Busy schedule in the English Premier League continues with Round 35 on the menu during the weekend. Two or three games a week are nothing new to the English soccer clubs and the ability to get good results in this kind of tempo determines the seasons’ success. Here, we have prepared for you the in-depth analysis of the game that will be played at the Selhurst Park on Saturday between Crystal Palace and Burnley FC so let’s take a closer look.
CRYSTAL PALACE FC vs. BURNLEY FC
3-Way: 1: Crystal Palace FC -119 Home; X: +275 Draw; Burnley FC +425 Away
Spread -0.5: Crystal Palace FC -120; Burnley FC +116
Total +2.5: Over +117; Under -118
CRYSTAL PALACE FC
The Crystal Palace FC had a great stretch in the English Premier League during the months of March and April that made the team get out of the danger zone. During that span they went 6-1-1 in eight games with wins over Chelsea and Liverpool on the road and Arsenal at home. On Wednesday, they lost the home game in the English Premier League (0:1 vs. Tottenham) for the first time since February 4th, and it looks like the period of good performances might be coming to an end.
Currently, they rank 12th in the English Premier League table with 38 points in 34 games, seven points above the relegation line and a win over the worst team in the league on the road on Saturday would pretty much secure the survival. Their home record this season is 5-2-10 with 20-23 goal difference (46-54 overall) and they rank 18th in the home league table with 17 of 51 possible points earned.
They are one of the few teams in the English Premier League that have earned more points on the road than at home (17-21). 59% of their home matches had over 2.5 goals but 76% of their home games had fewer than 3.5 goals in total. Only 12% of their home matches had over 4.5 goals in total and over 2.5 goals at half-time. Both teams scored in 41% of their home games and they conceded at least one goal in 76% of their matches at Selhurst Park. Most common results at home are 0:1 loss (occurred five times) and 1:2 loss (occurred three times) while most common score at halftime 0:1 (occurred seven times) and 0:0 (occurred four times).
Christian Benteke tops the team in scoring with 14 goals while Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur have six and five in their accounts. Zaha is the team’s leading assister with nine while Andros Townsend and Jason Puncheon have four assists each. Puncheon and Joel Ward top the team in passing segment with 1296 and 1194 total passes. Goalkeepers Wayne Hennessey (25 appearances) and Steve Mandanda (nine appearances) have 99 saves and six games with clean sheets combined.
Pape Souare (broken leg) has unspecified date of return while Connor Wickham (ACL knee) is out for the season. Scott Dann (knee) is expected to be out until at least May 21, while James Tomkins (ankle) and Mamadou Sakho (knee) are both unavailable to Sam Allerdyce for the weekend with unspecified dates of return.
BURNLEY FC
The Burnley FC on the other side is a direct opposite to the Palace team. They are the team with worst record on the road in the league (0-4-13) with only four of 51 possible points earned. Currently, they rank 16th in the league table with 36 points in 34 games thanks to 32 points earned at home (sixth in the home league table) but they are coming off from a home loss against Manchester United on Sunday (0:2).
The team is currently out of the danger zone but the survival is not yet 100% secured and some points on the road would come as a great help. They’ve lost 76% of their away matches and they are winless on the road in the last 17 trips. Their goal difference on the road is 10-33 (33-49 overall) and 65% of their away matches had over 2.5 goals while only 24% of their road games had over 3.5 goals in total.
Burnley FC scores 0.59 and concedes 1.94 goals per game when visiting (0.97-1.44 overall) and they managed to score in both halves in only 6% of their road matches but they’ve managed to concede a goal in both halves in 35% of those games. Most common results on the road are 2:1 loss (occurred five times) and 0:0 draw (occurred three times) while most common score at the halftime was 0:0 (occurred eight 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 1146 and 1105 total passes. Sam Vokes and Andre Gray also top the team in shots towards the opponent’s goal with 43 each so far. Goalkeepers Tom Heaton (31 appearance) and Paul Robinson (three appearances) have 139 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 and should be ready in October. Scott Arfield (knee) and Sam Vokes (tight hamstring) are listed as a slight doubt for Saturday while Ben Mee (knock) will be a major doubt and has unspecified date of return.
Crystal Palace FC vs. Burnley FC – Match Prediction
These two teams met three times in the Premiership so far (all in last three seasons) and the record is 1-1-1. First match-up went goalless while last two seen total of five goals each. Fist match-up in the English Premier League this season took place on November 5th last year when Burnley managed to defeat the visitors with 3:2. Palace is in a good form lately both at home and on the road, while Burnley is still looking for a win away this season yet. Both teams will miss some important players for the match-up on Saturday but that will not leave a bigger impact on the intensity and excitement of the game.
Nevertheless, I sense a little upset as visitors’ winless streak must end once and it could be this weekend, which is why I will take the double chance X2 on the visitors. In addition, I am taking the under 2.5 goals offered at -118.
My pick: Burnley FC double chance X2 (+110)
Additional Pick: Under 2.5 goals (-118)
