What “Away (0:5)” Handicap Means
- You’re betting on the away team, but with a (0:5) handicap.
- This means, before the match starts, the away team is considered to be 5 goals ahead.
- After the real match ends, you add +5 goals to the away team’s score to determine if your bet wins.
This type of bet is usually offered in cup games or friendlies where the difference in quality between teams is very big (for example, a Premier League side vs a lower non-league team).
How It Works with an Example
Let’s say:
- Manchester City (Home) vs Bradford City (Away).
- The bookmaker offers a handicap market: Away (0:5).
That means, for betting purposes:
- Bradford City starts the game with +5 goals advantage.
- So, when the match ends, you’ll add 5 goals to Bradford City’s actual score.
Example Scenarios:
| Real Score (after match) | Add +5 to Away (Bradford) | Result for Away (0:5) bet |
|---|---|---|
| Man City 5 – 0 Bradford | Bradford 0+5 = 5 → 5-5 | Push (stake returned) |
| Man City 4 – 0 Bradford | Bradford 0+5 = 5 → 4-5 | Win (Away covers) |
| Man City 6 – 0 Bradford | Bradford 0+5 = 5 → 6-5 | Lose (Home covers) |
| Man City 2 – 1 Bradford | Bradford 1+5 = 6 → 2-6 | Win |
So for your Away (0:5) bet to win:
- The home team must not win by 6+ goals.
- In other words, the away team can lose by up to 5 goals exactly for you to at least get your stake back (push), but lose by 6+ goals and you lose the bet.
Why Bookmakers Offer This
This market is common when:
- A much weaker team plays a much stronger team.
- Bettors want to “level the playing field” with a big handicap.
Key Betting Tips for Away (0:5) Handicap
- Check the team news: If the stronger home team rotates heavily or rests players, the weaker away team is less likely to lose by 6+ goals, making your +5 safer.
- Look at historical results: Big clubs rarely win by 6+ goals, even vs minnows. Check how often the home team has beaten opponents by 6+.
- Cup games vs League games: In knockout cups, big teams sometimes go easier once they’ve secured the result. This benefits big handicaps like (0:5).
- Weather & pitch conditions: Bad weather, poor pitch, or away team “parking the bus” can help keep the score low.
- Risk alert: One red card or early goals for the big team can completely blow out a +5 handicap.
Quick Formula to Remember
- Away (0:5) = Away team +5 goals.
- You win if (Away goals + 5) > Home goals.
- Push if (Away goals + 5) = Home goals.
- Lose if (Away goals + 5) < Home goals.
Would you like me to make a chart of win/draw/lose outcomes for (0:5) — like a quick visual cheat sheet for your bets? (It makes it very easy to read at a glance.)