National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Linfield or Institute that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Linfield nor Institute as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Linfield form and stats
Linfield have not come this way in the Irish League Cup without some hard work on the way, more precisely defeating Ballyclare Comrades. Last season, Linfield's Irish League Cup journey ended in the semi-finals.Linfield have played 4 Premiership games at their own stadium so far this season, resulting in 2-2-0 (wins-draws-losses).
Linfield's last game was hosting Carrick Rangers and winning 4-0. As mentioned above, Linfield "killed" Carrick Rangers in their previous game. They need to reset completely for this one and beware of complacency. The 4-0 win against Carrick Rangers was decided after a strong and deadly first half, making the second half more of a journey towards the final whistle.
Before that, Linfield drew at home versus Cliftonville.There's a new game coming up fairly quickly for Linfield as they are travelling to their away game against Warrenpoint Town in the Premiership. That match is three days after this one.
Goals decide football matches and Linfield are scoring many of them at home; 8 on target from 4 league matches. Defensively Linfield have been outstanding, conceding less than half a goal on average per home game in the league (2 in 4 games). For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.
Institute form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated PSNI in order to reach 3rd round of Irish League Cup. They also participated in Irish League Cup last season. This ended in the semi-finals.The story so far for the visiting team on their Championship travels is 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats.
Institute are the visiting side once again, their previous game being the 0-0 draw at Ballinamallard United.
A 1-3 loss hosting Knockbreda before that.A quick return to home after this game, as Institute are hosting Newry City AFC in the Championship only three days away.
The attacking power of Institute when travelling is not overwhelming with 4 goals scored from 5 league matches away. Institute have conceded 10 goals in these games.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head data (for the last ten meetings): Linfield won nine games, one match ended with a draw and Institute managed zero wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: seven / threeTop Goalscorers
  C. Manzinga 7 goals |  M. Green 2 goals |  T. Hume 1 goals |
Linfield missing players
Institute missing players
| Linfield | Institute | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 11 | 25 | ||
| 11 | 5 | Won | W | 2 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 2 | Drew | D | 4 | 4 | ||
| 8 | 5 | Lost | L | 5 | 16 | ||
| 38 | 17 | Scored | S | 11 | 21 | ||
| 31 | 19 | Conceded | C | 23 | 56 | ||
| 92% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 91% | 96% | ||
| 84% | 92% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 82% | 84% | ||
| 56% | 67% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 64% | 64% | ||
| 28% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 45% | 40% | ||
| 12% | 8% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 18% | 12% | ||
| 52% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 45% | 40% | ||
| 36% | 17% | Clean Sheets | C S | 27% | 12% | ||
| 20% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 36% | 52% | ||
| 7.1 | 6.9 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 3.1 | 4.2 | ||
| 4.8 | 4.8 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.9 | 6.6 | ||
| 1.4 | 1.1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.7 | 1.3 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9.3 | 8.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 5.6 | 6.3 | ||
| 3.9 | 3.7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.7 | 2.8 | ||
| 45% | 52% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 32% | 30% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Cliftonville | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
| 2 | Larne | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| 3 | Linfield | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 15 |
| 4 | Coleraine | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 14 |
| 5 | Crusaders | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 13 |
| 6 | Carrick Rangers | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 13 |
| 7 | Glentoran | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| 8 | Glenavon | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | -1 | 7 |
| 9 | Ballymena United | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 4 |
| 10 | Portadown | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -9 | 4 |
| 11 | Dungannon Swifts | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | -8 | 3 |
| 12 | Warrenpoint Town | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -13 | 3 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Ards | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 25 |
| 2 | Newry City AFC | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 23 |
| 3 | Ballyclare Comrades | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 22 |
| 4 | Annagh United | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 19 |
| 5 | Loughgall | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 18 |
| 6 | H&W Welders | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 18 |
| 7 | Ballinamallard United | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 16 |
| 8 | Knockbreda | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | -6 | 14 |
| 9 | Institute | 11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -11 | 13 |
| 10 | Dergview | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Dundela | 11 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -8 | 5 |
| 12 | Queen's University | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 25 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -20 | 4 |