corner kicks in a football match. Available in the top leagues around the world, the most popular markets include:

• Total Corners (Over/Under) - Will the number of corners in a match be over or under a specified total, e.g., over/under 10.5.
• Team Corners - How many corners will a specific team take? Typically presented in an Over/Under format.
• Team with Most Corners - Which side will take the most corners in a game?
• Corner Handicaps - In this bet, one team receives a head start in the corner count - for example, Newcastle United -4 vs Sunderland +4. In this instance, a bet on Newcastle -4 would pay out if the Magpies won at least five more corners than Sunderland. Any other corner count would result in a win if you backed Sunderland +4.
• Corner Race - Bet on which team will be the first to win a certain number of corners, e.g., race to 5 corners. This can be an excellent option for sides who start games on the front foot.
• First/Second Half Corners - How many corners will there be in the first/second half? Usually offered as over/under.

But Aren’t Corners Random?

The ball hits the defender’s leg and goes out for a throw-in, an inch to the left, and it goes out for a corner. There is no denying the element of randomness in the corner markets. However, they can be more predictable than the match result.

Consider a match in which the hot favourites dominate possession, hit the woodwork multiple times, and run into a keeper having the game of his life. Yet, they lose 1-0 after a single counterattack. In this instance, the final score doesn’t reflect the team’s dominance, but their corner count likely will.

In football, it is much easier to win a corner than it is to score a goal. Far from just another random stat, corners tend to mirror the pattern of play in a way that doesn’t always show up in the final score.

Key Betting Factors

If taken seriously, corner betting can become far more than a quick odds boost in your Bet Builder. But what should you consider when picking out those bets?

• Quality Counts - The better the side, the more corners they are likely to win. Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal were the corner kick kings in the 2024/25 Premier League season.
• Wingers are Key - Teams with wingers who like to get crosses in or take on defenders are prime candidates for corners. Look for sides with an attacking style that centres around getting the ball out wide.
• Pitch Size - The recommended size of a Premier League pitch is around 7000 square meters. Actual sizes vary widely. The pitch at the City Ground measures 7,455 square metres, whilst the playing surface at Craven Cottage is only 6,500 square metres. On smaller pitches, there is less space for wingers to work, resulting in attacks switching inside and fewer corners. One angle worth considering is to look for a side with a large home pitch when they play away on a smaller ground. Deprived of their usual space, they may underperform in the corner markets.
• Weather Conditions - Premier League grounds may be largely enclosed, but they are not immune to the British weather. Players make more mistakes in rainy conditions – upping the average corner count. Wind also matters. If a team has a tailwind at their back when the game kicks off, they may be more likely to win the first-half corner count.

Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common pitfalls when betting on corners:

• Don’t Focus on League Averages - In the 2024-25 Premier League season the average number of corners per game was 10.2, but not all teams are created equal. It is sound advice to look at the stats of the individual teams rather than the broader average.
• Home vs Away - Pay close attention to the respective home/away figures as sides often set up differently on the road.
• Overvaluing Possession - As a general rule, the side with the most possession is more likely to win the corner count. However, it is important to consider the type of possession. Do sides aim to create chances quickly? Or are they content to cycle the ball through defence and midfield? Direct, attacking possession is far more conducive to creating corners.
• Ignoring Motivation - When backing over in the Total Corners market, we want to be sure that both sides will attack at their usual levels. However, this isn’t always the case in late-season dead rubbers, or games where a draw suits both teams.

Dive into the Data

Data is key when betting on corners. The following sites all offer valuable info – much of which is free to access.

• Footystats
• Sofascore
• WhoScored
• Understat
• BetExplorer

Cornering the In-Play Markets

Your research may suggest a game will play out in a particular way. However, a completely different picture may emerge when the game kicks off. In our experience, In-Play odds often fail to adjust from pre-match expectations – or at least they don’t react quickly enough.

By reacting to what is actually happening, rather than what you expected to happen, you can gain an edge in the In-Play corners markets. Examples include:

• Unexpected Early Momentum - This can create value in the First Corner, or Corner Race markets.
• React Quickly to Substitutions - The addition of attacking wide players obviously increases the chance of corners. As does the arrival of a physical forward who thrives in the air. Rest assured, his entrance will come with instructions to play the ball wide and send crosses into the area.
• Change in Game State - A shift in the scoreline – especially if one side falls behind – can drastically alter the pattern of play. Teams who have sat back may immediately switch to a more attacking formation when they concede.

Corner Betting Checklist

As we can see, there are many things to consider when betting on corners. As such, we close with a handy checklist to assist with the decision-making process:

• Is one team likely to dominate possession and territory?
• Are both teams motivated to attack?
• Do either or both of the sides play with direct wingers?
• Is heavy rain or a strong wind forecast?
• How big is the pitch?
• What does the team-specific home/away corner data suggest?

Bear all of the above in mind, and corner betting may become a consistently profitable weapon in your punting armoury for the new Premier League season.