Norwich vs. Cardiff Prediction, Match Preview, and Betting Tips, 3 May 2025 - bettingexpert
This Saturday, Norwich City will host Cardiff City at Carrow Road in the final round of the Championship season. Although both sides have had a challenging season, this match still holds significance.
Norwich sits 14th in the table with 54 points and is desperate for a win to end their six-match winless streak. Jack Wilshere’s side will be looking to leverage their home advantage, where they’ve scored in 86% of their matches this season. With top scorer Borja Sainz leading the attack, the Canaries will fancy their chances against the bottom-placed visitors.
Cardiff, on the other hand, is at the foot of the table with 44 points. Aaron Ramsey’s squad has struggled and has not won in seven consecutive outings. Their defence and attack both need to step up for this final push, despite recent draws showing some resilience.
With both teams grappling for a morale-boosting win, our recommendation is a home victory for Norwich, who are also the bookmakers’ favourites with odds of 1.61. This could be a vital match for restoring pride and ending the season on a positive note.
Norwich vs Cardiff Prediction & Betting Tip
| Norwich vs Cardiff Prediction | |
|---|---|
| Betting Tip | Odds |
| Norwich City to Win | 1.61 |
- Norwich has scored in 86% of their home matches this season, showcasing their attacking prowess, especially at Carrow Road.
- Cardiff is at the bottom of the table, not winning in seven consecutive matches, reflecting their struggles.
- Norwich is highly motivated to end their six-match winless streak, leveraging their home advantage and top form of Borja Sainz.
Norwich vs Cardiff Odds
| Norwich vs Cardiff Betting Odds | |
|---|---|
| Bet | Odds |
| Norwich Win | 1.61 |
| Draw | 4.27 |
| Cardiff Win | 4.63 |
Norwich City is the favourite heading into this clash at Carrow Road, a venue where they’ve notched up goals in a substantial portion of their matches this season. Cardiff, sitting at the bottom of the table, faces a challenging task. With both teams struggling recently, the odds reflect a significant advantage for the home team. Norwich’s desire to break their six-match winless streak plays a pivotal role in making them the bookmaker’s favourite.
Norwich Team Analysis
Norwich Recent Performance
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesbrough | Norwich | 2025-04-26 | Championship | 0-0 (Draw) |
| Millwall | Norwich | 2025-04-21 | Championship | 3-1 (Loss) |
| Norwich | Portsmouth | 2025-04-18 | Championship | 3-5 (Loss) |
| Burnley | Norwich | 2025-04-11 | Championship | 2-1 (Loss) |
| Norwich | Sunderland | 2025-04-08 | Championship | 0-0 (Draw) |
Recent Form: DLLLD
Norwich have struggled in their last five matches, drawing twice and losing three. With an average of 1.00 goals scored per game and two clean sheets in the last five, they’ll need to tighten up their defence, as they’ve conceded 11 goals in this span. Despite their winless streak, they’ve shown resilience, particularly in their recent draws. Their ability to score, especially at home, could be key in overcoming Cardiff.
Norwich Key Players
Norwich’s hopes will heavily rest on the shoulders of their top scorer, Borja Sainz, who has netted 17 goals this season. His prowess in front of goal will be crucial against Cardiff’s defense. Young midfielder Marcelino Núñez, expected to operate as the attacking midfielder, is another key player to watch, with his ability to link play and create scoring opportunities. In defense, Shane Duffy will be critical in organizing the backline and keeping Callum Robinson, Cardiff’s top scorer, at bay.
Expected lineup for Norwich:
- Goalkeeper: Angus Gunn
- Defenders: Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy, Ruairi McConville, Callum Doyle
- Midfielders: Kenny McLean, Jacob Wright, Anis Ben Slimane, Marcelino Núñez, Borja Sainz
- Forward: Josh Sargent
These individual battles and the collective effort will be paramount to Norwich securing a much-needed victory.
Norwich Suspensions & Injuries
Norwich has a few key players sidelined with injuries, which could impact their performance in the upcoming match.
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Gabe Forsyth | Knee injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Lewis Dobbin | Calf injury | Out for season |
| Ben Chrisene | Ankle injury | Out for season |
| Lucien Mahovo | Knee injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Ante Crnac | Ankle injury | About a week |
| Matej Jurasek | Leg injury | Doubtful |
These absences affect various positions across the team, limiting Jack Wilshere’s tactical flexibility. With key players like Forsyth and Dobbin out, the squad depth will be tested, and others will need to step up.
Norwich Tactics and Formation
Norwich Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Key Forward: Joshua Sargent
- Midfield Trio: Kenny McLean, Jacob Wright (defensive midfielders), Marcelino Núñez (attacking midfielder)
- Defensive Setup: Shane Duffy and Ruairà McConville anchor the centre-back roles, with Jack Stacey and Callum Doyle as full-backs.
- Notable Strategy: Emphasis on a solid defence with two clean sheets in the last five games. Expect a balanced approach pivoting on defensive solidity and counter-attacking via wings.
Jack Wilshere will likely continue with a defensive midfield pairing to safeguard their fragile defence, enabled by the robust presence of McLean and Wright. The creativity of Núñez, supported by the wing play of Anis Ben Slimane and Borja Sainz, will be pivotal to opening up Cardiff’s backline.
Cardiff Team Analysis
Cardiff Recent Performance
Cardiff’s recent form has been less than stellar, with their last five matches showing inconsistency and a general lack of cutting edge.
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | West Bromwich | 2025-04-26 | Championship | 0-0 (Draw) |
| Cardiff | Oxford | 2025-04-21 | Championship | 1-1 (Draw) |
| Sheffield United | Cardiff | 2025-04-18 | Championship | 2-0 (Loss) |
| Cardiff | Stoke | 2025-04-12 | Championship | 0-1 (Loss) |
| Preston | Cardiff | 2025-04-08 | Championship | 2-2 (Draw) |
Recent Form: DDLLD
The team has only managed to score an average of 0.60 goals in their last five games, and they’ve kept just one clean sheet. With just 44 points and sitting at the bottom of the table, Cardiff faces an uphill battle against Norwich. Their last win feels like a distant memory, and defensive fragility has been a recurring theme, conceding frequently in this rough patch.
Cardiff Key Players
Expected lineup for Cardiff:
- Goalkeeper: Ethan Horvath
- Defenders: Perry Ng, Will Fish, Calum Chambers, Callum O’Dowda
- Midfielders: David Turnbull, Andy Rinomhota, Chris Willock, Alexander Robertson, Cian Ashford
- Forward: Yousef Salech
Callum Robinson, their top scorer with 12 goals, will be crucial in unlocking Norwich’s defense, especially given Norwich’s recent vulnerabilities at the back. In midfield, Andy Rinomhota and David Turnbull will need to assert control and fend off Norwich’s advances. Look out for Chris Willock and Alexander Robertson, who have the potential to create dangerous opportunities on the wings.
Key individual battles include Willock against Norwich’s left back Callum Doyle, and Robinson facing off against center backs Shane Duffy and Ruairi McConville.
Cardiff Suspensions & Injuries
Cardiff City will be dealing with several injury issues going into the match against Norwich.
| Player | Injury | Expected return |
|---|---|---|
| Jak Alnwick | Hamstring Injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Aaron Ramsey | Hamstring Injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Anwar El Ghazi | Back Injury | Mid May 2025 |
| Isaak Davies | Hamstring Injury | Mid May 2025 |
The absence of Jak Alnwick and Aaron Ramsey may affect Cardiff’s defensive stability and midfield creativity respectively. Additionally, the injury to Anwar El Ghazi removes an attacking option who could have provided width and pace. Isaak Davies’ absence also means fewer attacking alternatives from the bench, putting more pressure on the starting eleven to deliver.
These injuries may force manager Aaron Ramsey to rely on fringe players and alter his tactical approach, potentially affecting team cohesion and performance.
Cardiff City Tactics and Formation
Cardiff City’s Tactical Breakdown:
- Formation: 4-2-3-1
- Key Forward: Yousef Salech
- Midfield Trio: David Turnbull, Andy Rinomhota, Alexander Robertson
- Defensive Line: Right back – Perry Ng, Right center back – Will Fish, Left center back – Calum Chambers, Left back – Callum O’Dowda
- Defensive Strength: Although they have had just one clean sheet in the last five matches, their backline is bolstered by experienced defenders like Calum Chambers.
- Notable Strategy: Cardiff has generally struggled defensively this season but looks to press high and create chances from wide areas. With Chris Willock and Cian Ashford on the wings, expect crosses to frequently target Yousef Salech.
Their current formation aims to stabilize the defense while relying on pace and creativity from midfield and wings to spark attacking plays. Despite recent struggles, a focus on counterattacks could provide scoring opportunities against Norwich.
Norwich vs Cardiff Head-to-Head Statistics
| Home team | Away team | Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City | Norwich City | 2024-11-02 | Championship | 2-1 (Loss) |
| Norwich City | Cardiff City | 2024-02-17 | Championship | 4-1 (Win) |
| Cardiff City | Norwich City | 2023-11-11 | Championship | 2-3 (Win) |
| Norwich City | Cardiff City | 2023-02-25 | Championship | 2-0 (Win) |
| Cardiff City | Norwich City | 2022-07-30 | Championship | 1-0 (Loss) |
These teams have faced each other regularly, with Norwich holding a slight edge in recent encounters. Cardiff’s struggles are evident, reflected by their lower table standing and limited success in these past meetings. This history suggests that Norwich has the upper hand for this upcoming fixture.
Odds accurate as of 01/05/2025 12:31, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.
