Falkenbergs FF vs Elfsborg Predictions

After getting promoted from the second-tier last season, Falkenbergs will have come into this season with the aim of simply staying in the division, though even at this early stage, it looks as though their going to find competing at this level tough. After 11 league games without a win, Saturday’s hosts, who’re sat just one spot from the foot of the table, desperately need to start putting points on the board.

If Falkenbergs are to improve their predicament, then improving their home form is a must. It’s perhaps not terribly surprising that a newly promoted side, a side that has the second-lowest squad value in the division, is without a win in six away games, though it is disappointing that they’ve picked up just one win at home.

As they’ve shipped eight goals in six home games, Falkenbergs have struggled at the back, though their biggest problem is seemingly a lack of forward quality. Just two goals for in six matches in front of a home crowd is simply not good enough. Given that they’re averaging 0.99 expected goals for, they ought to have scored more than they have, though such a number does highlight a lack of creativity too.

Fortunately for the hosts, their visitors haven’t exactly excelled in the final third on their travels. Elfsborg come into this match having won just one of their six travelling matches, while they’ve also struggled to outscore their opponents.

Much like the hosts at home, a lack of creativity has also blighted Saturday’s away side on the road, as they’ve averaged a measly 0.77 expected goals for. Such a number goes some way to explaining why Elfsborg have scored just two goals in their last 270 minutes of away-day football.

If we consider the numbers of both, then it become somewhat easy to make a case for ‘Under 2.5 Goals’. The hosts are averaging only 0.33 goals for at home, while the visitors haven’t exactly set the world alight on the road with an average of 1.17. Add in the fact that the pair average a combined 1.78 expected goals for in their respective home and away games and the price available on the above selection begins to look slightly generous. Both sides also rank in the bottom half for touches in the opposition box.