Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Swedish Allsvenskan clash between Elfsborg and GAIS, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two sides separated by three points and two places in the top half of the Allsvenskan table go head to head on Sunday when Elfsborg play host to GAIS at the Boras Arena.
The Yellow Ones head into the weekend fresh off the back of a first-leg stalemate with Rijeka in the Europa League qualifiers and will be looking to make it nine wins in their last 10 competitive home games.
Match preview
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Elfsborg turned in a solid team performance in Croatia on Thursday when they played out a 1-1 draw with Rijeka in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round clash at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
Nico Galesic netted on the stroke of half time to cancel out Jalal Andullai‘s 24th-minute opener and draw Rijeka level, and after going one man down in the 56th minute, Elfsborg held firm to see out the draw.
Oscar Hiljemark‘s men had cruised through the first two qualifying rounds, thrashing Pafos FC 8-2 over two legs to start the campaign before claiming a comfortable 3-0 victory against Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol.
Elfsborg now turn their attention to the Allsvenskan, where they fell to a 2-1 home loss against Djurgarden a fortnight ago — a result which saw their three-game winning streak in the league come to an end.
Following a positive midweek display in Croatia, the Yellow Ones return to the Boras Arena, where they are on a run of six wins in their last seven games in the league while scoring 20 goals and keeping three clean sheets since late April.
GAIS, on the other hand, were sent crashing back down the earth last Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Norrkoping when the sides met at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium.
After Arnor Traustason saw his 19th-minute penalty saved by Mergim Krasniqi, 20-year-old defender Isak Andri Sigurgeirsson came up clutch for Norrkoping as he netted in the 53rd minute to hand them their sixth win of the campaign.
Prior to that, GAIS snapped their three-match winless run on July 22, when they secured a 2-0 victory over AIK on home turf, one week before beating the Gnaget 1-0 in the second of their league double-header at Friends Arena.
Fredrik Holmberg‘s men have lost seven of their 17 Allsvenskan matches so far while picking up nine wins and one draw to collect 28 points and sit fifth in the table, three points above Elfsborg in seventh-place.
Elfsborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Elfsborg form (all competitions):
GAIS Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Team News
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While Abdullai received his marching orders in Thursday’s game against Rijeka, the 19-year-old striker is eligible to feature in the league and should lead the hosts’ attack this weekend.
He should team up with the duo of Aber Zeneli and Michael Baidoo, who boast a combined 17 goal contributions in the league, while Besfort Zeneli and Andri Baldursson should retain their roles at the centre of the park.
At the defensive end of the pitch, Sebastian Holmen, Gustav Henriksson and Terry Yegbe should form the back three once again, with 27-year-old Isak Pettersson starting in goal.
On the other hand, GAIS will take to the pitch without the services of Albanian defender Egzon Binaku, who is currently recuperating from a knee injury.
Filip Gustafsson has missed each of the last three games since sustaining a foot injury in July and the 22-year-old midfielder is a major doubt for this weekend’s clash.
They are joined on the club’s injury table by Swedish defender Robin Frej, who is also set to sit out his fourth consecutive game after coming off injured in the clash with Sirius on July 13.
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Pettersson; Holmen, Henriksson, Yegbe; Hedlund, Zeneli, Baldursson, Hult; Frick, Baidoo, Abdullai
GAIS possible starting lineup:
Krasniqi; Wangberg, Beckman, Noren, Ibrahim; Lindberg, Aberg, Henriksson; Lundgren, Hedlund, Amatkarijo
We say: Elfsborg 2-0 GAIS
While GAIS will be looking to return to winning ways and move level with Elfsborg in the table, their form away from home leaves a lot to be desired. Hiljemark’s men have been near impenetrable at the Boras Arena in recent weeks and we are backing them to secure all three points here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.