Ostersunds host BK Hacken on Saturday in a fixture that sees eighth place taking on seventh. Just one point separates Ostersunds from Hacken, and a win will send Graham Potter's side above them in the table.
Hacken come into the fixture in poor form. The club has picked up just one point from its last six. The club did manage a midweek draw with second place AIK, but that came on the heels of a 2-0 loss to Malmo last weekend. Hacken do have the league's second-best goal scorer in their squad. Thirty-two-year-old Brazilian Paulinho has tallied seven of Hacken's 16 goals this term. He has scored 44% of all Hacken goals and his play has been invaluable for the team so far. All seven goals have come in the club's last six fixtures, including Hacken's only goal against AIK in midweek. If Hacken are to get a goal against Ostersunds, it is likely to come from the Brazilian hitman.
Ostersunds' weakness this term has been defence. Potter's side has allowed 15 goals for a +1-goal difference. Ostersunds have allowed the fifth most goals in the league and are one of only two clubs not to keep a home clean sheet. Hacken should be good value to get a goal, especially with Paulinho in such great form. Ostersunds played in the Europa League round of 32 earlier this season, just before the Allsvenskan campaign kicked off in April. There is a chance the club is suffering from a European hangover and that has caused a slow start in the league.
Hacken have played far better at home this term. The club has scored 2.40 goals per home match, the second-best rate in the league. However, away from home that rate drops to 0.80 goals per game, the fourth lowest in Sweden's top-flight.
The two clubs have each appeared in five matches in which 2.5 goals or more have been scored. In nine of Ostersunds' 10 matches, there have been more than 1.5 goals. Saturday's midtable clash should see plenty of goals go into the back of the net thanks to the teams' poor defensive record.
Ostersunds have won their last two fixtures and Saturday will see Potter's team pick up a third. The club is in the middle of a resurgence after a shaky start to the season. If Ostersunds can figure out their defensive problems, the team could rise up the table and finish in the top 4. Until then, expect goals to be scored in the club's matches.