H2H is the head-to-head history of two teams: match dates, results and tournaments. It helps to see whether a certain scenario repeated in their games — for example high scoring, many cards or home advantage.
What can be seen in H2H
Head-to-head history can show the peculiarities of a specific pair of teams. For example, matches between them often end with many goals, finish with a low number of goals or are accompanied by a large number of cards. But the repetition of one scenario in several games does not yet mean that it will necessarily repeat again.
Why H2H can be misleading
A few past meetings are too small a sample for reliable conclusions. In addition, over time line-ups, coaches, tactics and the level of the teams change. Therefore recent matches are usually more useful than meetings played several years ago. One should be especially careful with a series of two or three similar results — it may be a simple coincidence.
How to use H2H in analysis
- Use head-to-head as an additional factor, not as the main argument for a bet.
- Take into account where the matches were played: results at home and away can differ noticeably.
- Pay more attention to recent meetings played with similar line-ups and coaches.
- Check the found pattern with the help of retroanalysis on a large sample of matches — this will help to distinguish a stable trend from a random coincidence.