PL Card Treble

Where better to start than with the Premier League’s most booked player: Mario Lemina.

He’s picked up nine yellow cards in just 16 league games this season, including one in his last game against Aston Villa.

Wolves travel to Brentford on Wednesday evening, a game that both sides know they can easily win.

Brentford, particularly, know this is a fantastic opportunity to break their three game losing streak and put some distance between themselves and the relegation spaces.

So don’t expect either team to pull any punches here and Lemina will have his work cut out defending some of Brentford’s most difficult players.

He’ll find himself regularly up against Naupay, Wissa, Norgaard, and Damsgaard who are fouled 2.03, 1.51, 1.17, and 1.05 times per game respectively.

This will be a tough game for the Gabon international and I like his chances of picking up a card this evening.

No other player in the Premier League picks up more fouls than Conor Gallagher. He’s leading the pack, and by some margin as well.

In total he’s picked up 39 fouls in 17 league games – an average of 2.48 fouls per game. That an incredible stat for a player who starts week in week out.

Needless to say this high foul count has converted into bookings. He’s picked up five yellows this season, four of which have come in his last four games.

His Chelsea side will be facing Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening, a team that is fouled more than either Arsenal, Man City, or Liverpool.

In fact, they’re the fifth most fouled team in the league. On average their players are fouled 12.60 times per game.

His main opponents will be Eze and Olise who are the third and fourth most fouled players in the Palace squad. They are fouled 2.31 and 3.82 times per game respectively.

I’ll be honest there’s a few Everton players I like the look of for a card against Man City. But the bookies’ favourite for a card is Onana, and I agree.

The Toffees best chance of getting anything from this game is to play five at the back, sit deep, and play for the 0-0. A decent strategy given Everton’s clean sheet record.

But this means that a team not known for having much possession will have even less of it on Wednesday evening. This will be a slog for Everton.

Onana is a bit reckless, he’s well known for getting frustrated and lunging in. He averages 1.51 fouls per game. Only Gueye and Doucoure average more fouls out of Everton’s regular starters, but neither of them are expected to be fit.

Onana will find himself directly up against Grealish and Doku who are fouled 3.28 and 2.34 times per 90.

But given the compact way Everton are likely to play, he could realistically come up against any of City’s attacking players.

100% of Dortmund’s UCL games have seen at least 8 corners taken.

The Germans average 6.00 corners per game with opponents taking 8.40.

At The Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund games have averaged 12.00 corners in the group so far.

PSG’s corner tally is 7.80 p/90, opponents take 4.00 corners for a combined average of 11.80.

As with their hosts, 100% of PSG’s UCL games have seen 8+ corners taken.

The reverse fixture saw 17 corners! 10 for PSG and 7 for Dortmund.

This selection landed in the reverse fixture, and with everything now riding on this final game, I’d expect 3 cards at a minimum.

PSG’s games in this competition have amassed huge card numbers.

All their away games have seen over 5.5 cards, with their matches averaging 6.2 cards in total.

Dortmund games haven’t been as card laden, but they do average 3.00 in their home matches.

I think with PSG’s huge numbers, and the situation of this game, that’ll carry this selection.

PSG need a result here, if they don’t want to have to rely on results elsewhere.
If they lose, they need the Newcastle game to finish as a draw, and I’m sure they don’t want to take that risk.

Dortmund are top, but did lose the reverse fixture. That means if PSG did win here, they’d top the group on H2H. So a result for Dortmund is also important.
Expect tactical fouls, firm challenges and plenty of dark arts as these two look to do whatever it ties to get a result.