This game will have an impact on how things look at each end of the division heading into the mid-season break. Sirius are currently second bottom and have a real need for the points here. Djurgarden meanwhile are probably reluctant for the break to come given they’ve just hit form and are fast approaching the summit of the Allsvenskan.
Victory here could see them move into the top four and they will fancy they can get it. Özcan Melkemichel’s side made a bit of a slow start to this campaign following an impressive 3rd place finish last time around. However an excellent 3-1 win at Gothenburg in midweek was the clearest sign yet they are back to their best and again they look strong European candidates.
The same can’t be said of Sirius who secured a top half finish last term but already look in deep relegation trouble this. The pressure is starting to build on Kim Bergstrand, whose sides have looked really short in key areas. Only newly promoted Dalkurd are below them and even a win here wouldn’t be enough to haul them out of the relegation positions.
A month off might be just what they need to regroup and remember what it was that made them such tough opposition last term. In the short-term though, it’s hard to see them getting anything from this match. They have the Allsvenskan’s worst home record with just 0.5 points per game in front of their own fans, where they have yet to win in the 2018 season.
They rank in the worst three for both goals scored and goals conceded so there are plenty of weaknesses that the visitors should be able to exploit. The secret to Djurgarden’s success last term was mostly their attacking prowess. They scored 1.8 goals per game on average but have been a bit slow out of the blocks in that regard this season. However they will take confidence from 5 goals in their last 2 matches, both of which were against fairly strong sides and that suggests they will have enough firepower to punish what looks like a pretty weak Sirius oufit.
The hosts shipped five in their most recent match, a 5-2 defeat to Ostersunds and have conceded three or more goals in 3 of their last 5. With 6 of their last 7 matches ending in defeat, Sirius will do well to get anything here and backing a Djurgarden Win looks the best move.
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Sirius have won all 4 competitive meetings this century. They won both clashes 2-0 last term.
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