Preview: IFK Norrkoping vs. IFK Goteborg - prediction, team news, lineups

The away side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Kalmar, while Norrkoping suffered a 2-1 defeat to Hammarby in their last match in Sweden's top flight.

Match preview

Norrkoping are 13-time Swedish champions, with their last success coming in 2015, while they were runners-up as recently as 2018, but IFK finished down in 12th position last term.

Glen Riddersholm's side have picked up 25 points from their opening 17 matches of the season courtesy of a record of seven wins, four draws and six defeats, which has left them in fifth position in the table.

Norrkoping are eight points off fourth position, though, and 13 behind Malmo in third, so it will take something special to put them in contention for a European finish in the table.

The White and Blues recorded back-to-back wins over Mjallby AIF and Degerfors in the middle of the month before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Hammarby last time out.

Norrkoping will now be bidding to return to winning ways against a team that has only picked up 13 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign.

Indeed, it has been a struggle for Goteborg this term, posting just two league victories, drawing seven times and suffering eight defeats, and they currently sit down in 15th position in the table.

Goteborg are two points clear of 16th-placed Varberg and four behind 14th-placed Degerfors, so it is still very tight towards the bottom of the division with a lot of football left to be played.

Jens Berthel Askou's side have shown signs of life in recent weeks, though, losing just one of their last five league matches, and they will enter this match off the back of a two-goal success over Kalmar.

The Angels have actually won the top flight of Swedish football on 13 previous occasions, with their last success coming in 2007, while they were runners-up in the Allsvenskan as recently as 2015.

IFK Norrkoping Swedish Allsvenskan form:

D

D

L

W

W

L

IFK Goteborg Swedish Allsvenskan form:

L

D

L

D

D

W

Team News

Norrkoping will again be without the services of Jean Carlos de Brito due to a knee injury, while Anton Eriksson will miss Monday's contest through suspension.

Eriksson's absence is down to the yellow card that he picked up against Hammarby last time out, but the home side have no fresh concerns from their last match.

Arnor Ingvi Traustason has scored seven goals from central midfield this season, and the 30-year-old will again be in the starting side for the home team.

Goteborg, meanwhile, will be without the services of Anders Trondsen and Hussein Carneil through injury.

Head coach Askou will have been delighted with his team's performance against Kalmar last time out, so it might be a case of same again in terms of the starting side for this match.

Adam Carlen scored twice in his side's two-goal success over Kalmar, and the 23-year-old will again line up in central midfield for the visitors in this contest.

IFK Norrkoping possible starting lineup:

Jansson; Eid, Lund, Gunnarsson, Baggesen; Ortmark, Traustason; Shabani, Hammershoy-Mistrati, Lind; Gudjohnsen

IFK Goteborg possible starting lineup:

Dahlberg; Hausner, Svensson, Bangsbo, Wendt; Ohlsson, Carlen, Kahed; Mucolli, Norlin, Santos

We say: IFK Norrkoping 2-1 IFK Goteborg

Goteborg are not losing too many games at the moment despite their lowly position in the table. This will be a tough match for the visitors, though, and we are expecting a strong Norrkoping outfit to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters on Monday.

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