Sundsvall to win or draw against southerners
GIF Sundsvall will play Hammarby IF at the NP3 Arena at 6PM (UK time) on Wednesday. Many teams have come a cropper against GIF this season, and looking at how hopeless Hammarby are at the moment, I believe Sundsvall have a real chance to win on Wednesday evening. They'll be looking to build on their impressive victory over IFK Gothenburg last Friday.
GIF Sundsvall
I've backed Sundsvall many times this season, a habit I'm looking to continue until the end of the season. The Swedish season is almost over due to the cold winter when it's impossible to play outside. Sundsvall play some slick, technical football and generally produce a lot of goal-scoring opportunities. There have been a number of bumps along the road but now Sundsvall are back to winning ways after their 1-2 victory away at IFK Gothenburg on Friday. During the autumn Sundsvall have been much better at home; they've picked up seven points over the past three matches and a goal difference of 7-1. Over the whole season GIF are averaging 1.54 goals scored and 0.84 goals conceded per game - stats that befit a top-half of the table team. They have only lost three matches this season, and these have been against Allsvenskan's top teams Östersunds, AIK and Häcken. And all of their losses came before the 19th of August. GIF's key to success lies in their midfield duo of Batanero and Ciercoles, as well as attacker and cult-hero Linus Hallenius. Peter Wilson was injured on Wednesday, but otherwise GIF will have a fully-fit squad.
- League Postion: 7
Hammarby IF
Coach Billborn and his gang look like they have thrown away their season. There is now a real risk that there will be no European games for them in 2019. For a long time the 'Southern Brothers' were league leaders with Hamad, Djurdjic, Tankovic amongst the best offensive players in the whole league. This is not the case anymore. These guys are just not scoring anymore. Hammarby have become predictable and have been easily outdone over the past two months. Since their derby loss on the 2nd of September, 'Bajen' - as their known locally - have only picked up seven points in seven matches. They have lost against Elfsborg and drawn against Uppsala-based Sirius. Away from home Bajen have averaged 1.62 goals scored and 1.15 conceded per game, and if we look at their recent history these figures get much worse. Evidence of Hammarby's incompetence was on display during their draw against Kalmar FF over the weekend. Kalmar had nothing left to play for and their best players were injured. But Hammarby still managed to lose. Sundsvall are a much better team than Kalmar FF. Come Wednesday Hammarby will still be without their goalkeeper Wiland, but otherwise they will have a full squad.
- League Postion: 3
Betting tip
Right now Hammarby are a little overrated in the betting market, and Sundsvall are a little underrated. On current form Sundsvall are a better team than Hammarby and at home they are especially strong. Hammarby's hopeless incompetence doesn't look like ending anytime soon, so I see Sundsvall as narrow favourites to win, or at least earn a point on Wednesday. I will bet on a double-chance 1x at odds of 5/7
