Wigan Athletic and Barnsley are gearing up for a pivotal match in League 1, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses. Wigan Athletic, playing at home, will aim to leverage their possession-based style, averaging 50.44% possession this season. Despite their modest goal-scoring record of 0.92 goals per match, they have shown resilience in defense, conceding only 1 goal per game.
Barnsley, on the other hand, boasts a more potent attack, averaging 1.37 goals per match. Their offensive prowess is complemented by a higher shots on target rate of 4.82 per game, compared to Wigan's 3.19. Barnsley's ability to maintain possession at 51.58% and their higher expected goals of 1.28 suggest they might dominate the attacking play.
Head-to-head statistics reveal a competitive history between the two teams, with Barnsley having a slight edge in recent encounters. Tactically, Wigan may focus on solidifying their defense and exploiting counter-attacks, while Barnsley could press high and utilize their superior crossing ability, averaging 15.76 crosses per game.