What Does Under 5.5 Bookings Mean?
In football betting, Under 5.5 Bookings means you are predicting that a match will produce 5 or fewer total bookings(yellow and red cards counted in booking points).
Most bookmakers use booking points to calculate this:
- Yellow card = 10 points
- Red card = 25 points
- Second yellow leading to red = counts as 35 points total (10 + 25)
Under 5.5 bookings simply means:
The match must have 0–5 total cards
If the match reaches 6 or more cards, the bet loses
How Bookings Are Counted
Some bookies count cards, others count points. The logic is the same:
Under 5.5 cards → max 5 cards allowed
Under 55 booking points → max 55 points allowed
Always check which system your bookmaker uses.
Example Using a Team (Manchester City)
Manchester City are known for:
- High ball possession
- Controlled, tactical play
- Low defensive aggression
- Fewer fouls compared to high-pressing teams
This makes Man City games ideal candidates for Under bookings markets.
Example Match
Manchester City vs. Bournemouth
Let’s imagine the match finishes with these cards:
- Man City: 1 yellow card (10 pts)
- Bournemouth: 2 yellow cards (20 pts)
Total Booking Points = 30 pts (or 3 cards)
Your Under 5.5 bookings bet WINS
Because the total bookings (3 cards) is below 5.5.
Another Example (Losing Scenario)
If the match ends with:
- Man City: 2 yellow cards
- Bournemouth: 4 yellow cards
Total cards = 6
Your Under 5.5 loses
Why Choose Manchester City for Under Bookings?
- They commit fewer fouls due to possession dominance
- Many opponents sit back instead of playing aggressive pressing
- Referees often give fewer cards in City home games
- Tactical structure leads to fewer reckless challenges
This pattern makes City matches ideal for lower card totals—especially in Premier League fixtures against weaker teams.
When Under 5.5 Bookings Is a Good Bet
You should consider the Under 5.5 market when:
Teams play possession or technical football
(e.g., Man City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich)
Referee has a history of low card distribution
(Some referees average < 3 cards per game)
The match is low-intensity
(e.g., mid-table clash with nothing at stake)
No derby rivalry or history of heated encounters
Weather and pitch conditions are good
(Wet pitches lead to sliding tackles → more cards)
When to Avoid Under 5.5 Bookings
You should avoid this bet when:
It’s a derby
(Arsenal vs Tottenham, Real Madrid vs Barcelona)
Matches with high stakes
(Cup finals, relegation battles, Champions League knockout)
A referee known for strict carding is officiating
Teams with aggressive defending
(e.g., Atletico Madrid, Leeds, Getafe)
Physical or fast transitions → more tactical fouls
Realistic Match Examples
Good for Under 5.5
- Man City vs Burnley
- Barcelona vs Cadiz
- PSG vs Nantes
These games usually have 1–4 total cards.
Bad for Under 5.5
- Liverpool vs Man United (derby)
- Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla
- Inter Milan vs Juventus
These can easily reach 6–9 cards.
Betting Tips for Under 5.5 Bookings
1. Check referee stats
Some referees average low cards (2–3 per game). They are ideal for Under markets.
2. Look at team discipline trends
Man City, Barcelona, and PSG are typically low-card teams.
3. Avoid rivalry matches
Derbies produce high emotional intensity → more bookings.
4. Consider the match importance
Low-pressure matches = fewer aggressive tackles.
5. Track expected playing styles
Two possession teams → fewer fouls
Two pressing teams → more fouls
6. Use recent form
Check last 5 matches:
- If both teams have <3 cards per match → Under is strong.
7. Weather matters
Heavy rain = more sliding tackles → more bookings.
Summary
Under 5.5 bookings means you’re predicting that there will be 5 or fewer cards in the match.
Teams like Manchester City, who play controlled possession football, often produce low-card matches, making them solid examples for using this market.
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