Here is our calendar of leagues showing you exactly where the mid-season breaks are. Some leagues have still not confirmed their full schedules for 2021-22, but updates will be performed when information becomes available.
If you are not already aware, Soccerwidow’s HDAFU Tables are the analytical tool we use for 1X2 (Home-Draw-Away-Favourite-Underdog) portfolio betting.
The level of detail contained in the tables even stretches to distinguishing between the first and second halves of a league season, where markedly different patterns of results are usually found.
Likewise, to help you plan holidays around your Over/Under Cluster Tables, please take note of the dates below.
We begin with the more popular Winter Leagues; the Summer Leagues are detailed on Page 2.
2021-22 Winter Leagues
Start Date: 23rd July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 11th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 12th February, 2022
Finish Date: c.22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (22 matches each team). The league then splits into two groups of six: Championship and Relegation groups. Here, the six teams in each group play each other twice, home and away (a further 10 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to seven teams guaranteeing a minimum number of 60 games for betting (31.25% of all applicable games) and a maximum number of 72 games (37.50%), depending upon the nature of the six-team splits (i.e. min. 4/3 or 3/4; max. 6/1 or 1/6). All end-of-season Euro League and Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 23rd July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 26th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 15th January, 2022
Finish Date: 9th April, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (34 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to eleven teams guaranteeing 110 games for betting (35.95% of all applicable games). All end-of-season Euro League, Championship Group, and Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 16th July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 28th November, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 20th February, 2022
Finish Date: c.22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (22 matches each team). The league then splits into two groups of six: Championship and Relegation groups. Here, the six teams in each group play each other twice, home and away (a further 10 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to nine teams guaranteeing a minimum number of 104 games for betting (54.17% of all applicable games) and a maximum number of 108 games (56.25%), depending upon the nature of the six-team splits (i.e. min. 5/4 or 4/5; max. 6/3 or 3/6). All end-of-season Euro League play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 13th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 1st January, 2022
2nd Half Starts: 15th January, 2022
Finish Date: 22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to twelve teams guaranteeing 132 games for betting (34.74% of all games).
Start Date: 8th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 22nd December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 9th January, 2022
Finish Date: 21st May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to twelve teams guaranteeing 132 games for betting (34.74% of all games).
Start Date: 24th July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 21st December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 8th January, 2022
Finish Date: 14th May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to six teams guaranteeing 30 games for betting (7.89% of all games).
Start Date: 13th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 18th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 8th January, 2022
Finish Date: 14nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (34 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to twelve teams guaranteeing 132 games for betting (43.14% of all applicable games). All end-of-season Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 22nd August, 2021
1st Half Ends: T.B.A. December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: T.B.A. January, 2022
Finish Date: 22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to fifteen teams guaranteeing 210 games for betting (55.26% of all games).
Start Date: 13th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 23rd December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 14th January, 2022
Finish Date: 15th May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (34 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to eleven teams guaranteeing 110 games for betting (35.95% of all applicable games). All end-of-season Euro League and Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 23rd July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 18th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 5th February, 2022
Finish Date: 21st May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (34 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to eleven teams guaranteeing 110 games for betting (35.95% of all games).
Start Date: 8th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 29th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 9th January, 2022
Finish Date: 15th May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (34 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to ten teams guaranteeing 90 games for betting (29.41% of all applicable games). All end-of-season Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 23rd July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 11th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 26th February, 2022
Finish Date: 21st May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (30 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to eleven teams guaranteeing 110 games for betting (45.83% of all games).
Start Date: 13th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 19th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 2nd January, 2022
Finish Date: 22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to eleven teams guaranteeing 110 games for betting (28.95% of all games).
Start Date: 24th July, 2021
1st Half Ends: 18th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 29th January, 2022
Finish Date: 22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other four times, twice home and twice away (36 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to six teams guaranteeing 60 games for betting (33.33% of all applicable games). All end-of-season Relegation play-off games are excluded from our analyses and should be avoided for betting.
Start Date: 15th August, 2021
1st Half Ends: 26th December, 2021
2nd Half Starts: 9th January, 2022
Finish Date: 22nd May, 2022
Each team plays each other twice, home and away (38 matches each team). All of these games are included in our analyses and can be considered for betting using the HDAFU Tables. The Cluster Tables apply to ten teams guaranteeing 90 games for betting (23.68% of all games).
2021-22 Winter Leagues Cluster Tables Summary
Minimum Number of Applicable Games (all 15 leagues): 1,590
Maximum Number of Applicable Games (all 15 leagues): 1,606
Elena/Rob
Posting this here as it’s a calendar related questions. I’m interested in the take you guys may have on the coronavirus and the disruption it is having on the start of some of the summer leagues. China, of course, South Korea and now Japan are seeing it’s football games postponed indefinitely. We don’t know when the seasons will actually start, therefore do you think this will have any impact on the results distribution especially when considering 1st and 2nd half of season systems? Do you think this level of disruption should have any bearing on whether to pursue these particular leagues for betting purposes.
I’m attempting a summer league portfolio, but am a little concerned that betting on those particular affected leagues may not be wise in the circumstances due to the delayed start dates and possibly condensed/congested season which would be unlike any in the previous 5.
Your thoughts greatly appreciated.
Simon.
Hi Simon, nobody really knows how the virus will develop and if the world is truly facing a pandemic and what effect it will have on the economy and everything else.
However, I, as a statistician, see it for the economy far less devastating than many panic reactions suggest. So far, 80% of the infected people don’t show any or only very mild symptoms; the majority of them don’t even notice that they have the virus. The really big problem with these unaffected people is that they are carriers of this deadly virus for around 14 days. That’s a real problem and very high risk as it’s causing a very easy spread of this virus and hence, the intense control measures that are currently being put in place all over the world. All countries are working very hard to reduce the spread of the virus.
Of course, what must have an effect on the economy and businesses are the quarantines and lock-downs. However, how much and what exactly that is everybody’s guess. For example, in Italy, many A-League games have been recently played without a supporting crowd. However, I personally wouldn’t think that this should affect the game results, at least not as long all the players are still healthy, their managers and team around them as well as their families. But that is my opinion. Statistically, we will only know for sure next year.
Nevertheless, what I would suggest doing is to pick systems and monitor them for a while without putting on real big money. It doesn’t do any harm to start betting with real money a little bit later. Anyway, the first 6 weeks of every season are always a little bit bumpy, with or without a Coronavirus.
Good luck to you and everyone else who is reading this comment! Stay away from crowds for a while and try of not catching that virus! 🙂
Hey guys,
just before you spend money, consider this data is to the most extend freely available online. And further, before relying on this data read this https://twitter.com/12Xpert and the information provided on the 11.04.2019 about systems based on historical data.
All the best.
Peter
I’m confused, the last match in Allsvenskan was played on the 27th of May, but you say it has no break during the World Cup, although the next match will be played on the 3rd of July. Japan J league also has a break since 20th of May, the next round will be played on the 18th of July.
Hi Jo,
Yes, the WC has interrupted a few schedules. From the Japan perspective, all of its analyses for the HDAFU tables split perfectly in half – the first 17 rounds followed by the next. The WC has created a ‘false’ break – what effect this is likely to be is anyone’s guess. But to be technically following the HDAFU tables’ model, I suggest using the half/half season break per the dates above.
I have changed the dates for Sweden and thanks for making me think again on that one.
Hi Right Winger,
ok understood. According to this article 2nd half of Finish Veikkausliga started on the 30th of June (round 17) but there were some teams with just 15 matches played and these teams played against teams with 16 or even 17 matches played. How to maneuver this the next time?
Hi,
With the new format in the Ireland premier league this season, is the end of the 1st half of the season to be treated as the end of round 16 as stated in this article? Or would it be the end of round 18, which is exactly half of this season? Want to make sure I switch to the second half system at the right time.
Thanks.
Hi Simon,
I will update the article over the weekend with the various Summer League dates now that most of them are known.
You are right – end of Round 18 (19th May) signals the close of the first half of the season in Ireland.
Second half of season systems in Ireland should begin with the round of matches commencing on 21st May.
Thanks for taking the trouble to write.
Hi, i read all your stuff but never posted.
Im making something that looks at the “book” and finds pricing errors.
I can not think of a logical way to price matches between “NEW” teams (ones that have just been promoted) and existing teams.
It is very hard to get anything making much sense pricewise with so few games played in most of the leagues.
Got any tips on how to deal with NEW teams in Imature leagues ? ANything you have ever wrote on this would be very helpfull – I cant find anything on this subject.
Hi Semnomic,
Thanks for your comment.
We have written in the past about the issue of calculating odds for league newcomers and agree it is an unreliable science.
Better to concentrate on teams with longer track records in the leagues you are looking at.
I hope this helps in some small way.
Thanks for link – What I’m looking at is using history from newcomers LAST season, applying a sort of weighting to it and combining it back into current season. So although the HDA numbers + total goals etc are high for last season they get diluted yet give some credit. As the season progresses I dilute less and less until about 50% of way through season where NO old data is used…
Hi Right Winger,
will you update this article with the dates now that the schedules are out? Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Hi Daniel,
Your wish is my command!
Everything duly updated – still a few gaps in the Winter League programme (Greece and a few end-of-season uncertainties), but this calendar article will continue to be amended as soon as dates become fixed…