Second day of the weekend brings us two more very interesting match-ups in the English Premier league Round 34. Here, we have prepared for you the analysis of the earlier match that will take place at the Turf Moor in Burnley between the hosting Burnely FC and the visitors Manchester United. The season finale is getting closer and we have to exploit as many match-ups as we can before the summer break in order to put some money into your pocket.
BURNLEY FC vs. MANCHESTER UNITED FC
3-Way: 1: Burnley FC +500 Home; X: +290 Draw; Manchester United FC -141 Away
Spread +0.5: Burnley FC +133; Manchester United FC -137
Total +2.5: Over +127; Under -133
BURNLEY FC
The Burnley FC is gradually getting out of the danger zone thanks to their great form in front of their home crowd. They rank 14th currently with 36 points in 33 games and they are eight points above the relegation line. As stated above, they are great at home (89% of their points have been earned at home) with 10-2-4 record and 23-14 goal difference (33-47 overall) and they rank sixth in the home league table with 32 of 48 possible points earned (two more than Manchester United at Old Trafford).
On the other side their recent form is pretty poor and they are 1-3-4 in the last eight games and 2-1-1 in the last four home matches. The Clarets are also very poor team on the road this season with only four of 51 possible points earned. They score 1.44 and concede 0.88 goals per game at home (1.0-1.42 overall) and 69% of their home matches are under 2.5 goals while 81% of their home games are under 3.5 goals in total.
Only 12% of their total matches are over 4.5 goals and 6% of their matches were over 2.5 goals at half-time. In almost half of their games at Turf Moor (44%) both teams scored but most common result at home is a 1-0 win (occurred four times).
Striker Andre Gray tops the team in scoring with eight goals so far while Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes have six and five in their accounts. Vokes and Steven Defour are the team’s leading assisters with three each while passing segment belongs to Ben Mee and Michael Keane with 1125 and 1063 total passes. Sam Vokes also tops the team in shots towards the opponent’s goal with 43 while Andre Gray has 42. Goalkeepers Tom Heaton (30 appearances) and Paul Robinson (three appearances) have 135 saves and nine games with clean sheets combined.
Kevin Long (knee) has unspecified date of return while Dean Marney (ACL knee) is out for the season. Johann Gudmundsson (MCL knee), Scott Arfield (knee) and Sam Vokes (tight hamstring) will all have late fitness tests and it’s unknown if they are going to be ready for the Sunday game.
MANCHESTER UNITED FC
The Manchester United FC have advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday after defeating Anderlecht in overtime at the Old Trafford. After 90 minutes of play the game ended 1:1 (same as the first leg in Belgium). At the beginning of the second extra time, the new addition Marcus Rashford scored a nice goal to send the English side to their first semifinal in the European competition after six years.
This was also a costly win for the Red Devils as their two starters, Marcos Rojo and their top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic got injured and first news are discouraging as both seem to have ACL knee injuries meaning that the season is definitely over for both of them. Manchester United will square off with Celta Vigo in the semifinals series with first leg being played in Spain.
In the Premier League, the Manchester Red Devils still have to secure one of the top four spots that lead to the Champions League play next year if they want to mark the season as a success. Currently, they rank fifth with 60 points in 31 games, four points less than the Manchester City team that ranks at the No. 4 spot, but United also has one game less played. The Red Devils are undefeated in their last 22 matches and they are coming off from a morale-boosting 2:0 win over the leaders Chelsea FC at Old Trafford last week.
They are 5-3-0 in the last eight games and they are 3-1-0 in the last four road matches. Their overall record on the road is 9-3-2 with 25-13 goal difference (48-24) and they rank third in the road league table with 30 of 42 possible points earned. United scores 1.79 and concedes 0.93 goals per match away this season (1-55-0.77 overall) and 57% of their road games are over 2.5 goals while 64% of their away matches are under 3.5 goals in total. Not one match on the road this season was over 4.5 goals in total and only 7% of their road games were over 2.5 goals at half-time but they did score at least one goal in their last nine away matches. Most common result on the road is a 3:1 win (occurred three times).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads the team in scoring this season with 17 goals while Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford have six and five in their accounts. Ibrahimovic, Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney top the team in assists with five each while passing segment belongs to Paul Pogba who has 2071 total passes. Goalies David de Gea (30 appearances) and Sergio Romero (one appearance) have collected 63 saves and they have 13 games with clean sheets combined.
James Wilson (ACL), Marcos Rojo (ACL) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ACL) are all out for the season. Juan Mata (groin/pelvis) is expected to be out until at least June 1, while Chris Smalling (Knee) and Phil Jones (Toe) should be available to coach Mourinho in mid May.
BURNLEY FC vs. MANCHESTER UNITED FC PREDICTION
The Burnley FC need the points just like the Manchester United Red Devils do, considering the fact they their Premier League status for the next season is still not 100% secured, while the Red Devils need points in order to grab one of the spots leading into the Champions league competition next season. The host are certainly a tough team at home and they will be quite a challenge for the Red Devils who will be also less rested after playing an overtime game two days ago. My safe bet here would be under 2.5 goals in total.
MY PICK: Under 2.5 goals (-133)
