Under 25.5 | Booking Points — Explained
Under 25.5 Booking Points means you are betting that the total booking points in a match will be 25 or fewer.
How Booking Points Work
Bookmakers award points based on cards:
- Yellow card = 10 points
- Red card = 25 points
- Maximum per player = 35 points (Yellow + Red)
For Under 25.5, bets win if the match total is 0–25 points
Lose if it reaches 26+ points
Simple Breakdown
| Scenario | Booking Points | Bet Result |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 yellow cards | 0–20 pts | WIN |
| 3 yellow cards | 30 pts | LOSE |
| 1 yellow + 1 red | 35 pts | LOSE |
| 2 yellow cards | 20 pts | WIN |
| 2 yellow + 1 yellow to another player | 30 pts | LOSE |
To win Under 25.5, the match must have no more than 2 yellow cards.
Team-Based Example (Using Manchester City)
Match Example:
Manchester City vs Bournemouth
City are known for:
- High ball possession
- Clean, controlled defending
- Low foul counts
- Very few cards per match
Event Timeline Example
- 1st half: City dominate possession → Bournemouth struggle but keep discipline
- 32′ — Bournemouth player gets 1 yellow card (10 pts)
- 2nd half: City control tempo, fouls remain low
- Match ends with 1 yellow card total (10 pts)
Final Booking Points = 10
Bet Result: Under 25.5 WINS
Another Example (Team with High Fouls)
Match: Wolves vs Burnley
These teams are more physical.
Sample Timeline:
- 14′ — Wolves defender yellow (10 pts)
- 48′ — Burnley midfielder yellow (10 pts) → 20 pts total
- 76′ — Another Burnley player yellow (10 pts) → 30 pts total
Final = 30 Booking Points
Bet Result: Under 25.5 LOSES
This example shows why team style matters.
Full Example Scenarios
Example 1 — WIN
- Only 1 yellow card = 10 points
Under 25.5 Wins
Example 2 — WIN
- 2 yellow cards = 20 points
Under 25.5 Wins
Example 3 — LOSS
- 3 yellow cards = 30 points
Under 25.5 Loses
Example 4 — LOSS
- 1 red card = 25 points
Still Under (just 25 pts) but if followed by any yellow, bet loses.
When Under 25.5 Is a Good Bet
Games with a dominant possession team
Example clubs:
- Manchester City
- Barcelona
- PSG
- Bayern Munich
These teams usually face fewer defensive actions → fewer fouls → fewer cards.
Friendly or low-stakes matches
Referees are more relaxed.
Referees with a low-card history
Some referees average 2 cards or fewer per match.
Teams with low aggression or technical play
- Brighton
- Real Madrid
- Villarreal
These teams often avoid unnecessary fouls.
When to Avoid Under 25.5
- Derby matches (high emotion)
- Relegation battles
- Europa League/Champions League knockout matches
- Referees known for strict officiating
- Teams with aggressive press (e.g., Atalanta, Bilbao)
Smart Betting Tips for Under 25.5 Booking Points
Check referee stats
Pick referees averaging < 3 cards per game.
Avoid physical or rivalry games
Look for calm, open, possession-heavy matches.
Look at injuries
If key defenders are missing, teams may foul more.
Team discipline forms
Select matches where teams average:
- < 2 yellow cards per game
Live betting option
If the first 20 minutes are calm with no cards, odds often improve.
Quick Summary
Under 25.5 Booking Points =
You need 0–25 total points → usually 0–2 yellow cards maximum.
It works best in:
- Calm games
- Technical teams
- Low-card referees
Avoid:
- Derbies
- Physical matchups
- Strict referees