Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Swedish Allsvenskan clash between IFK Goteborg and Elfsborg, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aberdeen-bound Jimmy Thelin‘s time in charge of Elfsborg will come to an end on Saturday when his Elfsborg side travel to face relegation-threatened IFK Goteborg at Gamla Ullevi in Sweden’s Allsvenskan.
The home side are in 13th place with 11 points and are only above the league’s relegation playoff spot due to goal difference, while eighth-placed Elfsborg have 16 points and their mixed form could see them dragged into the relegation battle.
Match preview
The hosts lost 5-2 last time out against AIK and were unable to secure a second consecutive victory after defeating Kalmar FF, who are second from bottom in 15th place, on May 19.
Their overall form this season has been disappointing as they have lost six times, drawn twice and won only three matches.
Goteborg’s home record has been particularly poor this season having won just once in five league games while losing four and conceding nine, although it should be noted that they did win their last home fixture against Mjallby on May 21.
However, perhaps this home record should be viewed less harshly considering they have played both league leaders Malmo and second-placed Djurgardens in this time, as well as having an exceptional number of injuries to contend with.
Manager Jens Berthel Askou was appointed as Goteborg boss in June 2023 and is averaging one point per game so far, 0.4 fewer than at his previous side Horsens in Denmark.
If his side continue at this rate then their points tally at the end of the season would mark their lowest since 2002, when they accumulated 28 and finished in 12th place, only staying in the top flight as a result of their victory in the league’s relegation playoff match.
Despite this, Goteborg could go two points behind the visitors with victory on Saturday while still having a game in hand on their opponents.
The away side might have had ambitions of qualifying for the Europa Conference League, but they are five points from third-placed GAIS, who occupy the final qualification spot and have also played a game more.
In fact, Elfsborg are only five points clear of 14th-placed Norrkoping, who are in the division’s relegation playoff spot, and are just six clear of the automatic relegation zone while also having played one more game than both Norrkoping and Kalmar.
The visitors find themselves in this precarious position as they have been unable to build on previous positive results, as evidenced by the fact that in their last five games they have won twice but have also lost three times.
Manager Jimmy Thelin has been in charge since January 2018 and last term Elfsborg finished in second place with 64 points, a tally higher than their most recent title-winning campaign.
Unfortunately for Elfsborg they have been unable to replicate last season’s success, and it could be argued that Thelin’s agreement to join Aberdeen in June has affected his side’s performances.
Nevertheless, after such a lengthy period in charge, Elfsborg will want to see Thelin off with a winning farewell in this one, with his successor then tasked with preventing Elfsborg from being dragged into an unexpected relegation battle with the likes of Goteborg.
IFK Goteborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Elfsborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Team News
The hosts come into the game with a long list of absentees including defenders Mattias Johansson and Emil Salomonsson, as well as goalkeeper Anders Kristiansen.
Elsewhere, midfielders Andreas Pyndt and Abundance Salaou are set to miss out, while Hussein Carneil is to miss the rest of the season.
Goteborg will also be without forwards Laurs Skjellerup, Arbnor Mucolli and Suleiman Abdullahi.
These injury issues are compounded by the suspension of midfielder Malick Yalcouye, who has accumulated too many yellow cards.
In contrast, the away side will only be without defender Johan Larsson due to a suspension, and manager Thelin can otherwise choose from a healthy squad for his final match at the helm.
IFK Goteborg possible starting lineup:
Nordfeldt; Modesto, Hansen, Papagiannopoulos, Bjornstrom; Ayari, Ring, Saletros, Celina; Pittas, Andersson
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Bundgaard; Boman, Buhari, Holmen, Kaib; Ouma, Baidoo, Thomasen; Qasem, Abdulai, Zeneli
We say: IFK Goteborg 0-2 Elfsborg
Although both sides have struggled for consistency this term, the sheer number of absentees for Goteborg could give Elfsborg an advantage.
With this in mind, considering that the away side have scored nine more Allsvenskan goals than the home side, their attack could benefit from Goteborg’s relative disorganisation.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.