AIK welcome Degerfors to the Strawberry Arena in a Swedish Allsvenskan fixture on Sunday. The hosts are aiming to maintain the pressure on the frontrunners while the visitors are desperate to climb out of the danger zone.
Sitting third in the table, five points off the pace, AIK will come into this clash looking to close the gap on the leaders. However, Mikkjal Thommasen's men have lost four of the last five matches and were beaten 2-0 at Halmstad in their previous fixture.
The good news for AIK is that they are back at Strawberry Arena, which has been a fortress lately. They are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 home matches in all competitions, picking up six wins on this run.
Degerfors, meanwhile, are enduring a difficult campaign and are currently in the bottom three. They have lost their last five matches and were thrashed 5-1 at Djurgarden last time out in the league.
There are some positives for Degerfors as they have claimed four wins this season, two of which have come in their last five away matches. However, some of their heaviest defeats have come on the road, with a 4-1 loss to Mjallby preceding the result at Djurgarden.
How the bookies view it: AIK are overwhelming favourites
The bookies have installed AIK as overwhelming favourites, with a home win priced at 1/2 with BoyleSports. An unlikely victory for Degerfors is valued at 9/2 while a draw is set at odds of 14/5.
Head to head: AIK have the edge
AIK have a 5-3 advantage with two draws from 10 previous matches against Degerfors. The last meeting between both teams was a Svenska Cupen clash in February, with the hosts held to a 1-1 home draw.
Players to watch: Hove expected to shine
Johan Hove is the leading scorer for AIK with six goals from midfield and will be the one to watch on Sunday. Striker John Guidetti has two goals this season, and both men could combine to produce over 1.5 goals – available at 8/13 with BoyleSports.
Degerfors can also hold their own going forward and will look to Omar Faraj, who has six goals this season. Marcus Rafferty has found the net four times, and both men can produce over 0.5 goals for the visitors (Degerfors over 0.5 goals – priced at 4/6.
Probable line ups:
Dino Besirovic remains suspended for AIK and will miss Monday's clash. Hove is expected to continue in midfield while Guidetti should lead the line once again.
Leon Hein remains sidelined with injury and is set to miss Sunday's clash. Mamadouba Diaby is expected to retain his place in defence, while Faraj should continue in attack.
AIK: Nordfeldt, Isherwood, Papagiannopoulos, Benkovic, Thychosen, Celina, Csongvai, Saletros, Geiger, Guidetti, Kakoullis, Hove
Degerfors: Forsell, Diaby, Pikkarainen, Ohlsson, Ohlsson, Girmai, Gravius; Pihlstrom, Rafferty, Barsoum; Faraj
Anything else catch the eye?
Both teams have scored in four of their last five meetings (BTTS – valued at 3/4 with BoyleSports). Four of AIK’s last five matches have produced over 2.5 goals – offered at odds of 5/6.
With AIK priced at minimal odds for a straight victory, a win and over 2.5 goals offers more value (AIK win & over 1.5 goals 20/23). There have been goals in each half in the last four meetings between both teams (Goal in each half 3/4).
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