Preview: IFK Norrkoping vs. Kalmar – prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides battling relegation in the Swedish Allsvenskan go head-to-head when IFK Norrkoping host Kalmar at Nya Parken on Saturday.

The hosts sit second-bottom in the league table on 14 points, while the visitors are two points and one place ahead, currently occupying the relegation play-off spot.

Match preview

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Norrkoping ended a five-game losing streak and an eight-match winless run in the Allsvenskan when they beat Halmstads 1-0 at home last Sunday.

Christoffer Nyman‘s 27th-minute goal was the difference, handing IFK their fourth league win of the season and lifting them off the foot of the table.

Andreas Alm‘s side are four points from safety and will need to put together a positive run to escape the relegation zone and extend their 13-year stint in the top flight.

The 13-time Swedish champions will also be aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since April when they welcome Kalmar on Saturday.

The win over Halmstad helped Norrkoping end a three-match losing run on home soil, and they will be hoping home advantage swings in their favour once again.

© Imago

Like the hosts, Kalmar have struggled this season, but they also pulled off an impressive 2-1 victory against second-placed Djurgardens at Guldfageln Arena last Saturday.

Despite this win, the Red Brothers are still hovering around the drop zone, with just two points above the automatic relegation places and two points from safety.

Caretaker manager Stefan Larsson has won two of the three games he has been in charge of, which is just one win behind what former manager Henrik Jensen managed in the first 12 matches of the season.

Having won their only away match since taking over, Larsson will be confident of his side’s ability to pick up points at Norrkoping, especially as they have also won more points on the road than at home.

IFK Norrkoping Swedish Allsvenskan form:

Kalmar Swedish Allsvenskan form:

Team News

Norrkoping will remain without midfielder Kevin Hoog Jansson who is a long term absentee, and not expected to return for this clash.

Joseph Ceesay, Jacob Ortmark and Tim Prica are also expected to remain on the sidelines, with their return dates set for next month.

Kalmar will remain without the services of long term absentees Ville Nilsson and Johan Karlsson, who have both been out since January.

Rony Jansson (shoulder) and Carl Gustafsson (concussion) will miss the entire season, while Alex Gersbach (Achilles tendon) is expected to return in August.

IFK Norrkoping possible starting lineup:
Nilsson; Salihovic, Ssewankambo, Watson, Salihovic; Traustason, Lushaku; Sigurgeirsson, Mistrati, Neffati; Nyman

Kalmar possible starting lineup:
Brolin; Hallberg, Saetra, Osuji, Karlsson; Sipiao, Gojani, Skrabb; Ring, Trenskow, Islamovic

We say: IFK Norrkoping 0-1 Kalmar

Both teams head into this match with confidence after winning their respective games last time out – but while Norrkoping’s win feels like a one-off, Kalmar seem to have found some backbone under their caretaker manager.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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