Spartak Pleven vs Vihren Sandanski: match statistics

Vihren Sandanski remain unbeaten after 5 league matches, recording 2 wins and 3 draws, while Spartak Pleven have a record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats. The visitors are particularly strong away from home: they have won both of their matches so far, averaging 2.5 goals scored and failing to score in none of them. Spartak score just 1 goal per home match and failed to find the net in 50% of those fixtures, despite creating chances worth an average of 1.75 xG. The hosts have kept no clean sheets in any home match, which, combined with the visitors’ 24% conversion rate and their average of 2.5 goals away from home, points towards Vihren. The hosts take more shots, 15.5 compared to 10.5, but with an identical number of 3.5 shots on target, their 6% conversion rate is clearly inferior to the visitors’ efficiency.

The signal for goals from both sides is moderately positive: Spartak recorded BTTS in 100% of their matches so far, while Vihren did so in 50%, compared with the league average of 49%. The hosts have kept no clean sheets and concede an average of 1.33 goals, while the visitors score as many as 2.50 goals per match. Spartak creates plenty of chances, with an average xG of 1.94 and 7.67 shots on target, while Vihren’s defence allows an average of 1.42 xG. In their last five matches, Vihren recorded BTTS in 80% of cases, scoring 1.8 goals and conceding 1.2, which strengthens the expectation of goals from both sides. The risks to the pick are Vihren’s 50% clean-sheet rate this season and Spartak’s BTTS rate of only 40% in their last five matches; however, the hosts’ attacking advantage and Spartak’s poor defensive record support BTTS - Yes.

Both teams have surpassed the 1.5-goal mark in 100% of their matches so far, providing a strong argument for an open game. Spartak average 1.33 goals scored and 1.33 conceded, while Vihren score as many as 2.50 goals per match and concede an average of 1.00. The hosts do, however, create more chances, with an average xG of 1.94 and 7.67 shots on target, while Vihren’s defensive xG stands at 1.42. In their last five matches, the teams averaged a combined 2.6 and 3.0 goals respectively, with Vihren scoring 1.8 times per game during this period. The projected 2.92 goals strongly support Over 1.5, whereas the 2.5 and 3.5 lines are more vulnerable to a low-scoring game scenario.

Vihren Sandanski demonstrate clearly superior scoring efficiency: they average 2.50 goals per match, have won 100% of their games so far, and record 3.00 points per match, compared with Spartak’s average of 1.00 point. The visitors led at the break in 2 of their 2 matches this season, scoring an average of 1.00 goal before half-time and conceding none, while the hosts have scored just 0.33 goals per match during this period. In their last five appearances, Vihren have not once been behind at half-time, leading in 60% of matches, whereas Spartak were trailing at half-time in 40% of cases. The hosts create more chances, as reflected by an xG of 1.94 compared with 1.26 and 7.67 shots on target compared with 3.50, but their conversion rate is only 8%, versus a very high 24% for the visitors. After the break, Vihren continue to average 1.50 goals, making the most likely scenario an HT/FT outcome in which they take the lead before half-time and maintain it until the final whistle.