Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Goteborgvs.Vasteras

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 July 2024, 20:40
Two sides battling relegation in the Swedish Allsvenskan will go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon when IFK Goteborg host Vasteras SK at Gamla Ullevi.

The home team sits one place above the relegation zone, while the visitors find themselves firmly in it, just above one other team.

Match preview

Goteborg narrowly avoided the drop last season, finishing just a point clear of the bottom three, and they face a similar scenario this year, sitting four points clear of the drop zone.

Stefan Billborn's men are currently 13th in the Allsvenskan, having picked up 17 points from their 14 matches played, level on points with 12th-placed Varnamo, who are only ahead on goal difference.

Consistency has been Goteborg's biggest issue this season, and this is evident from their last five results, which have seen them alternate between defeats and victories.

After losing to Varnamo following the league's resumption from a month-long break, Goteborg bounced back with a crucial 1-0 away win over Hammarby last time out.

The home side have not managed to win two consecutive matches since the start of the campaign, but they will be confident against Sunday's opponents, having won all three of their previous meetings against them.

Vasteras are enduring a tough return to the top flight after earning promotion last year for the first time since 1997, managing just three wins in their 14 matches played so far.

However, there are signs of improvement, as two of those wins have come in their last three matches, having only recorded one win in their opening 11 games.

A 4-0 victory over Kalmar was followed by a 2-1 defeat to Hacken, which left them bottom of the table, but a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Norrkoping last time out helped Kalle Karlsson's men leave the bottom spot.

The Green and Whites have the worst away record in the division, with just four points from six away matches, and this is despite conceding the joint-second-fewest goals on the road - though they have also scored the least amount of away goals, which has been their main problem.

IFK Goteborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:

W

L

W

L

W

W

Vasteras SK Swedish Allsvenskan form:

L

D

D

W

L

W

Vasteras SK form (all competitions):

D

D

W

L

W

L

Team News

Goteborg are dealing with injuries to Mattias Johansson, Oscar Wendt and Suleiman Abdullahi, who are all expected to be sidelined until later this month.

Paulos Abraham is the man to watch, as he scored the winner against Hammarby, making it five league goals for the forward - the most by any player in his team.

Vasteras will be missing only one player due to injury, with Simon Gefvert unavailable for selection due to an ACL problem.

Matteo Ahlinvi (three goals), Viktor Granath and Abdelrahman Boudah (two goals each) have accounted for seven of the visitors 11 goals in the league, and the trio is expected to start in attack again.

IFK Goteborg possible starting lineup:

Bishesari; Ohlsson, Svensson, Hausner, Trondsen; Kaahed, Thordarson, Mucolli; Abraham, Skjellerup, Santos

Vasteras SK possible starting lineup:

Fagerstrom; Magnusson, Nsabiyumva, Marques; Bouzaiene, Ask, Linday, Warneryd; Ahlinvi, Granath, Boudah

We say: IFK Goteborg 1-0 Vasteras SK

Goteborg have found a way to win, which has helped them claim victory in their most recent games and in their last two home games.

Previews by email

Top News

7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final matchday two encounter in Group B at the CONCACAF Nations League will feature Honduras and Jamaica, who face each other at Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles on Tuesday. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min is reportedly still a target for the Saudi Pro League ahead of the expiry of his Lilywhites contract in 2025. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The second round of matches in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers sees Ethiopia entertain the challenge of Congo DR at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Monday evening. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has criticised Erik ten Hag's handling of the Jadon Sancho Manchester United saga, which led to his deadline day move to Chelsea. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly earmarked Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton as an ideal signing but will have to fend off competition from Liverpool to land the 20-year-old. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England interim manager Lee Carsley has challenged Declan Rice and Jack Grealish to score "a lot more goals" following their crucial contributions in the Three Lions' 2-0 Nations League win over the Republic of Ireland. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women are on the brink of sealing qualification for the group stage of the Women's Champions League thanks to a 1-0 win over Rosenborg in Saturday's qualifying showdown. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has acknowledged that his side were "second best" to England as they suffered a 2-0 defeat in their UEFA Nations League game in Dublin. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One-time Irishmen Declan Rice and Jack Grealish returned to haunt their former nation as England's Lee Carsley era commenced with a deserved 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly still tracking Brian Brobbey, with the Red Devils contemplating a move for the Ajax striker during next summer's transfer window. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk HALF-TIME UPDATE: IRELAND 0-2 ENGLAND As cliche as it sounds, the scripts really do write themselves in football sometimes, and the one for England's first half against Ireland was clearly written by someone who thoroughly enjoys laughing at the hosts' misery. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly determined to sign Joshua Kimmich on a free transfer next year, with the Germany international widely expected to leave Bayern Munich at the end of his contract. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitor Roque has suggested that he is unlikely to represent Barcelona again, with the forward looking to kickstart his career in Europe with Real Betis. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The relationship between Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital is reportedly at breaking point. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City forward Erling Haaland is reportedly expected to sign a lucrative contract extension with the Premier League champions. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania welcome Lithuania to the home of FCSB in Bucharest for a UEFA Nations League clash on Monday night. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman in the January transfer window. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England interim manager Lee Carsley has named Jack Grealish and Levi Colwill in his starting lineup for Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with the Republic of Ireland. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly earmarked their ideal replacement for captain Virgil van Dijk, whom they are growing concerned about losing in 2025. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cyprus welcome Kosovo to Larnaca in Group C2 of the UEFA Nations League on Monday on the back of an impressive win on matchday one. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have a plan in place to move Estevao Willian into a different position, according to his agent. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Norway return home after a lengthy trip to central Asia last week to face Austria in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's newest recruit Manuel Ugarte played 79 minutes of Uruguay's 2026 World Cup qualification fixture against Paraguay in Montevideo on Friday night. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey will be aiming to secure their first victory of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign when they welcome Iceland to Izmir on Monday night. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales will be aiming to build on their draw against Turkey when they continue their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign with a contest against Montenegro on Monday night. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou is handed a blow ahead of the start of the club's Europa League campaign. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Shaking off a Euro 2024 hangover, Italy commenced their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with a superb win in Paris, and they will meet Israel in their second League A Group 2 match on Monday. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovenia will be bidding to record their first victory of their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign when they welcome Kazakhstan to Stozice Stadium on Monday night. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah is reportedly expected to receive multiple contract offers from the Saudi Pro League. 7 September 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having kicked off their latest UEFA Nations League campaign with a stunning victory in Paris, Italy meet Israel in their second Group 2 fixture on Monday.