Sport Picks
Match Events
12'
12'
Baird I.
Assist: McCullough D.
46'
46'
Sub
Hood J. In: O'Conchubhair D.
Out: Hood J.
46'
46'
Sub
Nolan Z. In: Murray S.
Out: Nolan Z.
AI Match Summary
First leg ended 1-0. The second leg ended 1-0.
Win Probability Meter
Derived from 10,000 simulations matching home advantage & form profiles
27%
30%
43%
Draw rate projection: 30% Favored: Ballymena
Model Confidence
Aggregate indicator score
43%
/ Low Confidence
- Linfield carry the better recent record into this one.
- Hard to split these two; draw probability sits at 44%.
- Linfield have the better recent form, but knockout football is a different beast — one bad day ends the campaign.
- Historical meetings favor Linfield, who have won 3 of the last 5 encounters.
- High conversion rates suggest a high-scoring game (Over 2.5 Probability: 78%).
Goal Probability Engine
Model estimations for goals markets based on xG conversion histories
Over 0.5 Goals 98%
Over 1.5 Goals 87.5%
Over 2.5 Goals 78%
Over 3.5 Goals 44%
Over 4.5 Goals 20%
Both Teams To Score (BTTS) 71%
Linfield Clean Sheet 10%
Ballymena Clean Sheet 12%
Recent Team Form Analysis
Averages per match over historical game filters
| Metric | Linfield | Ballymena |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 31 | 30 |
| Wins | 15 | 10 |
| Draws | 5 | 9 |
| Losses | 11 | 11 |
| Goals Scored | 1.61 | 1.7 |
| Goals Conceded | 1.1 | 1.33 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.19 | 2.38 |
| Expected Goals Conceded (xGA) | 1.10 | 1.40 |
H2H
Historical prediction success rates across key markets
Aug 8, 2026 NIFL Premiership
Linfield vs Ballymena
0:3
Jan 31, 2026 NIFL Premiership
Linfield vs Ballymena
2:1
Jan 28, 2026 Irish League Cup
Linfield vs Ballymena
1:0
Oct 25, 2025 NIFL Premiership
Linfield vs Ballymena
2:1
Sep 16, 2025 NIFL Premiership
Ballymena vs Linfield
1:0
Key Player Impact Analysis
Key performers and expected goal involvement factors
Linfield Compare
Top Goalscorer Baird I.
1 Goals Avg xG / game 0.92
Avg xA / game 0.59
Ballymena Compare
Avg xG / game 2.16
Avg xA / game 1.32
SokaPicks Momentum Index
Current performance index incorporating opponent strength & fatigue (0-100)
Linfield 34 / 100
Ballymena 20 / 100
How it's calculated: Weighted formula of recent form points (60%), goal margin trends (20%), home/away adjustments (10%), and squad impact availability ratings (10%).
Attack & Defence Capability Index
Linfield Ballymena
AI Prediction Engine Forecast
Simulated score frequencies and primary prediction markets
Primary Pick Ballymena Win (2)
Secondary Pick Over 2.5 Goals or BTTS Yes
Correct Score 1:2
BTTS Outcome Yes (GG)
Over/Under Pick Over 2.5
SokaPicks Smart Insights
Historical trends and unique patterns automatically detected by our system
Ballymena's defensive record shows goals conceded in 80% of 30 matches.
Linfield scored in 65% of their last 31 games.
H2H data points to 2.20 goals as a typical output.
Recent resilience: Linfield stayed unbeaten in 3 of the last 5 games.
Scoring Trends
Linfield VS Ballymena
1.5 Goals Scored 3
1.75 Goals Conceded 0.88
75% Over 1.5 100%
50% Over 2.5 75%
38% Over 3.5 50%
Recent Form & Match History
Linfield
(Home) 08 Aug
Linfield
0 : 3 Ballymena
28 Jul
Dollingstown
1 : 7 Linfield
24 Jul
Limavady
0 : 1 Linfield
18 Jul
Linfield
0 : 2 Doncaster
16 Jul
Linfield
2 : 2 Kalju
Page 1 of 7
08 Aug
Linfield
0 : 3 Ballymena
18 Jul
Linfield
0 : 2 Doncaster
16 Jul
Linfield
2 : 2 Kalju
11 Jul
Linfield
0 : 2 Aberdeen
04 Jul
Linfield
2 : 3 Kilmarnock
Page 1 of 4
Ballymena
(Away) 08 Aug
Linfield
0 : 3 Ballymena
01 Aug
Glenavon
1 : 1 Ballymena
01 Aug
Annagh
2 : 2 Ballymena
25 Jul
Portstewart
1 : 5 Ballymena
24 Jul
Carrick Rangers
0 : 3 Ballymena
Page 1 of 6
08 Aug
Linfield
0 : 3 Ballymena
01 Aug
Glenavon
1 : 1 Ballymena
01 Aug
Annagh
2 : 2 Ballymena
25 Jul
Portstewart
1 : 5 Ballymena
24 Jul
Carrick Rangers
0 : 3 Ballymena
Page 1 of 4
Tournament Bracket & Draw
1/32-finals
Institute -
TBD -
TBD -
Glentoran -
Crusaders -
TBD -
Oxford Sunnyside 1
Ballymacash 5
Cliftonville -
TBD -
Ballyclare 1
Coagh Utd 2
Loughgall -
TBD -
TBD -
Strabane Athletic -
Ards -
TBD -
TBD -
Dungannon -
Moyola 5
Portstewart 3
TBD -
Annagh -
Dollingstown -
TBD -
TBD -
Coleraine -
Armagh -
TBD -
TBD -
Carrick Rangers -
Newry City 3
Knockbreda 0
TBD -
Portadown -
Warrenpoint -
TBD -
TBD -
Glenavon -
Harland & Wolff -
TBD -
TBD -
Dundela -
Linfield -
TBD -
TBD -
Queens University -
Ballymena -
TBD -
TBD -
Ballinamallard -
Newington FC -
TBD -
TBD -
Limavady -
Dergview 3
Rathfriland Rangers 1
TBD -
Larne -
Bangor FC -
TBD -
Lisburn Distillery 3
Banbridge 2
1/16-finals
Institute 0
Glentoran 1
Crusaders 3
Ballymacash 1
Cliftonville 4
Coagh Utd 1
Loughgall 2
Strabane Athletic 3
Ards 1
Dungannon 2
Moyola 3
Annagh 0
Dollingstown 0
Coleraine 8
Armagh 3
Carrick Rangers 2
Newry City 1
Portadown 0
Warrenpoint 0
Glenavon 2
Harland & Wolff 6
Dundela 0
Linfield 2
Queens University 0
Ballymena 1
Ballinamallard 0
Newington FC 3
Limavady 1
Dergview 3
Larne 7
Bangor FC 4
Lisburn Distillery 1
1/8-finals
Glentoran 2
Crusaders 1
Cliftonville 5
Strabane Athletic 2
Dungannon 0
Moyola 1
Coleraine 7
Armagh 1
Newry City 1
Glenavon 0
Harland & Wolff 3
Linfield 6
Ballymena 3
Newington FC 0
Larne 2
Bangor FC 1
Quarter-finals
Glentoran 2
Cliftonville 1
Moyola 0
Coleraine 2
Newry City 2
Linfield 3
Ballymena 2
Larne 0
Semi-finals
Glentoran 2
Coleraine 1
Linfield 1
Ballymena 0
Final
Glentoran 0
Linfield 1
