Swansea vs Burnley

Swansea are enjoying a solid spell with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeats from their last 5 outings. With 6 goals from 5 matches, their attack has been somewhat inconsistent, while defensively they have conceded relatively few (0.6 per game). At the back, they have been difficult to break down, conceding 0.6 goals per game on average. Goalless afternoons have been a recurring issue for Swansea, who have failed to score 2 times recently — breaking that habit will be crucial.

For Burnley, the picture is quite different. Burnley will approach this game with belief at a low ebb, after taking 2 points from a possible 15 in their last 5. They have scored at a steady rate averaging 1.0 goals per game, while conceding 2.2. History between these two shows 4 home wins, 2 away wins and 0 draws from 6 meetings. The fixture has averaged 2.2 goals per meeting, with a decent amount of goalmouth action.

The key battle could be between Swansea's defensive resilience and Burnley's defensive resilience. Whichever side imposes their style early could gain a crucial advantage. As the stronger side on paper, Swansea will want to dictate proceedings. However, Burnley will be well aware of the threat they pose and may look to frustrate and hit on the break.

All signs point towards a home advantage here, with Swansea in notably stronger form than their opponents. The form guide points clearly in one direction, but football has a habit of defying expectations. All eyes turn to the Championship when this one gets under way.