Oleksandria vs Epitsentr Dunayivtsi Prediction

Right then, let's have a proper look at this basement battle. Two teams struggling at the wrong end of the table, both desperate for points to climb away from trouble.

Oleksandria are sitting 13th with just 8 points, while Epitsentr are right below them on 6 points. Both teams have been pretty leaky at the back, but there are some interesting patterns here.

Oleksandria's form has been a proper mixed bag. They've had some brilliant results - that 4-1 hammering of 4th-place LNZ Cherkasy was top drawer, and grabbing a 2-2 draw at Dynamo Kyiv's place shows they can compete with the best. But they've also shipped four goals at home to Metalist and got turned over by bottom side SK Poltava. Their home record is 50% wins, 50% losses - no draws, which tells you they're either brilliant or terrible, no in-between.

Epitsentr, meanwhile, have been shocking at home (lost their last 4 there) but surprisingly decent on the road. They've picked up two away wins recently - 3-1 at Karpaty and 1-0 at Ruh Lviv. That's not bad going for a team in their position.

The head-to-head shows Oleksandria won 1-0 at home last time they met, but that's just one game so not much to go on.

Looking at the stats, both teams score and concede regularly. Oleksandria average 1 goal scored and 2 conceded per game, while Epitsentr average 1.2 scored and 1.8 conceded. Both teams to score has landed in 50% of Oleksandria's games and 60% of Epitsentr's games.

The odds make Oleksandria slight favorites at 2.05, which seems fair given they're at home and won the only previous meeting. But Epitsentr's away form can't be ignored - they're winning a third of their away games.

For me, the value is in both teams to score. At 1.68, it's not massive odds, but given both teams' defensive records and the fact they both need points, I can see both getting on the scoresheet. Oleksandria have kept just 1 clean sheet in 10 games, and Epitsentr have managed the same.

Key Points:

• Oleksandria have kept only 1 clean sheet in 10 games

• Epitsentr have kept only 1 clean sheet in 10 games

• BTTS has occurred in 50% of Oleksandria's games and 60% of Epitsentr's games

• Both teams are in relegation trouble and need points

• Epitsentr have been better away than at home recently

• Goal expectancy suggests around 2.6 goals in the match

Both sides have shown they can score but also that they can't defend for toffee. With both teams needing a result and having leaky backlines, I'm expecting goals at both ends.