Cliftonville vs Crusaders: match statistics
Cliftonville displays significantly better form and home statistics than Crusaders in away matches. The hosts have an impressive 46% win rate at home, averaging 1.62 goals per game and maintaining 54% possession. Crusaders, however, lose as many as 57% of their away matches, conceding an average of 1.93 goals, and their form in the last five games (0.2 points per match) is alarmingly poor. The difference in expected goals (xG) also favors the hosts – 1.59 to 1.21 in attack and 1.26 to 2.1 in defense. Cliftonville's positive goal difference at home (+4) compared to Crusaders' disastrous away record (-10) confirms the hosts' advantage. Considering all these factors, a Cliftonville victory is the most likely scenario for this match.
Cliftonville vs Crusaders: form, goals and key statistics
Key match information
Cliftonville played Crusaders in NIFL Premiership (Northern Ireland). The match was played on 21 February 2026. Final score: 5:2.
Current form
Cliftonville: 1-1-3, 0.80 points/match. Crusaders: 0-1-4, 0.20 points/match.
Goal statistics
Cliftonville scores 1.48 and concedes 1.44 goals per match. Crusaders scores 1.25 and concedes 2.07. League average: 2.87 goals.
BTTS / Over / Under
BTTS: Cliftonville 68%, Crusaders 50%. Over 2.5: Cliftonville 60%, Crusaders 64%. League level: BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
xG, shots and style
Cliftonville has higher xG: 1.45 vs 1.24. Cliftonville: 12.0 shots per match, Crusaders: 9.8.
Match halves
Cliftonville: half-time lead 28%, second-half goals 0.88. Crusaders: half-time lead 36%, second-half goals 0.61.
Goals by minute
Cliftonville: 76-90+ (9 goals). Crusaders: 31-45+ (8 goals). This is historical distribution, not a predicted goal minute.
League context
NIFL Premiership: 2.87 goals per match, BTTS 51%, Over 2.5 55%.
Head-to-head
Before this fixture, 1 previous H2H matches were available: 0-0-1. Average goals 3.00, 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 displays significantly better form and home statistics than Crusaders in away matches. The hosts have an impressive 46% win rate at home, averaging 1.62 goals per game and maintaining 54% possession. Crusaders, however, lose as many as 57% of their away matches, conceding an average of 1.93 goals, and their form in the last five games (0.2 points per match) is alarmingly poor. The difference in expected goals (xG) also favors the hosts – 1.59 to 1.21 in attack and 1.26 to 2.1 in defense. Cliftonville's positive goal difference at home (+4) compared to Crusaders' disastrous away record (-10) confirms the hosts' advantage. Considering all these factors, a Cliftonville victory is the most likely scenario for this match.
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
| Cliftonville | Crusaders | |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (shots on target) | 36% | 36% |
| Chance quality (xG per shot) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Finishing (goals per shot on target) | 0.34 | 0.35 |
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 300% better for: last-5 form.
0.8 pts / match - Cliftonville · 0.2 pts / match - Crusaders
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 18% better for: goals scored per match.
1.48 goals / match - Cliftonville · 1.25 goals / match - Crusaders
Cliftonville is 44% better for: goals conceded per match.
1.44 goals / match - Cliftonville · 2.07 goals / match - Crusaders
Cliftonville scores in 80% of matches (20 of 25 matches), while Crusaders keeps a clean sheet in 11% (3 of 28 matches).
Crusaders scores in 61% of matches (17 of 28 matches), while Cliftonville keeps a clean sheet in 24% (6 of 25 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 - Cliftonville
Over / Under - Crusaders
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.
Before half-time (1st half)
After half-time (2nd half)
Cliftonville - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 28% of matches and wins 36%. Also wins matches without a half-time lead.
Defence stays stable across the full match.
Crusaders - second-half results
Leads at half-time in 36% of matches and wins 25%. Sometimes loses the lead after half-time.
Concedes 0.3 more goals per match after half-time - defensive level drops in the second half.
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 1.20 | 0.80 |
| Goals scored / match | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Goals conceded / match | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Average goals in match | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| 1 goal | 100% | 100% |
| 2 goals | 80% | 60% |
| 3 goals | 20% | 40% |
| Clean sheet | 20% | 0% |
| No goal | 0% | 40% |
| Goal difference | -1 | -2 |
| 1st half | 2nd half | |
|---|---|---|
| Points per match | 0.80 | 0.80 |
| Goals scored / match | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| Goals conceded / match | 0.8 | 2.0 |
| Average goals in match | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| 1 goal | 80% | 80% |
| 2 goals | 20% | 80% |
| 3 goals | 20% | 60% |
| Clean sheet | 40% | 20% |
| No goal | 60% | 60% |
| Goal difference | -2 | -7 |
* 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 76-90 (9 goals). Concedes most in 31-45 (9). Late-goal balance (76-90): +1 - wins late phases.
Most dangerous in minutes 31-45 (8 goals). Concedes most in 76-90 (17). Late-goal balance (76-90): -12 - 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 based on completed matches from the current season.
Match profile
Cliftonville
Crusaders
* 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
| Cliftonville | Liga | Crusaders | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average goals in match | • 2.92 | 2.87 | ▲ 3.32 |
| Both teams scored | ▲ 68% | 51% | • 50% |
| Min. 3 goals (Over 2.5) | ▲ 60% | 55% | ▲ 64% |
| Clean sheets | ▼ 24% | 26% | ▼ 11% |
| Goal before half-time | ▲ 80% | 77% | ▲ 89% |
| Goal after half-time | ▼ 68% | 77% | ▲ 86% |
^ 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.
Referee context
See how often this referee shows cards, awards penalties and how their matches tend to finish.
Head-to-head
Previous meeting: Cliftonville 0 - 0 - 1 Crusaders. Average goals 3.00, both teams scored in 100% matches.
FAQ
What was the result of Cliftonville vs Crusaders?
The NIFL Premiership match finished Cliftonville 5:2 Crusaders. Full match statistics, the half-by-half breakdown and head-to-head are on this page.
What do the goal statistics show before Cliftonville vs Crusaders?
Cliftonville score 1.48 goals per game on average and Crusaders 1.25. The NIFL Premiership average is 2.87 goals, with Over 2.5 landing in 55% of games. Both teams score in 68% of Cliftonville's matches and 50% of Crusaders's.
What form are Cliftonville and Crusaders in?
Over the last 5 games Cliftonville have a 1-1-3 record (0.80 points per game) and Crusaders 0-1-4 (0.20 points per game).
Where can I find a betting tip and analysis for Cliftonville vs Crusaders?
Here you can check the pre-match numbers for Cliftonville vs Crusaders: form, H2H, goals and Over/Under. The pick itself, value and reasoning are published in the NoFluffPicks app.