Austria Salzburg vs Floridsdorfer AC Prediction

Right then, let's have a butcher's at this Austrian 2. Liga clash. Austria Salzburg hosting Floridsdorfer AC on Saturday afternoon, and if you're looking for goals, you might want to bring a packed lunch 'cause this one has all the makings of a proper chess match.

Salzburg have turned their gaff into a fortress lately. Four clean sheets in their last five league games – we're talking 0-0 draws with First Vienna and Austria Lustenau, plus a tidy 1-0 away win at Austria Klagenfurt. Even in their friendlies they've been tighter than a drum, keeping it goalless against Grödig and scraping 1-0 wins over Gurten. Only seven goals conceded in their last ten outings with a whopping 70% clean sheet rate. At home? They're only letting in 0.50 goals per game. Proper defensive unit.

Now, Floridsdorfer AC might be sitting pretty in 5th place, but don't let that fool ya – their recent form is about as lively as a Monday morning in February. Just two wins in their last ten, and their attack has gone walkabout. Six goals in ten games is relegation form, not promotion form. Their recent friendlies tell the tale: 0-0 against Donau, 0-0 against Fach-Donaufeld, and three straight defeats where they couldn't buy a goal – 0-2, 0-4, 0-2. Away from home they're averaging a measly 0.50 goals per game.

The head-to-head has been a mixed bag historically with both teams scoring in four of the last five meetings, but form is temporary and class is permanent – and right now, Salzburg's defensive class is permanent while FAC's attacking class is on holiday. The goal expectancies back this up too, with the models suggesting around 1.12 for the hosts and just 0.50 for the visitors.

Key Points:

• Salzburg have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 5 league matches (0-0, 1-0, 0-0, 0-0, 1-2)

• FAC have failed to score in 5 of their last 7 friendly matches (0-0, 0-2, 0-4, 0-2, 0-0)

• Salzburg's home defence: only 0.50 goals conceded per game recently

• FAC's away attack: struggling at 0.50 goals per game

• Salzburg's clean sheet rate: 70% over last 10 games

Summary:

This has 1-0 written all over it, maybe even a 0-0 if FAC park the bus. Salzburg's back line is rock solid at the moment and FAC couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo. The 1.80 on Both Teams to Score – No is proper value here. Simple as that.