Quality and mediocrity in Sweden's Allsvenskan
Last years runner up Norrköping travel to newcomers Eskilstuna in the 12th round of the Swedish Allsvenskan. Both teams have by their standards had a pretty bad first half of the season and will want to go into the summer break on a high but who will prevail?
Eskilstuna
Everyone knew that Eskilstuna would have a tough time of things after barely winning promotion to the Allsvenskan last season, the media knew it, the fans knew it, they knew it, even my dog knew it.
They shocked Swedish football by winning their first game against Göteborg but quickly fell back to mediocrity and have not won a game since then (1 win, 3 draws and 7 defeats).
It is still early in the season but all signs are pointing towards a swift return to the second division, they simply lack the experience and quality. This game against Norrköping could simply not have come at a worse time.
Notable absentees
Deni Avdic and Luka Mijaljevic.
Norrköping
Last seasons runner-up have had quite a tough time of it lately but it seems like things are finally starting to look better. Coach Jens Gustafsson's men have won 2 of their last 3 games as well as managing a draw away to Hammarby which is not the easiest of tasks after having initially drawn 5 of their first 7 games.
Norrköping, otherwise known as Peking could not have asked for a better fixture before going on summer vacation and should really take advantage of an Eskilstuna side that have no idea what they are doing in the highest division.
Although Norrköping have had a frustrating start to the season it was only a question of when and not if they would start performing at the level everyone knows they are capable of, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up with the teams above them and i fully expect them to do so.
Notable absentees
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Betting tip
Due mainly to Eskilstuna's mediocrity and the fact that Norrköping are a top, top side i can only see this going one way. I will be backing a Norrköping win at 27/50 with Betfair.