Middlesbrough vs Swansea City Predictions

• Both teams scored in Boro’s final five games last season.
• Swansea scored 33 goals in 23 away games.
• Boro finished 12 points adobe the visitors.

Both teams can strike at the Riverside

Middlesbrough missed out on the play-off party last season and a top six finish will be their target for the season ahead, while visitors Swansea will feel they have an outside chance of challenging for promotion themselves.

Both of these teams should be ready to hit the ground running after largely keeping their squads intact over the summer. Indeed, Boro look a little stronger on paper with Luke Ayling, USA international Aidan Morris and Delano Burgzorg signing on.

Swansea have also recruited well and 22-year-old Slovenia forward Zan Vipotnik could prove to be an astute buy, so both of these teams should be in optimistic mood for this season opener.

Boro are worthy favourites but both teams to score looks the standout bet. There were goals at both ends in each of Middlesbrough’s final five games last season and they scored in each of their last eight games.

Swansea were good travellers last term as they had the 11th best road record in the league, having finished in 14th overall, and they hit a solid 33 goals in 23 away games so they can find a way through here.

Boro won 2-0 when these sides met here in April and they can claim the spoils again, but a closer game is expected and a 2-1 win for the hosts is the correct score pick.

Emmanuel Latte Lath scored both goals in that Boro win and he ended the season in devastating form with eight goals in six games. The Ivorian has also been firing in pre-season, netting against Bolton and Doncaster, and he can pick up where he left off with an anytime effort on Saturday.