Manisa won with the better chances, not the more shots

Batman Petrolspor led through Pedrinho before Cheikne Sylla scored twice to turn the match round.

Manisa F.K. beat Batman Petrolspor 2-1 at home, and they did it with fewer shots than their visitors but with far better ones. Expected goals, a figure that gives each shot a value based on where it was taken from, came out at a level well above what Manisa usually create at home. In a match where the chances told the story, that is the thing to notice first.

Batman had the more active attack on paper. They took 16 shots, which is more than the 12.5 that both sides usually average in a match, but only four of them were on target and nine went wide or over. Their expected goals figure was close to what they normally produce away from home, so their chances were ordinary in quality, just too many of them went astray.

Manisa made fewer attempts but more of them counted. Their 14 shots included nine from inside the penalty area, and seven were on target, a fair return for a home side. Cheikne Sylla did the damage, scoring twice and getting four of his six efforts on target, and his display earned him the highest rating of the afternoon. Manisa usually score around 1.3 goals at home, so two was a useful return.

Batman's breakthrough came from Pedrinho in the 16th minute, and he was the best player on the pitch by the figures available. He scored, created the most chances of anyone on either side and was involved in plenty of play before he was booked two minutes later. Batman's earlier goal had been a normal one, but once Manisa equalised and then went ahead, the visitors had little to show for their effort. Their away scoring average is 2.1, and a single goal was well short of that.

The possession split was almost exactly what each side usually gets. Manisa had 52% of the ball, the same as their home average, and Batman had 48%, which matches their away norm. Neither team gained or lost control in the way the score might suggest, and that is ordinary for these sides. The goals were the difference, not the amount of time either team spent in possession.

Defensively, Manisa's home record is better than usual on this occasion. They conceded one goal, against an average of 1.9 at home, and their goalkeeper made three saves. Batman's keeper made four saves, but the visitors conceded two goals, which is slightly more than their away average of 1.8. Batman had won seven of their twelve away matches before this one, so a defeat here is a notable break in an otherwise strong away run.

Manisa's league record now reads two wins, four draws and six defeats from twelve matches, with ten points. Batman's away record stands at seven wins, two draws and three defeats from twelve. The result gives Manisa a win built on finishing rather than on dominance, and it leaves Batman with the same number of shots as usual but one fewer goal than they normally get on the road.

Player of the matchC. Sylla2 goals9.2

Pedrinho1 goal8.2

Y. Benrahou2 chances created7.0

J. Lindseth1 shot on target6.9