FC Sion vs Lausanne Prediction

Right, folks, it's FC Sion versus Lausanne in the Super League, and if you've been keeping an eye on the numbers, this one's got a clear shape to it.

FC Sion at home are the business. Over their last 20 home games, they've won 12, drawn 6 and lost just 2. They average 2.3 goals a game at home and concede just 1. That's a side that opens up at their own end and keeps the back door locked. Lausanne on the other hand, away from home, have won 6, drawn 2 and lost 12 of their last 20. They score 1.65 a game on the road and concede 1.8. That's a team that struggles to find the net away and concedes more than it scores on the road.

The head-to-head at this ground in the last 12 months tells the story: FC Sion beat Lausanne 3-0 back in April. The only other recent meeting was a 2-2 at Lausanne's end. So at FC Sion's ground, the hosts have the edge and the evidence to back it up.

Now, Lausanne's recent form is grim. In their last five, they've won one — a 7-0 cup thumping of Winkeln St. Gallen — drawn none and lost four. Three of those five saw them fail to score entirely. Their away record over 20 games shows they've gone blank in 9 of those 20. When you stack that up, the picture of Lausanne finding the net at Sion's ground is a thin one.

The counter-argument? Well, FC Sion haven't been perfect of late. They lost 0-3 to Servette on 10 October and 1-5 to Saint Etienne in a friendly on 2 October. Their last five is 2 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses. And Lausanne did put 7 past Winkeln St. Gallen in the cup, so they've got the firepower when it counts. But that 7-0 was a cup game, and their away form is the real yardstick here.

The key question for this one isn't who wins — it's whether Lausanne score at all. And the numbers say they probably won't.

Key Points:

• FC Sion are 12W 6D 2L in their last 20 home games, scoring 2.3 per game and conceding 1

• Lausanne are 6W 2D 12L in their last 20 away games, failing to score in 9 of those 20

• The recent head-to-head at FC Sion's ground was a 3-0 win for the hosts

• Lausanne have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 matches

• FC Sion have scored in 19 of their last 20 home games

So here's my call: I'm going with both teams not to score. Lausanne's away scoring record, their recent blank sheets, and the head-to-head at this ground all point to Sion keeping it clean. The price of 2.4 for both teams not to score looks like good value when you look at the evidence.