Crystal Palace vs Middlesbrough

Crystal Palace come into this on the back of a mixed run of form, having taken 6 points from their last 5 matches. Averaging 1.2 goals scored per game, Crystal Palace's attack has done enough to compete; at the other end, 2.4 goals per game have gone in. Goalless afternoons have been a recurring issue for Crystal Palace, who have failed to score 2 times recently — breaking that habit will be crucial.

Middlesbrough arrive with their own narrative, shaped by a set of results that pulls in another direction. The numbers tell a clear story for Middlesbrough: 3 wins, 1 draws and 1 losses in their last 5 outings, worth 10 points — an excellent return. In front of goal, Middlesbrough have been clinical and ruthless, netting 9 times while conceding 5. The head-to-head ledger leans heavily towards Crystal Palace, who have won 4 of the last 6 meetings. 6 recent meetings have produced 13 goals in total, underlining that this tie tends to be a reasonably lively fixture.

With both teams averaging over 1.2 goals per game recently, this fixture has the hallmarks of an open, entertaining contest. The attacking quality on both sides suggests we could see goals at both ends. The onus will be on Middlesbrough to make the running, while Crystal Palace can play without the weight of expectation. Patience will be key for the favourites against a side set up to frustrate.

This is a closely contested fixture, with the data suggesting a draw (26%) is the most likely outcome. The predicted scoreline of 0-2 reflects the evenly matched nature of the contest. Confidence here is modest at 50%, reflecting just how hard this fixture is to call. All eyes turn to the League Cup when this one gets under way.