Shooting Stars - Bendel Insurance FC predictions and free betting tips [29/02/2024]

Today in the Nigeria Premier Football League, Shooting Stars will host Bendel this evening.

Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars are currently positioned 12th in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. With 27 points after 21 rounds, the team is close to the relegation zone. Over their last five matches, Shooting Stars have managed only one victory and two draws, with their sole win coming in a home game against Rivers United with a 1:0 scoreline. The team has scored 22 goals over the season, aligning with the league's mid-table standards, but have conceded 24 goals.

Detailing their recent matches: on 25 February, Shooting Stars drew 0-0 with Plateau; on 17 February, they lost 1:0 to Enyimba; on 10 February, they secured a win against Rivers United with a 1:0 score; on 21 January, they were defeated 2:1 by Enyimba; and on 15 January, they drew 2:2 with Sporting Lagos. These outcomes reflect Shooting Stars' inconsistency, allowing them to compete with mid-table teams but also risking their league position due to conceded goals.

Bendel

This season, Bendel stands 9th in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), gathering 31 points after 21 rounds. This places them near the top part of the table, just 3 points shy of the top 5. In their last five outings, the team has notched two victories and a draw, with both wins achieved at home, totalling a 5:1 score. Bendel stands out in the league as the team with the fewest conceded goals, only 12 throughout the season, significantly ahead of the closest competitors with 17 conceded, yet they face challenges in attack, having scored only 16 goals, one of the league's lowest tallies.

Regarding their latest games: on 24 February, Bendel drew 0:0 with Enyimba; on 18 February, they lost 0:1 to Sporting Lagos; before that, on 20 January, they beat Sporting Lagos 3:1; on 6 January, they won 2:0 against Enugu; however, on 15 January, Bendel lost 0:2 to Bayelsa United. These results showcase the team's home strength and their solid defence, despite their attacking weaknesses.

Head-to-Head

The last five meetings between Bendel and Shooting Stars show an evenly matched battle. Bendel has won two matches, including the most recent encounter with a 2:0 score and a match on 9 January 2019, finishing 1:0. Shooting Stars also secured a victory with a 2:1 score on 7 September 2021. The other two matches ended in draws, 1:1 and 2:2. These encounters indicate that matches between Bendel and Shooting Stars tend to be tight and unpredictable, with varying success for both teams.

Match prediction for Shooting Stars - Bendel

Bendel's matches feature the league's lowest goal counts, and the team has scored only once in the last six away rounds. I predict a total of fewer than 2 goals in the match.