Stoke vs SwanseaPrediction, probable lineups, recent form & season stats

The bet365 Stadium opens the season with two sides who finished close together last year but with different characteristics. Stoke cleared 1.5 in 93% of their home games, scoring 1.4 and conceding 1.7 with both teams finding the net in 76% of them. Swansea took more points on the road, 1.4 a trip against the hosts' 1.1, at 1.2 goals scored and 1.4 conceded. A fixture that rarely ends level The six previous meetings finished 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 0-0, 3-0 and 1-1: four times in six one side took the lot. Swansea's last six away games brought two draws and three wins, Stoke's last six at home two wins and two draws. Two defences that concede Neither keeps the door shut with any regularity: Stoke finished without conceding in only 16% of their home games, Swansea in 24% of their trips. That profile tends to produce matches with a winner, because the goals arrive and rarely cancel out exactly. The verdict: the call rules out the draw. Four of the six recent meetings ended with a win and 93% of Stoke home games cleared 1.5, a sign of games that move. As this is matchday one, the reference points deserve the usual caution. I read it around 72%. My take: a game for a result, with two sides who meet without too much calculation.