The Finland Veikkausliiga is almost at the half-way stage and there is a very exciting race at the top of the table for the title. On Saturday 20th July, Ilves Tampere will host HJK Helsinki at the Tammelan Stadion with plenty on the line.
As things stand ahead of the games this weekend, Ilves Tampere are top of the league with 28 points from fourteen matches played. HJK Helsinki, who are the defending champions, are in 4th place with 25 points from sixteen games played. So, the away team are under pressure having played two more matches than their opponents.
Ilves Tampere come into this match having suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Lahti last weekend. The 1-0 loss against a team down in 8th place was not ideal preparation for a home match against the champions. However, that was their first defeat in six matches in all competitions and Ilves Tampere have won each of the other five.
Four of those five came in the league and trends show Ilves Tampere are undefeated in twelve of their last fourteen Veikkausliiga games. They also have a strong home record and Ilves Tampere have remained undefeated in their last seven home league matches.
Defensively they have been good and trends show Ilves Tampere have kept four clean sheets in their last six at home. However, only twice have they managed to score more than a single goal in their last seven league games on home soil.
HJK Helsinki have improved in recent weeks following a poor run of form which saw them go eight league games without a win. They last played in the league back on the 4th July when they defeated HIFK 2-0 away from home. However, they did play a Champions League qualifier against HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands on the 9th July and won the game 3-0 at home.
That result means HJK Helsinki are undefeated in their last four matches in all competitions. Three of those have come in the Veikkausliiga and HJK Helsinki have won two and drawn one. Both wins came away from home and trends show HJK Helsinki have won their last three on the road.
HJK Helsinki have also kept a clean sheet in their last three away league games, so we should be in for a very close game.
Looking ahead to the team news and Ilves Tampere could still be without the injured duo of Aleksi Tarvonen and Ilari Mettala.
HJK Helsinki should be close to full strength, with joint top goal scorer Lassi Lappalainen set to play in midfield along with Kaan Kairinen, both of whom are just 20-years-old.
View this post on Instagram What a night! 🔵⚪️ #onvainyksiklubi 📸: @hockeygrapher & Jussi Eskola A post shared by Kasper Kaan Kairinen (@kaankairinen) on Jul 4, 2019 at 12:52pm PDT
What a night! 🔵⚪️ #onvainyksiklubi 📸: @hockeygrapher & Jussi Eskola
A post shared by Kasper Kaan Kairinen (@kaankairinen) on Jul 4, 2019 at 12:52pm PDT
This has the makings of a low scoring game, with both teams boasting good defensive records home and away respectively. Therefore, we could see a draw and under 2.5 goals.