How to Read Expected Goals (xG) for Smarter Soccer Bets
xG tells you how likely a shot was to score. Arsenal shoots 15 times. Expected goals: 2.1. They score 1. The model said they should have scored 2. That's the read.
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xG (expected goals) tells you how likely a shot was to score based on its type and position. From 8 yards, straight on: 0.4 xG. From 30 yards, off-angle: 0.02 xG.
Arsenal shoots 15 times in a match. Total xG: 2.1. They score 1 goal. The model said they should have scored 2.1.
Over 38 matches, if your xG is consistently above your actual goals, something is wrong. Either your shots are bad luck or your finishing is poor.
For betting: track xG over five games. If a team's xG is 8 but their goals are 5, they're likely to improve.
Additional Information
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