Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Swedish Allsvenskan clash between AIK Fotboll and Mjallby AIF, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
AIK Fotboll will aim to pick up back-to-back wins for the first time since April when they play host to Mjallby AIF at Friends Arena in round 18 of the Swedish Allsvenskan on Sunday.
Having failed to win the last five meetings between the sides since July 2022, the Hallevik outfit will head into the weekend looking to get one over the hosts and snap their run of two consecutive losses.
Match preview
© Imago
AIK Fotboll turned in a resilient team display last weekend as they picked up a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Vasteras when the two sides squared off at the Hitachi Energy Arena.
After falling two goals behind courtesy of Rui Modesto and Dino Besirovic, Viktor Granath struck in the 41st minute to pull one back for Vasteras but the visitors turned in a solid defensive display in the second half to see out all three points.
This was a much-needed result for AIK, who found themselves languishing too close for comfort but just above the relegation zone, having lost six of their last seven matches across all competitions.
Mikkjal Thomassen‘s men have now won seven of their 17 Allsvenskan matches so far while losing eight and claiming two draws to collect 23 points and sit 10th in the standings, five points above the danger zone.
While AIK will be looking to secure consecutive league wins for the first time since April and move into the top half of the table, recent results at home have been concerning, as they have lost three of their last four league games at Friends Arena, having picked up four wins from the four matches wins preceding this run.
Mjallby, on the other hand, failed to find their feet last time out as they suffered a 3-0 hammering against Hammarby when the two sides squared off at the Tele2 Arena.
Following a relatively uneventful first half, the game sparked to life in the second half as Nahir Besara netted a nine-minute brace to put the hosts in a commanding lead before Oscar Johansson Schellhas completed the rout from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
Prior to that, Mjallby saw their run of four back-to-back wins in the league come to an end on July 21, when they were beaten 3-1 by Elfsborg courtesy of a first-half brace from Jalal Abdullai and Sebastian Holmen‘s 51st-minute strike.
Despite their recent slump in form, Anders Torstensson‘s men remain on course to secure a place in Europe as they currently sit fourth in the league standings with 29 points from 17 games, two points off third-placed Hammarby.
Next up for the Hallevik outfit is the stern challenge of going up against an opposing side who are unbeaten in 17 of their last 20 meetings, picking up nine wins and eight draws since July 2009.
While Mjallby will be looking to stop the rot this weekend, their form on the road offers little optimism as they journey to Friends Arena on a run of five defeats in their last seven away matches since the start of April.
AIK Fotboll Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Mjallby AIF Swedish Allsvenskan form:
Team News
© Imago
AIK will take to the pitch without the services of Besirovic, who is currently suspended after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Vasteras last time out.
On the injury front, the Gnaget remain without the trio of Aaron Stoch Rydell, Abdihakin Ali and Alexander Fesshaie, who continue their spells on the sidelines.
Norwegian midfielder Martin Ellingsen has been out of action since picking up a severe injury in March’s game against Kalmar and the 29-year-old is also out of contention for the hosts.
As for Mjallby, 25-year-old full-back Arvid Brorsson is ruled out of this weekend’s clash due to suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Hammarby last time out.
Tom Pettersson, who has started 11 of the 17 league games this season, was forced off injured midway through the first half against Hammarby and the 34-year-old is a doubt for the visitors.
He is joined on the club’s injury table by Nigerian forward Silas Nwankwo, who has missed each of the last six matches since coming off with a knee problem in May.
AIK Fotboll possible starting lineup:
Nordfeldt; Thychosen, Milosevic, Hansen, Edh; Modesto, Dabo, Saletros, Celina; Faraj, Pittas
Mjallby AIF possible starting lineup:
Tornqvist, Wikstrom, Roslier, Kiilerich; Johansson, Gustavsson, Rojkjaer, Stroud; Gustafsson, Bergstrom, Johansson
We say: AIK Fotboll 1-1 Mjallby AIF
Coming off the back of two poor results, Mjallby will head into the weekend in search of a pick-me-up as they continue their push for European qualification. However, AIK boasts a solid record in this fixture and we predict they will do just enough to frustrate the visitors and force a share of the spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.