The Bolt Arena is the venue for Sunday’s top of the table clash in the Finnish top flight which features this upcoming clash between 2nd placed HJK and their league leading visitors, KuPS, in this Veikkausliiga blockbuster.
HJK currently trail KuPS by a three-point margin prior to this Sunday’s vital encounter and they have failed in their last two attempts to close the gap on their title rivals having been handed defeats in each of their last two matches, suffering losses against Oulu and Mariehamn.
Erinomaisen isot kaksi HJK-viikkoa edessä! – Keskiviikkona panoksena välieräpaikka #SuomenCup’issa – Lauantaina pelissä #Veikkausliiga'n kärkipaikka(Ke 6.7. klo 19 #UCLfi-karsinta-avaus Boltilla) pic.twitter.com/i33mp1Ylqp— HJK Helsinki (@hjkhelsinki) June 27, 2022
Erinomaisen isot kaksi HJK-viikkoa edessä! – Keskiviikkona panoksena välieräpaikka #SuomenCup’issa – Lauantaina pelissä #Veikkausliiga'n kärkipaikka(Ke 6.7. klo 19 #UCLfi-karsinta-avaus Boltilla) pic.twitter.com/i33mp1Ylqp
Аnd the hosts have now actually failed to win any of their last three games overall.
HJK had previously been held to a 0-0 draw away from at KuPS prior to the two recent losses but the hosts had put together a seven-match unbeaten run beforehand, a run that included five wins and two draws.
However, HJK’s form on home soil at their Bolt Arena has been pretty inconsistent as the hosts have won seven but have also suffered five defeats along with being held to two draws and they've failed to beat KuPS in each of the previous six meetings.
KuPS have produced a solid and sustained sequence of results so far in this season’s Veikkausliiga campaign which has helped lift the visitors into pole position in the Finnish top flight and they’ll be keen to keep their momentum going at HJK on Sunday as well.
KuPS have lost just once so far this season with this rare defeat coming in the form of a 2-0 defeat away from home at Honka.
But nine wins within their opening 12 games has more than outweighed this loss and will give them a decent chance of securing a favourable result away at HJK.
In addition, KuPS have impressed on the road this season as well, as the visitors have lost just once on their travels so far this term.
While the bigger picture shows that KuPS have lost just once in their last 16 outings on the road which also includes 12 wins.
So they are more than capable of at least holding their own at the Bolt Arena as they look to maintain their position at the top of the Veikkausliiga.
Given KuPS’s previous stubborn performances against HJK, the visitors stand a good chance of adding to their points tally here.