What is Away Win? Away Win Explained in 2 minutes
Mike Goodpaster Last Verified
31/03/2021
An away win is one of the simplest soccer betting markets to understand. It means you are backing the visiting team to win the match in regular time, without needing to predict the scoreline or winning margin.
In this guide, we’ll explain what an away win means, how away win betting works, and why the market can sometimes offer strong value. You’ll also find examples, strategy tips, live betting guidance, and similar soccer betting markets to consider.
Away Win in Betting Explained
An away win happens when the visiting team wins a match at the home team’s stadium. In soccer betting, this usually means the away team must be ahead after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not normally count unless the sportsbook clearly states otherwise.
For example, if Liverpool are playing Manchester City at Anfield, Liverpool are the home team and Manchester City are the away team. If Manchester City win the match 2-1, that result is classed as an away win.
The away win is usually part of the standard 1X2 market. In this market, “1” means a home win, “X” means a draw, and “2” means an away win. If you choose the away win, your bet only wins if the visiting team wins the match.
An away win bet will lose if the home team wins or if the match ends in a draw. This is different from markets like draw no bet, where your stake may be returned if the match finishes level.
Away Win Betting Strategies
Away win betting is not just about choosing the stronger team. The home team often has an advantage because of familiar surroundings, home support, and reduced travel demands. That means away wins can be harder to predict, but they may also offer better odds.
To find value, you should look for matches where the away team has clear strengths that can overcome the home advantage. This could be anything - stronger recent form, better attacking numbers, fewer injuries, or a tactical style that works well away from home.
It's also a good idea to check team news before placing your bet. A home team missing key defenders or resting players before a bigger fixture may be more vulnerable than the odds suggest. Equally, an away team with a strong counter-attacking setup may be well suited to playing on the road.
⚽ Compare Home and Away Form
Do not rely only on league position. Some teams perform much better at home than away, while others are comfortable playing on the road. Check the home team’s recent home record and the away team’s recent away record before making a selection.
📋 Check Team News and Lineups
Injuries, suspensions, and squad rotation can have a major impact on away win betting. If the home team is missing key players or the away team has its strongest lineup available, the away win may become more appealing.
🧠 Consider Tactical Matchups
Some away teams are built to absorb pressure and counter quickly. This can be effective against home teams that dominate possession but leave space behind their defence. Look at playing styles, not just results.
📊 Study Recent Performance Data
Expected goals, shots on target, big chances created, and defensive errors can all help you judge whether an away team is performing better than recent results suggest. A team may be undervalued if its performances are stronger than its results.
⏱️ Wait for Confirmed Lineups
Odds may move once lineups are announced, but waiting can give you more certainty. This is especially useful if you suspect the home team may rotate players or the away team may start a stronger side than expected.
Real Life Examples of Away Win Betting
Away win betting is easier to understand once you place it into a real match situation. Let’s say Arsenal are playing Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal are the home team, while Tottenham are the away team.
If you place an away win bet on Tottenham, you need Tottenham to win the match in regular time. A 1-0, 2-1, or 3-2 Tottenham victory would all count as an away win. The exact score does not matter.
However, if Arsenal win or the match ends in a draw, your away win bet loses. For example, a 1-1 draw would not be enough, even if Tottenham played well or had more chances.
Away win bets can also appear in cup competitions and international matches. However, you should always check the market rules. Most standard away win bets are settled after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, not after extra time or penalties.
Is Away Win Betting Available at Popular US Sportsbooks?
Yes, away win betting is widely available at popular US sportsbooks. It is one of the more popular, core soccer betting markets and as such is usually listed as part of the main match result, moneyline, or 1X2 market.
Major brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365, BetMGM, Caesars, ESPN BET, and Fanatics usually offer away win betting for major soccer competitions. This can include the Premier League, Champions League, MLS, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Liga MX, and international tournaments.
The wording may vary depending on the sportsbook. Some operators may list the market as “Away Win,” while others may show the away team’s name in the match result or moneyline section.
Are Away Win Bets Available for Live Betting?
Yes, away win bets are often available for live betting. In-play soccer markets usually update throughout the match as the score, match tempo, red cards, injuries, and momentum change.
For example, if the away team starts strongly and creates several early chances, its live away win odds may shorten. If the home team scores first, the away win odds will usually become much higher.
Live away win betting can be useful if you want to watch the match before making a decision. You may spot that the away team is controlling possession, creating better chances, or finding space behind the home defence.
However, live odds move quickly! A goal, red card, or major injury can change the market within seconds, so make sure you understand the price and market rules before confirming your bet.
How is an Away Win used in Sports Betting?
In most cases, placing a bet on an away win will lead to better odds than betting on a home win, because the assumption is generally that the home team has an advantage, and is therefore more likely to win. The downside to this, of course, is that an away win is usually less likely to happen.
Making successful bets of this kind involves studying the form of the two teams in question to see if the home advantage rule is actually taking effect. In the case of a team near the top of the league playing one which is fighting off relegation, the away win may even be seen as the more likely result.
The key to finding value in this market lies in spotting those matches where circumstances make an away win more likely that it would seem at first glance. It could be that the home team is resting players for a big match coming up, or has a star striker out injured.
Alternatively, the away team may specialise in the kind of containing tactics, punctuated by fast counter attacks, which can often lead to the kind of unexpected away win which commentators tend to call a smash and grab.
Waiting until the line-ups are announced will mean having a clear idea of exactly how strong the home and away teams are, but using longer term knowledge – i.e. it’s a Champions League week so Tottenham Hotspurs may play a weakened side – means bets can be placed in advance, and perhaps take advantage of better odds.
As with almost all sports betting, successfully predicting an away win is all about doing enough homework.
Similar Bets to Away Win
Away win betting is just one way you can back the visiting team. If you like this type of market, you may also want to consider related soccer bets that offer different levels of risk and flexibility.
Some of these markets protect you if the match ends in a draw, while others focus on goals, handicaps, or whether the away team can avoid defeat:
🏆 Away Team Draw No Bet
Away team draw no bet means you are backing the away team to win, but your stake is returned if the match ends in a draw. This market usually offers lower odds than a straight away win, but it gives you extra protection against a level result.
⚖️ Away Team Double Chance
Away team double chance covers two possible outcomes: an away win or a draw. Your bet wins if the away team avoids defeat. This can be useful when you think the visiting side is strong enough to get a result but you are not fully confident it will win.
➕ Away Team Handicap
An away team handicap gives the visiting side a virtual advantage or disadvantage. For example, away team +1.5 means your bet can still win if the away team wins, draws, or loses by one goal. Away team -1.5 means the away team must win by at least two goals.
⚽ Away Team to Score
This market focuses only on whether the away team scores at least one goal. It does not matter whether the team wins, draws, or loses. This can be useful if you expect the away side to create chances but are unsure about the final result.
📊 Away Win and Both Teams to Score
This combines two outcomes in one bet. The away team must win, and both teams must score. For example, a 2-1 away win would qualify, but a 1-0 away win would not. This market usually offers higher odds than a standard away win.
Final Thoughts on Away Win Betting
Away win betting is a straightforward market where you back the visiting team to win the match. It is easy to understand, widely available, and commonly used by soccer bettors who believe the away side can overcome home advantage.
Before placing an away win bet, check recent form, injuries, lineups, tactical matchups, and the sportsbook’s rules. Away wins can offer appealing odds, but they require careful research because draws and home wins both settle as losing outcomes.
