Two sides sitting at either end of the Allsvenskan will meet this weekend as IFK Värnamo down in 13th travel to the Tele2 Arena where title chasers Djurgården IF in stunning form awaits them.
It’s been two completely contrasting seasons so far for either side heading into this one, but as of now, Djurgårdens are sitting in second and 14 points above their weekend opposition here.
Snart dags för nästa utmaning 💪Vi ses lördag 17:30 på Tele2 Arena! pic.twitter.com/2IoEsSwL7h— Djurgården Fotboll (@DIF_Fotboll) July 14, 2022
Snart dags för nästa utmaning 💪Vi ses lördag 17:30 på Tele2 Arena! pic.twitter.com/2IoEsSwL7h
The home side do have a game in hand to play on many of those around them, but this still keeps them just one point behind the league leaders, Hacken.
The second-placed side are in the best form they've shown all season so far, with them now sitting on the most wins with eight, the most goals scored with 28 netted, and the fewest goals conceded where only 10 have gone in.
Djurgården are coming off the back of three wins on the spin in the Swedish top flight, as GIF Sundsvall were hammered 5-2, before the club also beat Hammarby 1-0 and Helsingborg 2-0.
They did manage to draw with Sirius 3-0 and lose to Kalmar FF 1-0, but between these games they also destroyed Varbergs BoIS 4-0 and even beat Malmo by the same scoreline.
Djurgården are now sitting two clear of AIK in third and three clear of both clubs who they recently defeated, Hammarby and Malmo. The side are clear title challengers this season, and in this game against such a weakened opposition, Djurgården are expected to make easy work of things on home soil.
Varnamo are only above the relegation zone by three points here, as they have won three games so far, drawn four and lost six as well.
They have so far been saved by the poor form of those around them, but with 10th-placed Sirius only three places above them already five clear, it's vital Varnamo start picking up points again relatively quickly.
What's worse for the 13th-placed side is how they recently drew 1-1 at home with GIF Sundsvall directly below them in the table in what was their best chance to rocket further away from the relegation zone. Defeats to Varbergs BoIS, Kalmar and Halmsted now mean they've gone four games without a win since beating Helsingborg 4-1 away from home.
With such a difference between the two sides, Forebet predicts a win for Djurgården and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.