Football – Sweden – Allsvenskan
Saturday 12th July 2014 – Kickoff: 1600hrs
Next on the agenda is a top of the table clash in the Swedish Allsvenskan between third placed AIK Stockholm and second placed Kalmar FF at the Friends Arena in Solna on Saturday afternoon.
A win for either team here would see them secure second place and in turn could reduce the deficit on current league leaders Malmo who play host to Atvidaberg later in the evening. AIK Stockholm go into this vital clash having gone unbeaten in their last eight matches and they’ve won four of their last five with victories over Mjallby, Elfsborg, Brommapojkarna and Atvidaberg.
Their home form has also picked up somewhat as they’ve won their last four on the trot which gives them an overall home record now of 4-1-2 12/10 after making a slow start to the new season. Forwards Markkanen (6 goals) and Bahoui (5 goals) are the main threats up front while Costa Rica midfielder Borges has chipped in with 4 goals although he may not figure in tonight’s clash.
Visitors Kalmar have also made an impressive start to the Allsvenskan season having lost just once so far both home and away in the league. That defeat, incidentally, came in the shape of a heavy 1-4 defeat away at Hacken but that’s the only loss they’ve suffered in their last 15 league matches which is an impressive run of form in itself.
It’s no surprise then that they currently hold second place in the division behind Malmo and I reckon they’ll be looking not to lose this one at all costs to retain their current league position. The visitors have registered recent wins over Norrkoping, Helsingborg and Kalmar’s overall away record stands at a creditable 3-2-1 9/7.
Likely anytime goalscorers for Kalmar look to be midfielder and leading goalscorer Soderqvist (8 goals) and Elm (4 goals) and these two players both scored in Kalmar’s recent 2-1 home win over Mjallby last Saturday.
Both teams go into tonight’s clash with solid league form behind them and they’ll both be keen not to lose as a priority over perhaps pushing too hard for all three points. AIK Stockholm have a Europa League tie with Irish outfit Linfield next Thursday and this may influence their manager to perhaps take off some key players during the second half with this in mind.
Both teams are very similar in terms of personnel and recent results and I wouldn’t be surprised if they cancelled each other out here in this one. It could end up a 1-1 draw, with juicy odds to be had here.
Pick: Draw @ 3.93 Pinnacle
