In a repeat of last week's fixture, AIK Fotboll will this time play host to GAIS at the Friends Arena on matchday 16 of the 2024 Swedish Allsvenskan season.
The visitors defeated the hosts 2-0 at their home ground last time out, moving five points ahead of them as they continue their push for a place in the top three.
Match preview
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Since narrowly missing out on the Allsvenskan title in 2021, finishing behind Malmo only on goal difference, AIK have failed to replicate that same level of performance in any of the following three years.
They finished fifth in 2022, followed by an extremely disappointing 11th place last year, and currently sit eighth in this year's standings with 20 points from 15 matches, nine points behind the top three and just four points above the drop zone.
Despite a positive start to the campaign, going undefeated in their first five matches with three wins and two draws, they have since won only three of their next 10 fixtures, losing seven during that time.
That poor run led to the departure of former manager Henning Berg, with Mikkjal Thomassen, the former Fredrikstad FK manager who lost only six of his 51 games in charge of the Norwegian side, being appointed ahead of last week's matchup.
As for the visitors, they are enjoying a stellar first season back in the top flight of Swedish football since their relegation in 2012, coming into this game in sixth place, just four points behind the European places with a game in hand on some of those above them.
A 2-0 victory against AIK at their home ground last Monday ended their worst run of the term, which saw them go winless in three games with two losses and a draw, and they will be looking to build on that performance with another three points as they pursue a top-three finish.
Fredrik Holmberg, who has been in charge since November 2021 and overseen their back-to-back promotions into this division, will be pleased with his side's defensive record, conceding the fifth-fewest in the league with 20, but he will be wanting more from his attacking players as GAIS have netted the fewest of any team in the top nine.
GAIS have struggled when playing away from home this year, losing five and winning two of their seven fixtures on the road, including defeats in all of their last four away matches, and they will be looking to put an end to that dismal run here.
Team News
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The hosts will be missing Abdihakin Ali, Alexander Fesshaie Beraki, and Martin Ellingsen for this game, as all three continue their recovery from injuries and are not expected to return until early next month.
Ioannis Pittas leads AIK's goalscoring charts for the season with nine goals in 15 appearances, and the striker could partner veteran John Guidetti in attack for this one.
As for the visitors, Egzon Binaku is out for this game with the defender still recovering from a knee injury he sustained in March, while Robin Frej is also not expected to feature due to a concussion.
William Milovanovic and Joackim Aberg both made a return to the matchday squad last week after the pair were suspended for the defeat to IK Sirius due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Elsewhere, a positive performance and a 2-0 victory in their last outing could mean Holmberg opts to name the same starting eleven for this repeat fixture against AIK.
AIK Fotboll possible starting lineup:
Nordfeldt; Thychosen, Milosevic, Hansen, Edh; Modesto, Dabo, Saletros, Celina; Guidetti, Pittas
GAIS possible starting lineup:
Krasniqi; Wangberg, Noren, Beckman, Ibrahim; Lundgren, Aberg, Milovanovic; Amatkarijo, Hedlund, Celik
We say: AIK Fotboll 1-1 GAIS
Although GAIS defeated AIK last week and have had a stronger overall campaign so far, their struggles away from home this season lead us to believe this match will end in a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
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