The key to profitable betting is research, and metrics like dribbling stats are some of the most underrated and misinterpreted in the industry. We’re going to de-dunk the myths around the dribble stat and show exactly how we incorporate it into our winning daily betting tips.
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What Are Dribbling Stats & Why Are They Relevant?
Some would argue it’s a forgotten art form in the modern-day game – thanks for that, Pep – but dribbling still plays a big role in betting and not just for markets directly linked to it.
When we talk about stats, the easiest way to explain it would be the total number of dribbles per game – this can include successful and unsuccessful. What constitutes a “dribble”?
OPTA's Dribble Definition
A dribble is any attempt by a player to beat an opponent when in possession of the ball. If a player beats the defender while maintaining possession, this is a successful dribble. If a player is tackled, this is an unsuccessful dribble.
When we combine this with betting, it’s essential to understand how the numbers work, as it allows us to identify players who can, essentially, create opportunities.
One of the best modern-day examples of this is Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid. He’s often right at the top of La Liga dribbling stats and drives that attacking force down the left flank. It’s no surprise here that when he plays well, the team plays well, and these attacking contributions are at the heart of that.
How Do Dribbling Stats Influence Betting Markets?
We’re getting next-level in terms of betting strategy when we combine it with dribbling stats in football. There are, of course, dedicated markets linked to it, but there’s also the broader picture of related markets, which is where things get interesting.
Player performance markets are where it all starts. These are your player to complete X dribbles, over/under dribbles and successful take-ons. Jeremy Doku’s dribbling stats show that he averages 3.9 dribbles per game, so you can use this data to find value in betting markets. We can even exploit this when he comes up against weaker full-backs and assume his success rate will increase.
Related markets are so underrated with attempted dribbling stats. Fouls drawn is a great example of this. Anthony Gordon is one of the elite when it comes to Premier League dribbling stats and has drawn 58 fouls (the second most) this season alone. If we’re betting on Newcastle games, we can instantly jump to markets like Anthony Gordon to be fouled X times or players to be booked (targeting whoever is up against Gordon for the day).
Understanding Dribbling Stats in Football Analytics
Basic dribbling stats tell us how often a player dribbles. It’s that simple. But we need to use this data to quantify the effectiveness of the dribbles.
For example, are they leading to more chances created? Does the player have higher-than-average assist numbers? Does the team score more goals when dribble success rates are higher for certain players?
And from there, it’s a numbers game that we link to betting. So, if Bruno Fernandes’s dribbling stats stated he makes 4.2 attempted dribbles per game, we could potentially look to bet on markets such as over 3.5 dribbles. It’s a simplistic example, but it highlights how we can link analytics to betting.
Advanced Metrics: Expected Dribbling Explained
Sites like StatsBomb have developed numerous advanced metrics related to dribbling statistics in football. These include expected values to carries and dribbles (xCarry, xDribble), which give us a good indication of what we can expect to happen throughout the game. The idea is that these numbers tell us how much closer to scoring each dribble or carry brings a team.
To expand on this, StatsBomb have created an On-Ball Value (OBV) metric that breaks down the value from each event. This includes where and how the dribble occurred, which determines its effectiveness.
For example, if a player beats someone outside their own 18-yard box, that will have little to no relevance to scoring a goal. Whereas, if they consistently beat players in the final third, it will be much more effective.
From a betting perspective, we can use OBV to identify overperforming – and underperforming -dribblers, which then links to markets such as goals scored, fouls, bookings, assists, and even corner betting.
Does Dribbling Relate to Other Football Statistics?
Dribbling doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It has the potential to influence dozens of metrics that can all lead to betting. This is one of the many reasons why, from a betting perspective, it’s a massively underrated statistic.
Let’s look at how it links with other football stats:
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Fouls won – Dribblers draw fouls. This isn’t groundbreaking news, but again, it’s overlooked. Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has 49 dribbles and 58 fouls won this season. More fouls than dribbles, which is crazy!
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xG/Assists/key passes – Elite chance creators almost always dribble well. It’s being able to find half a yard or beat a man that gives them time, and when you’re the world’s best, time is money, baby. Mo Salah is a prime example, with 51 dribbles and 68 key passes, resulting in 27 goals and 17 assists so far.
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Touches in the final third – Dribblers will always demand the ball, and they often get it because they’re creative. Take Brighton’s Karou Mitoma, who has 127 progressive carries so far this season – almost all of them started in the final third.
Key Players & Positions for Dribbling Stats
It makes sense that not all positions will yield high dribbling statistics. You won't see Newcastle’s Dan Burn lead with the most dribbles this season. However, there are specific positions and players you can target, which we will expand on below.
Tactical Roles Contributing to Dribbling Stats
Wingers and wide forwards are an obvious place to start. With 4-3-3 dominating the modern game, these roles are very much en vogue, and they have the license to take on full-backs.
One of the more interesting developments with these positions is the deployment of inverted wingers (right-footed players on the left; left-footed players on the right). They often cut inside to shoot or play a through ball, but the sudden change in direction creates time and space, allowing them to go past opponents and increase successful dribbling stats. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is currently one of the best in the game at this, with 101 attempts so far in 2024/25, which is the most dribbles this season in La Liga.
Full-backs and wing-backs are a great place to look for value in these markets. We’re seeing a definite shift in attempted dribble stats from these positions. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a prime example, having completed 47 successful dribbles from 67 attempts this season. That’s a 70% success rate from right back, highlighting how influential he is, while not necessarily someone you’d instantly go to for his attacking prowess.
How to Identify Dribbling Trends?
We’re huge fans of betting streaks and trends. It’s one of the easiest ways to verify the value of your bets with actual data. Dribbling markets are no different, and there are several ways you can use this.
Historical data is one of the best ways to anticipate trends. Which players have adapted their games to dribble more, and how have they been more effective with the ball (Goals, assists, etc.)? Conversely, we can look at those on the decline, which might be an area where we can outsmart the bookies.
| Player | 2023/24 Att. Dribbles /90 | 2023/24 Dribble Completion % | 2024/25 Att. Dribbles /90 | 2024/25 Dribble Completion % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammed Kudus | 4.70 | 60.8 | 3.39 | 48.6 |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | 0.90 | 64.0 | 1.93 | 62.7 |
Kudus and Wan-Bissaka feature again, and we want to show you this because they’re both West Ham players. Kudus led the Premier League dribbling stats in 23/24 with 117 in total. He has now been asked to play a slightly different role under Graham Potter, which means fewer attempts, but this allows Wan-Bissaka, a full-back, to benefit from it, with his numbers more than doubling over the same period. Trending.
Home vs Away Trends in Dribbling Stats
Before we jumped into our dribbling stats article, we’d have straight up assumed that there would be considerably more dribbles attempted by the home team than the away team. Teams are generally more attacking at home and tend to dominate possession stats.
But a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine (yes, quite random) found that home teams averaged 24.4 dribbles per game, compared with away teams at 22.0. So, just a 10% increase overall. Still significant, but not the margin that you might expect.
It’s still enough to use this to our advantage from a betting angle. If the odds are set based on seasonal averages without considering home and away discrepancies, there is value to be had here.
Best Dribbling Betting Markets
Annoyingly, there aren’t a ton of bookies that consistently offer markets on dribbling. When Messi was in his pomp at Barcelona, you’d find a lot of specials that were linked to him, particularly in bigger games like El Clasico and Champions League finals.
But they do crop up every now and again, and if you’re looking for somewhere to bet, then bet365 is going to be your best choice, as they’ve an incredible range of football betting markets to choose from.
For this market, you’re betting on the total number of dribbles per game from an individual player. You’ll have the option to bet in brackets (1-3, 4-6, etc.) or on the over/under (O/U 4.5, O/U 5.5, etc.).
Similar to the above, but instead of betting on the total (which includes unsuccessful outcomes), you’re betting on the number of successful ones only. Again, you might see the option for brackets and over/under markets.
Key Factors Impacting Dribbling Betting
The art of dribbling impacts multiple aspects of betting. It’s not just a case of a player going past their opponent, but more to do with the end product, such as goals, assists, bookings and fouls.
Let’s take a look at factors that you must consider when using this market for betting purposes.
Playing Style and Press Intensity
The key area is how an opponent will tactically set up. The high press is another hugely popular tactic, especially in the Premier League, but it invites players to dribble past the press and can increase dribble stats.
What’s interesting in the 2024/25 season is that three of the top four dribblers are from teams in the bottom half of the table. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), and Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves) are second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the league for the highest dribble success rate.
All three teams sit a little deeper than most and utilise the skill sets of these players to bypass the high press and get them moving up the pitch.
Player Matchups (1v1)
Dream scenario – great dribblers against weak full-backs. From a betting perspective, this is when things start to get interesting.
Look away now, Liverpool fans, but the best example of this is Trent Alexander-Arnold. He’s a brilliant footballer, but it’s fair to say he struggles defensively. For example, he has already been beaten 55 times this season, so when the likes of Jeremy Doku, who has the most successful dribbles this season, play against Trent, it’s unlikely to be a fun day for the Liverpudlian.
Player Fitness and Fatigue
Players are fitter and stronger than ever, so it takes even more out of creative wingers and wide forwards to complete dribbles. If they’re tired, the chances of them wanting to go on lung-busting sprints and mazy runs will lessen.
It’s good to keep an eye on player workload for this, especially with teams that play European competitions. A player making their third appearance in a week won’t have the energy or desire to continue to go past people.
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You can use these factors to target more than just dribbling betting markets. Related markets, such as total fouls or players to be carded (when facing prolific dribblers), are great extensions of the dribble stat. Also, contextualise the data. For example, if Salah is averaging three successful dribbles per game but comes up against a sound, deep-lying defence away to Brentford, then the under market may be the value bet play.
How to Spot Value Bets Using Dribbling Stats
To be successful at sports betting, you must find value. We’re constantly looking to gain an edge with all our betting tips, but for dribbling or markets related to it, we’ve refined our strategy specifically for value betting. Here’s exactly how we do it:
Our Expert Dribbling Betting Tips
Leveraging dribbling stats is an incredibly strong tool. It can link to multiple markets, bets, and, of course, what we’re all looking for: value. Here are some of our expert betting tips that you can apply to this data set.
Don’t Miss Any Match Stats
The use of match stats is a must. You’re looking to find metrics like the number of dribbles, dribbles completed, assists, and goals for the attacker. For the defender, check out fouls, yellow cards, number of times dribbled past and tackles.
If you want to get creative, make a pre-game baseline in terms of numbers and keep an eye on the live betting markets. Identify whether players are under or over-performing and explore related markets to find value opportunities. For example, if Raheem Sterling’s dribbling stats suggest he averages 3.8 dribbles per game, but he has only made one in the first half, the numbers indicate that he could be in line for a big second half, and we can bet accordingly based on this.
Note Team News and Tactical Changes
New managers are one of the biggest reasons that dribble stats change. Muhammed Kudus at West Ham is a prime example of this, averaging 4.70 dribbles per 90 under Julen Lopetegui but just 3.39 under new boss Graham Potter in a more disciplined role.
Numbers can change game by game as well. When teams face opponents with a high percentage of dribblers, they will do everything they can to counter that. The now infamous “low block” is a term frequently used in modern-day football, designed to shut down any room, get plenty of players behind the ball, and allow little to no space. It’s like the anti-dribbler of football.
Be Mindful of Overreactions
Don’t just run with stats from the previous game. These can be outliers and offset a more stable baseline for players. For example, if a player had 10 dribbles in the previous game, it doesn’t mean it’ll happen every week. It may have just been a favourable matchup.
Betting markets can overreact to short-term numbers rather than play the long game. We want to do the latter. Try and use data from at least the last five games, and for metrics like dribbling, we can extend this to the current and even previous season. Consistency can vary, and this is an area that requires a longer shelf life to create a notable uptick or downtick in terms of trends.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Dribbling stats offer deep insights into football betting. It’s important to understand that they aren’t just highlight reel material and can be used across multiple markets, including cards, fouls, goals, assists and ultimately, results. So, next time you place a bet, look at those silky dribblers running riot on the wing, and the dribbling stats might just be the edge needed to find that illusive value bet.
Dribble Stats FAQs
Dribbling stats are based on attempts for a player to beat their opponent with the ball. If the player goes past their opponent, this is a successful dribble. If they fail, then obviously, this is unsuccessful. Stats are generally displayed as the number of dribbles attempted and the success rate in percentages.
Admittedly, these aren’t all that common, but some will cater to dribbling. These come in the form of over/under total dribbles per player in the game and group betting (E.G., 1-3 dribbles, 4-6 dribbles, etc.).
This represents the average number of dribbles made across 90 minutes of play. It’s used instead of per game, as it only includes the minutes a player was on the pitch. For example, a player might average 2 dribbles per game, but per 90, this number might be higher at 4.5, which provides a clearer representation of how frequently they perform this action.
There might not be a lot of dedicated markets, but dribbling stats can link to multiple other betting markets. These include fouls (players who dribble more are generally fouled more), cards, assists, goals and ultimately, match results.
