Linfield vs Ballymena United: match statistics
Linfield holds a high 4th position in the table and boasts impressive home form with 75% wins at home and as much as 58% clean sheets. The hosts have scored 36 goals this season while conceding only 16, resulting in a +21 goal difference at their own stadium. Ballymena United is in 10th place with very poor away form – 62% losses away and only 31% wins, conceding an average of 1.62 goals per match. The recent form of both teams also favors the hosts: Linfield has earned 2.2 points per match in their last 5 games (WDDWW run), while the visitors managed only 0.8 points (WLDLL). xG statistics confirm Linfield's advantage (1.63 xG For vs 1.02 xG Against in home matches), which combined with ball possession dominance (54% vs 44%) and better shooting accuracy (18% vs 13%) makes the hosts clear favorites for this encounter.
Linfield vs Ballymena United: form, goals and key statistics
Game details
Linfield played against Ballymena United in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The game was played on January 31, 2026. Final score: 2:1.
Recent form
Linfield has 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss over its last five games, averaging 1.60 points per game. Ballymena United has 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses, with 1.00 points per game.
Scoring records
Linfield scores 1.50 goals per game and allows 0.67. Ballymena United scores 1.17 and allows 1.54. Games in this league average 2.77 goals.
BTTS and goal totals
Both teams score in 33% of Linfield's games and 46% of Ballymena United's. The Over 2.5 rates are 42% and 42%, compared with league averages of 49% for BTTS and 52% for Over 2.5.
xG and shots
Linfield has the higher season xG average, 1.55 to 1.21 per game. Linfield takes 11.6 shots per game, while Ballymena United takes 9.3.
First-half and second-half trends
Linfield leads at halftime in 42% of its games and scores 0.92 goals per game after halftime. Ballymena United leads at halftime in 25% and scores 0.67 after halftime.
When the teams score
Linfield's most productive scoring window is minutes 61-75 (8 goals). For Ballymena United, it is minutes 61-75 (8 goals). These are past scoring patterns, not predicted goal times.
League scoring profile
NIFL Premiership games average 2.77 goals. Both teams score in 49% of games, and 52% finish with at least three goals.
Head-to-head record
Before this game, 2 previous meetings were available. The record was 1 home win, 0 draws and 1 away win. Those games averaged 2.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 50% of them.
Archived pre-match analysis
This analysis was prepared before kick-off. The conclusions use only information available before the match and do not include the final result or post-match statistics.
General match analysis
Linfield holds a high 4th position in the table and boasts impressive home form with 75% wins at home and as much as 58% clean sheets. The hosts have scored 36 goals this season while conceding only 16, resulting in a +21 goal difference at their own stadium. Ballymena United is in 10th place with very poor away form – 62% losses away and only 31% wins, conceding an average of 1.62 goals per match. The recent form of both teams also favors the hosts: Linfield has earned 2.2 points per match in their last 5 games (WDDWW run), while the visitors managed only 0.8 points (WLDLL). xG statistics confirm Linfield's advantage (1.63 xG For vs 1.02 xG Against in home matches), which combined with ball possession dominance (54% vs 44%) and better shooting accuracy (18% vs 13%) makes the hosts clear favorites for this encounter.
View the statistical overviewStats by half
Game stats
Pre-game profile— what do the season numbers say?
This team profile combines season stats and recent form. In-game statistics appear after the final whistle.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Compare both teams' attacking and defensive records this season.
Shooting quality
| Linfield | Ballymena United | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 39% | 37% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.13 | 0.13 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.33 | 0.34 |
xG per shot around 0.08 usually means long-range attempts; 0.15+ usually means box chances. The style label comes from possession, shot volume and conversion.
* xG (expected goals) says how many goals a team should score from its chances. If actual goals are above xG, finishing is above average; if below xG, chances are being missed.
Team form— who is in better shape?
Last five games and season record, overall, at home and away.
Linfield is 60% better for: last-5 form.
1.6 pts / game - Linfield · 1 pts / game - Ballymena United
Goals— how do both teams score and concede?
How many goals both teams score and concede, plus how often they keep a clean sheet or fail to score.
Linfield is 28% better for: goals scored per game.
1.5 goals / game - Linfield · 1.17 goals / game - Ballymena United
Linfield is 130% better for: goals allowed per game.
0.67 goals / game - Linfield · 1.54 goals / game - Ballymena United
Linfield scores in 71% of games (17 of 24 meczów), while Ballymena United keeps a clean sheet in 21% (5 of 24 meczów).
Ballymena United scores in 67% of games (16 of 24 meczów), while Linfield keeps a clean sheet in 54% (13 of 24 meczów).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* Statistics include both teams' home and away games this season.
Both teams scored (BTTS)— how often do both teams score?
How often games involving these teams produce goals at both ends, compared with the league average.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
Goal count (Over/Under)— how often do these games cross the goal lines?
See how often games involving these teams clear each goal line, for the full game and each half.
Full game - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Linfield
Over / Under - Ballymena United
1st half
2nd half
Game halves— when do the teams score more often?
How teams split performance between first and second half: goals, points, clean sheets and half-time state.
Linfield is 58% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.71 pts / game - Linfield · 1.08 pts / game - Ballymena United
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Linfield - second-half results
Leads at halftime in 42% of games and wins 50%. Also wins some games without leading at halftime.
Allows 0.4 more goals per game after halftime, a sign that the defense becomes less effective later in games.
Ballymena United - second-half results
Leads at halftime in 25% of games and wins 29%. Also wins some games without leading at halftime.
Defense stays consistent across the full game.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 1.80 | 1.20 |
| Goals scored / game | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| Goals allowed / game | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Average goals per game | 0.6 | 1.8 |
| 1 goal | 40% | 40% |
| 2 goals | 20% | 40% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 40% |
| Clean sheet | 100% | 60% |
| No goal | 60% | 60% |
| Goal difference | +3 | +1 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| Goals scored / game | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Goals allowed / game | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| Average goals per game | 1.0 | 1.4 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 20% | 40% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 40% |
| No goal | 60% | 40% |
| Goal difference | -1 | -1 |
* Table colors show frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate and red is rare. They are not team ratings.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
The parts of a game in which both teams score and allow the most goals.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (8 goals). Concedes most in 46-60 (5). Late-goal balance (76-90): +3 - wins late phases.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (11). Late-goal balance (76-90): -7 - late phases are a weakness.
* Buckets 31-45 and 76-90 include added-time goals.
Additional team indicators— what do xG, efficiency and form show?
A comparison of chance quality, results and trends from completed games this season.
Game profile
Linfield
Ballymena United
* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range use public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical game profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed games from the season.
League context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).
Teams vs league
| Linfield | Liga | Ballymena United | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals per game | ▼ 2.17 | 2.77 | • 2.71 |
| Both teams scored | ▼ 33% | 49% | ▼ 46% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▼ 42% | 52% | ▼ 42% |
| Clean sheets | ▲ 54% | 28% | ▼ 21% |
| Goal before half-time | ▼ 54% | 75% | ▲ 83% |
| Goal after half-time | ▼ 63% | 77% | ▲ 83% |
^ green = above league average, ˇ red = below league average. This shows direction of the gap, not a team rating.
Lineups and player events
Verified starters, substitutes and recorded player events for this match.
Home team
Starting lineup
Away team
Starting lineup
Match timeline
Goals, cards and substitutions arranged in chronological order.
Referee and managers
Open their season profiles to compare match records, goals and disciplinary trends.
Head-to-head
Record from Linfield's perspective: 1 win, 0 draws and 1 loss against Ballymena United. Games average 2.00 goals, and both teams scored in 50% of them.
FAQ
What was the result of Linfield vs Ballymena United?
The NIFL Premiership match finished Linfield 2:1 Ballymena United. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What is the head-to-head record between Linfield and Ballymena United?
In the last 2 head-to-head matches Linfield won 1, Ballymena United won 1 and 0 ended level. These games averaged 2.00 goals, with both teams scoring in 50% of them.
What do the goal statistics show before Linfield vs Ballymena United?
Linfield score 1.50 goals per game on average and Ballymena United 1.17. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.77 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 52% of games. Both teams score in 33% of Linfield's matches and 46% of Ballymena United's.
What form are Linfield and Ballymena United in?
Over the last 5 games Linfield have a 2-2-1 record (1.60 points per game) and Ballymena United 1-2-2 (1.00 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Linfield vs Ballymena United?
This page shows the full statistical context — form, head-to-head, goals, BTTS and Over/Under. The tip, value assessment and full reasoning are in the NoFluffPicks app.