Ballymena United vs Cliftonville: match statistics
Cliftonville is displaying significantly better form than Ballymena United, confirmed by the points record in the last 5 matches (1.6 PPG vs 0.8 PPG). The hosts sit in 9th place with only a 30% home win rate and a negative goal difference (-2), while the visitors occupy the 6th position and show balanced away statistics (33% wins, draws, and losses). Cliftonville dominates possession (53% vs 45%) and has better scoring efficiency in the last 5 matches (10 goals vs 4 goals). Ballymena loses as many as 50% of home matches, which, given their current form (3 losses in the last 5 matches), makes them a clear outsider. Considering all metrics, Cliftonville has a real advantage, though it is not a certain victory due to the unpredictability of away matches.
Ballymena United vs Cliftonville: form, goals and key statistics
Key match information
Ballymena United played Cliftonville in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match was played on 13 January 2026. Final score: 2:2.
Current form
Ballymena United: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match. Cliftonville: 1-3-1, 1.20 points/match.
Goal statistics
Ballymena United scores 1.18 and concedes 1.50 goals per match. Cliftonville scores 1.40 and concedes 1.20. League average: 2.76 goals.
BTTS / Over / Under
BTTS: Ballymena United 45%, Cliftonville 60%. Over 2.5: Ballymena United 41%, Cliftonville 50%. League level: BTTS 48%, Over 2.5 52%.
xG, shots and style
Cliftonville has higher xG: 1.41 vs 1.25. Ballymena United: 9.6 shots per match, Cliftonville: 11.5.
Match halves
Ballymena United: half-time lead 27%, second-half goals 0.68. Cliftonville: half-time lead 30%, second-half goals 0.90.
Goals by minute
Ballymena United: 61-75 (8 goals). Cliftonville: 46-60 (8 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.
League context
NIFL Premiership: 2.76 goals per match, BTTS 48%, Over 2.5 52%.
Head-to-head
Before this fixture, 1 previous H2H matches were available: 0-0-1. Average goals 5.00, BTTS 100%.
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
Cliftonville is displaying significantly better form than Ballymena United, confirmed by the points record in the last 5 matches (1.6 PPG vs 0.8 PPG). The hosts sit in 9th place with only a 30% home win rate and a negative goal difference (-2), while the visitors occupy the 6th position and show balanced away statistics (33% wins, draws, and losses). Cliftonville dominates possession (53% vs 45%) and has better scoring efficiency in the last 5 matches (10 goals vs 4 goals). Ballymena loses as many as 50% of home matches, which, given their current form (3 losses in the last 5 matches), makes them a clear outsider. Considering all metrics, Cliftonville has a real advantage, though it is not a certain victory due to the unpredictability of away matches.
View the statistical overviewHalf-by-half
Match statistics
Pre-match profile— what do the season numbers say?
This is a team profile based on season data and form. Match-flow statistics are shown only after the fixture is played.
Team stats— who is more efficient?
Attack and defence comparison for both teams in the current season.
Shooting quality
| Ballymena United | Cliftonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 37% | 36% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.13 | 0.12 |
| 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 matches and season record, overall and split by home and away matches.
Cliftonville is 50% better for: last-5 form.
0.8 pts / match - Ballymena United · 1.2 pts / match - Cliftonville
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.
Cliftonville is 19% better for: goals scored per match.
1.18 goals / match - Ballymena United · 1.4 goals / match - Cliftonville
Cliftonville is 25% better for: goals conceded per match.
1.5 goals / match - Ballymena United · 1.2 goals / match - Cliftonville
Ballymena United scores in 68% of matches (15 of 22 matches), while Cliftonville keeps a clean sheet in 30% (6 of 20 matches).
Cliftonville scores in 75% of matches (15 of 20 matches), while Ballymena United keeps a clean sheet in 23% (5 of 22 matches).
How often they score at least...
How often they concede at least...
* Statistics include both teams' home and away matches in the current season.
Both teams scored (BTTS)— how often do both teams score?
How often both teams' matches have goals on both sides, compared with the league average.
Goal patterns
BTTS and goal count
Goal count (Over/Under)— how often do these matches cross the goal lines?
How often matches involving these teams clear goal thresholds, in the full match and in each half.
Full match - team comparison (Over)
Over / Under - Ballymena United
Over / Under - Cliftonville
1st half
2nd half
Match 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.
Cliftonville is 10% better for: first-half form (half-time points).
1.09 pts / match - Ballymena United · 1.2 pts / match - Cliftonville
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Ballymena United - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 27% of matches and wins 32%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
Cliftonville - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 30% of matches and wins 40%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 1.00 | 1.20 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| Average goals in match | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 20% | 0% |
| 3 goals | 0% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 40% |
| No goal | 60% | 60% |
| Goal difference | -1 | -1 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 1.60 | 1.20 |
| Goals scored / match | 1.2 | 0.6 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Average goals in match | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 60% |
| 2 goals | 60% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 20% | 0% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 60% |
| No goal | 40% | 60% |
| Goal difference | +2 | 0 |
* Colours in tables show event frequency: green is common, yellow is moderate, red is rare. It is frequency, not a team rating.
Goals by minute— when do goals arrive?
Match phases in which both teams most often score and concede.
Most dangerous in minutes 61-75 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (9). Late-goal balance (76-90): -5 - late phases are a weakness.
Most dangerous in minutes 46-60 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (7). Late-goal balance (76-90): 0.
* 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 based on completed matches from the current season.
Match profile
Ballymena United
Cliftonville
* The estimated goal total and split, BTTS estimate, 0:0 risk and goal range are calculated from public season averages and frequencies for both teams. This is a statistical match profile, not a private model prediction or betting pick. The remaining indicators describe completed matches from the season.
League context— is this a high-scoring league?
How both teams compare with league-wide averages (NIFL Premiership).
Teams vs league
| Ballymena United | Liga | Cliftonville | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals in match | • 2.68 | 2.76 | ▼ 2.60 |
| Both teams scored | ▼ 45% | 48% | ▲ 60% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▼ 41% | 52% | ▼ 50% |
| Clean sheets | ▼ 23% | 27% | ▲ 30% |
| Goal before half-time | ▲ 86% | 75% | • 75% |
| Goal after half-time | ▲ 82% | 77% | ▼ 60% |
^ 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
Substitutes
Other recorded players
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.
Referee context
See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.
Head-to-head
Previous meeting: Ballymena United 0 - 0 - 1 Cliftonville. Average goals 5.00, both teams scored in 100% matches.
FAQ
What was the result of Ballymena United vs Cliftonville?
The NIFL Premiership match finished Ballymena United 2:2 Cliftonville. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What do the goal statistics show before Ballymena United vs Cliftonville?
Ballymena United score 1.18 goals per game on average and Cliftonville 1.40. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.76 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 52% of games. Both teams score in 45% of Ballymena United's matches and 60% of Cliftonville's.
What form are Ballymena United and Cliftonville in?
Over the last 5 games Ballymena United have a 1-1-3 record (0.80 points per game) and Cliftonville 1-3-1 (1.20 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Ballymena United vs Cliftonville?
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.