- Stoke are unbeaten in their last 5 matches, winning 3 and drawing 2.
- Swansea City have failed to win their last 2 away games at Stoke.
- Swansea have averaged 1.33 goals per game scored and conceded 0.67 goals per game away from home across all competitions so far this season.
Two very different approaches will collide
Stoke boss Mark Robins has set his team up in a tight, compact 4-2-3-1 system this season that prioritises structure, defensive discipline and direct transitions rather than endless possession. Vitor Matos has implemented a complete opposite system on the Swans where they play a possession-based game, press high, play quick, and dominate midfield zones with their counter-pressing.
This is a head-to-head that spells pragmatism against possession, but don't be fooled into thinking that this will be a dead rubber. Stoke can be really stubborn when they need to be and the Swans are a very good passing team that can turn the screw.
Stoke may nick it
Stoke have won two of the last three meetings with Swansea, who have won the other. However, there has been a swing in the mood of both sides since the last time they played 5 months ago in the Championship when Swansea won 2-0 at home. The Potters have been more impressive in general and look the more likely to take the win here, but the odds don't quite reflect that.
Stoke are 27/20, Swansea are 97/50 and the draw is 23/10, so there doesn't seem to be a particularly good way to get involved on the match odds. However, the best way to play this one with those odds would be in the Stoke or draw market.
Swansea’s Adam Idah gives them a bit of a livewire
The best bet is to add 'Under 2.5 goals' to that selection as the script doesn't really allow for much more. The only thing that could push this into a goal fest is if Adam Idah scores, which he has done in two of Swansea's six goals across the last 5 games.
Swansea's most recent 3 results look good, but are a bit misleading in terms of how good they actually are. The 2-0 home win over Udinese and the 1-0 home win over Leganes were recent victories. The most recent result was a 0-1 defeat at home to Birmingham City in the EFL Cup.
Swans have been better away from home
Swansea are in better form than Stoke, but not quite as hot as their results would suggest as they've won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5.
Swansea have actually been better on their travels, going unbeaten in their 3 away games in all competitions so far (W2, D1), so they should be in good shape to get something out of this game at the Bet365 Stadium.
Stoke's form is mixed across all comps with 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats from their last 10.
Stoke have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 3 of their 6 home games in all comps, scoring 1.00 per-game and conceding 1.33 per-game.
