Five must-know Europa League Final stats
It hasn't attracted as much publicity as the inaugural final 12 months ago between Atletico Madrid and Fulham, but another lengthy Europa League campaign comes to an end tonight with an all-Portuguese Porto versus Sporting Braga showdown in Dublin. Here are five stats about the game...
Porto have competed in three European competition finals in the past and have taken home the trophy on every occasion, so it's no surprise that they are [1.25] to win this tournament for the second time. In each of the three matches reference above, there were more goals in the second half. That trend is [2.08] to continue.
Whereas Porto's last five European ties have all had over 2.5 goals, 11 of Sporting Braga's last 12 have had unders. When the two collide, it tends to be Porto's prolificacy that overrides their opponents' resilience, with the last three meetings providing 13 goals. Over 2.5 is [1.98].
Andre Villas Boas' treble-chasers dominate when the clubs clash domestically, winning seven of the last nine encounters and each of the last three. So if you trust them this evening, you are probably better off investing in the 90-minute victory at [1.5] than the outright.
Porto's Colombian striker Falcao has found the net in each of their last four Europa League fixtures, scoring a staggering nine in that time and 16 over the course of this continental campaign. Nobody else involved in this final has grabbed more than five so he is the standout pick to fire at any time at [2.04].
Three of the last four UEFA Cup/Europa League Finals have been 1-1 at the interval, including each of the last two, and it is [12.5] for that to be the score at the halfway point again. In addition, the opening strike in three of the last six has come between 21-30 minutes, and a repeat is [6.8].
Which wagers have you got lined up tonight? Share them in the box below...
Published: 18 May 2011
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