Djurgardens IF are set to host Varnamo at the Tele2 Arena in Sweden's Allsvenskan on Sunday, and the result could affect both the title race and relegation battle.
The home side are second in the table with 28 points and are just seven behind leaders Malmo with a game in hand, while the visitors are ninth with 17 points and are only four from the league's 14th-placed relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
The hosts will naturally be pleased with their season so far considering that this campaign they are averaging 2.15 points per game, significantly more than the 1.67 points per game they averaged last term.
In fact, if this average was extrapolated over the course of the entire season, Djurgardens would end their 2024 campaign with their highest points total since 2019, a season in which they won the league title with 66 points.
At present, the home side occupy one of two Europa Conference League playoff spots and are five points clear with a game in hand on fourth-placed Hacken, who are the closest challengers to the European places.
Joint-managers Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlof have been in charge since November 2018, and the pair have overseen two fourth-placed finishes, one third-placed finish and one second-placed finish, as well as a title win in their first year in charge.
This term, their side have scored 28 goals and conceded 12, and this makes them the division's second-best offensive and defensive team.
Though the hosts did lose once in their last two, they come into the game in outstanding league form having won seven of their last eight top-flight matches while also keeping five clean sheets in that period.
Djurgardens' home form specifically is also good, as despite losing their last league game at the Tele2 Arena 3-0 against Hammarby, they did win four of the previous five.
To add to this, in each of those four victories the hosts prevented the opposition from scoring, and their only defeat in that spell was a narrow 1-0 loss against leaders Malmo on April 25.
As for the visitors, they come into Sunday's clash in mixed form having won three times, lost twice and drawn once in their last six league games.
However, Varnamo's away form has been particularly strong considering they have won their last three league games on the road, and have won four of their six away trips in the top flight this season.
The away team are six points clear of 15th-placed Norrkoping and four clear of 14th placed Kalmar, who occupy an automatic relegation place and relegation playoff spot respectively.
Varnamo are averaging 1.31 points per game, and while this is lower than the 1.5 they achieved in 2023, it is more than the 1.23 points per game they managed in 2022.
Anes Mravac took charge in November 2023 after previously working as an assistant coach at the club that year, and he began the Allsvenskan season as the league's youngest coach at just 34 years of age.
Mravac's side have scored 17 goals and conceded 19 times, and this makes them the division's 12th best offensive and seventh-best defensive team.
Team News
The hosts will certainly be without midfielder Piotr Johansson, who is out for the rest of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
To add to this, fellow midfielder Hampus Finndell has not played since May 19 and is not expected to return until late July.
Rasmus Schuller is also a doubt for Djurgardens due to a foot injury that has kept him out since April 1.
As for the visitors, they come into Sunday's clash without any major injury concerns and given they have won their last three away games in the league, it would be surprising if many changes are made to the starting lineup.
Varnamo top-scorer Johnbosco Kalu is almost certain to start in the forward line, while captain Freddy Winsth is sure to start.
Djurgardens IF possible starting lineup:
Zetterstrom; Therkildsen, Tenho, Larsson, Dahl; Bergvall, Sabovic; Wikheim, Nguen, Gulliksen; Hummet
Varnamo possible starting lineup:
Rasheed; Wenderson, Larsson, Lohikangas; Winsth, Adjei, Nasstrom, Bergh; Engvall, Kalu, Zeljkovic
We say: Djurgardens IF 2-0 Varnamo
Although Varnamo have a strong away record this season, they have not been particularly outstanding at either end of the pitch.
With this in mind, they could struggle to create chances against Djurgardens on Sunday and this makes the home side favourites heading into the clash.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
