TipResumen

BURNLEY

The big task for Sean Dyche this season is making sure he can balance the Premier League commitments with the Europa League for a Burnley squad that doesn't have the most depth. The manager has made it clear the Premier League is the priority, but Burnley have waited a long time for a European adventure and the players are just as keen as the fans in prolonging it as long as possible. Wins over Aberdeen and Istanbul Basaksehir have moved Burnley through to the Europa League Play Off Round where they will face a big name from European Football in Olympiacos. Sean Dyche has to be happy he was able to make some changes to keep his starting eleven fresh for the Premier League as Burnley search for a first win this season in normal time. Burnley's wins in the Europa League have both come in extra time periods while they were a little unfortunate not have won their opening Premier League game at Southampton last Sunday. The results so far this season have seen Burnley remain unbeaten, but they have not won any of their last 10 games in all competitions in normal time. Burnley will be looking to improve their 7-5-7 record at Turf Moor from last season. Robbie Brady and Matej Vydra are both doubts for this one, but Burnley will be expected to bring back the likes of Ben Mee, James Tarkowski, Matthew Lowton and Chris Wood having either had them start on the bench on Thursday or not play at all.



WATFORD

In recent years Watford have been run to make sure they are not going to drop out of the Premier League and the owners have been quick to replace managers who are perhaps not achieving that goal for them. Marco Silva's fast start as manager was quickly forgotten as Watford hit a poor patch of form last season, but Javi Gracia steadied the ship and has been given the opportunity to take charge from the beginning of this season. The decision to keep the manager looked a good one on the opening weekend of the season as Watford comfortably beat Brighton 2-0 at Vicarage Road to make the perfect start to the campaign. They have had a full week to prepare for this fixture and Watford have the task of massively improving their 4-2-13 away record in the Premier League last season. Watford only won 1 of their last 9 Premier League games last season which may have put manager Gracia under some pressure, but winning their opening League fixture will have alleviated some of that. The bigger test for the manager is changing the mindset of a club that have not won any of their last 13 away games in all competitions and lost 12 of those. Nathanial Chalobah is still on the road back from a long term injury, but he is edging closer to a return to the squad. Stefano Okaka is expected to miss out, but Gerard Deulofeu should be available for selection.



HEAD TO HEAD

Burnley did the Premier League double over Watford last season which included beating them 1-0 at Turf Moor. Burnley are unbeaten in 10 home games against Watford and have beaten them the last 2 times they have hosted this fixture.



PREDICTION

Over the last couple of years it has been wins over teams in the bottom half that have helped keep Burnley in the Premier League and they will be looking to make Turf Moor a tough place for teams to visit again. Sean Dyche will be very keen to see his Burnley team pick up their first Premier League win at the first time of asking at Turf Moor, but the challenge is balancing the League with the Europa League commitments. There were enough key players rested for the win on Thursday which will encourage Dyche that the Burnley squad can perform well both domestically and in European tournaments this season. It is still going to be interesting to see how Burnley handle the Thursday-Sunday combination this weekend having needed extra time to beat Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday evening, but at least that Second Leg was played at home so travelling is not a problem. Regardless it is still a difficult test to have to play twice in a week against an opponent who will have been preparing all week for this fixture. Watford made a strong start to the new Premier League season by comfortably beating Brighton 2-0 at Vicarage Road, but Javi Gracia will know The Hornets need to improve their away form to avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap. Last season they did win 4 away games, but those who came pretty early in the season and Watford's run of 13 away games without a win during which time they have been beaten 12 times has to be a major concern. They were beaten at all of the clubs that finished in the top nine of the Premier League table last season and 13 losses in 19 away League games is a very poor return. Watford lost the same number of away games the season before last and Burnley have shown they have kept their strong defensive discipline from last season which will make them very tough to beat. I have some reservations about the fact that Burnley have little time to prepare for this one, but I think Sean Dyche did pick a team on Thursday with this Premier League game in mind. The poor Watford away record in the last couple of years in the Premier League added to the fact that Burnley have beaten them twice in a row makes me lean towards the home team earning their first League win of the season. However the potential fatigue factor means I will back Burnley on the Asian Handicap which will at least return half the stake in the event of a draw. That is still an odds against price and looks the best way to back Burnley to win their first game of the 2018/19 season.