Preview: Hacken vs. Elfsborg - prediction, team news, lineups

Although the home side will be satisfied with second place in the standings at present, they sit four points adrift of their next opponents having played one game more than the visitors.

Match preview

After upsetting the odds and won last season's title, Hacken are currently splitting their time between trying to defend that crown and making progress in the Champions League qualifiers.

The Wasps have already come through one round on the continent, while they earned a goalless draw away at Ki Klaksvik of the Faroe Islands in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie earlier this week.

That result was an important bounce-back for Hacken after they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Varnamo in their preceding fixture, that ending a four-game winning streak in all competitions.

Having lost four of their 17 league fixtures, Per-Mathias Hogmo's side are now four points adrift of the frontrunners, putting the onus on Hacken to end their recent short stint without a goal.

On a positive note, Hacken have scored seven goals in their last two fixtures at their home ground, something which will not have gone unnoticed by Elfsborg.

If Hacken were the surprise package in 2022, Elfsborg have taken over that tag in 2023, building on their sixth-placed finish last season to emerge as the standout team this time around.

Elfsborg's only defeat in the league came in the reverse fixture with Hacken, who prevailed by a 2-0 scoreline back at the beginning of April.

That was the first encounter of the season and Elfsborg have since put together a 15-match undefeated streak, prevailing 12 times and conceding just nine goals.

Draws have been posted in two of their most recent six contests, but Jimmy Thelin witnessed his team make light work of Djurgardens last time out, Elfsborg running out 4-0 victors at the home of the fourth-placed side.

Hacken Swedish Allsvenskan form:

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Hacken form (all competitions):

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Elfsborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:

D

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Team News

With two keys fixtures to be played in the space of four days, Hogmo may look to try to find a balance when naming his Hacken XI.

Amor Layouni and Tobias Sana are both options on the flanks, yet the remainder of the side is likely to stay the same.

Barring any fitness issues, Thelin will be keen to select the same Elfsborg side that ruthlessly brushed aside Djurgardens.

Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen, the son of Eidur Gudjohnsen, netted his fifth goal of the season as a substitute last weekend, and may have done enough to put himself in contention for a recall.

Per Frick, who was replaced by the Iceland international, has netted just once in 10 appearances this campaign.

Hacken possible starting lineup:

Abrahamsson; Fridriksson, Sandberg, Hovland, Lund; Rygaard, Gustafson, Dahbo; Sadiq, Kamara, Sonko

Elfsborg possible starting lineup:

Valdimarsson; Larsson, Holmen, Buhari, Hult; Romer, Boateng, Baidoo; Bernhardsson, Frick, Okkels

We say: Hacken 1-1 Elfsborg

With this putting the team with the best attack against the side with the most impressive defence, we can only see a closely-fought contest. Sitting on the fence and backing a low-scoring draw seems to be the most logical bet, although do not be surprised to see either club edge the game in the closing stages.

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