The Veikkausliiga moves into matchday 9 of the season this weekend as third-place Honka will host fifth-place Ilves on Friday night. Honka are coming off of a 2-1 loss to Oulu. The loss ended a three-match winning streak in the division.
Ilves head into the match on matchday 9 following a 1-0 win over Mariehamn. The away side has won three of their last four games in the league. Three points separate these Veikkausliiga teams.
Honka are in good form despite their recent loss to Oulu. They picked up 13 points from the last 18 points available to them. Fourteen goals were scored with seven goals conceded.
Ilves picked up 10 points from the last 18 points on offer in the division. They scored 11 goals and conceded nine during the last six matches.
Honka have a slightly better head-to-head record against Ilves. They have a record of 3W-1D-2L versus Ilves in the Veikkausliiga. Honka are unbeaten in their last two games against Ilves. Ilves were outscored 11-9 across the last six games with Ilves.
Kai Meriluoto leads Ilves in goals with four this season. He has accounted for 33% of the club’s goals. Honka’s Jerry Voutilainen, Kevin Jansen, and Agon Sadiku have accounted for nine goals in total (three apiece). The trio has accounted for 64% of Honka’s goalscoring.
There have been more than 2.5 goals scored in Ilves's last six away games in the Veikkausliiga. In addition, there have been more than 2.5 goals scored in Honka's last four home games in the Veikkausliiga.
In their last four Veikkausliiga games, Honka have scored at least 2.0 goals. They have also won their last four home matches in the Finnish top flight in 2021 and 2022.
Honka have been perfect this season in the Finnish league with three wins at home. They have a +6-goal difference with 10 goals for and four against.
Ilves have been poor on the road with a mere one point this season from nine possible. They are –2 in goals on the road with four goals scored and six against.
Honka are unbeaten in their last two matches with Ilves and they should post another win on Friday night. The home side will move to four wins from four at home this season thanks to a 2-1 victory versus Ilves.
Jansen scored in Honka’s 2-1 loss to Oulu last time out. The Dutch striker could get on the scoresheet once more for the home side.