Jablonec host Sigma Olomouc at lunchtime on Saturday in the Czech First League in what is a shootout for a coveted top 6 spot before the league splits in mid-April. Just three points separate the sides, with overachievers Jablonec sat in fifth place ahead of Olomouc, who currently occupy the final spot in the top 6 split. Mlada Boleslav and Hradec Kralove are four points behind Olomouc, but both have very winnable ties coming up against teams in the bottom group of the table. The pressure is therefore on both sides on Saturday at Jablonec as they look to solidify their place at the top table.

Jablonec have turned in an incredible season so far, and after three successive seasons in the bottom 6 relegation playoffs, look set to secure a spot in the top 6 this season. However, they will need to turnaround a slide in form over recent weeks that has seen them now go 3 league games without a win. They expectedly went down to a straightforward defeat at Slavia before the international break, but were held to draws against the chasing pack in the two games before these with draws against Liberec and Hradec Kralove. Looking over their last 11 matches, 7 of which have been since the winter break, Jablonec have scored a huge 2.09 goals per game from 1.65 xG. Much of their early season form was built off a solid defence however, and they have only managed to keep 3 clean sheets in this sample, conceding 1.36 goals per game from 1.06 xG. They have been extra prolific at home, scoring 28 goals in 13 matches.

Sigma Olomouc's last game before the international break added some urgency to their need for a result here, as they suffered a 2-1 home defeat against one of the chasing pack in Hradec Kralove. Olomouc's main issues this season have been keeping teams out at the back, as their goals conceded compare with sides battling relegation. These issues were on display last time out as they conceded an early opener from a long throw in, before a goalkeeper blunder gave Hradec a second just minutes later. Looking at the same last 11 games sample for Olomouc, they have also been quite prolific with 1.64 goals per game from 1.22 xG. They have kept just 2 clean sheets over this spell, against strugglers Pardubice and away at a Bohemians side who had little interest in attacking.

While the reverse meeting in Olomouc was 0-0, the game was open with both teams having gilt-edged chances until a first half red card for Olomouc meant that they sat in to play for a draw. Looking at the Over 2.5 goals metric, Olomouc are top of the whole league, with 18 of their 26 matches seeing at least 3 goals. Jablonec are in 7th place out of 16 teams, with 14 of their 26 matches seeing at least 3. 8 of Jablonec's 13 home matches have seen at least 3 goals, with their prolific attack on home soil responsible for lots of goals.

Jablonec are enjoying a virtually injury free second half of the season with much of the squad enjoying long runs of appearances. ST Lamin Jawo has hit the ground running since his winter loan move with 4 league goals in his 7 games so far. Sigma Olomouc continue to be plagued with lengthy injuries to squad players, including having to play their rotation keeper in their last two. Stoppen made a poor mistake in the last game so Jablonec will likely target him with set pieces. CB Dohnalek remains out while LB Slama was withdrawn injured after 30 minutes last time out. The core attackers of Kliment, Sip, Zorvan, Mikulenka and Navratil remain available to Sigma however, in a boost to their attacking power.

Given what is at stake for both teams and their need to pull away from the chasing pack, we anticipate both sides will go for the win on Saturday and there looks to be value backing the Overs line.

Best odds can be found at Bet365.