Seeking to secure a fourth win on the bounce for the first time since August 2023, IFK Norrkoping play host to Vasteras SK at PlatinumCars Arena in round 18 of the Allsvenskan on Saturday.
As for the visitors, they have failed to taste victory in any of their last four matches across all competitions and will head into the weekend looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
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A rejuvenated Norrkoping side continued their surge from the bottom end of the Allsvenskan standings as they held on to see out a 1-0 victory over GAIS last Saturday.
Despite their wasteful display in front of goal, Isak Andri Sigurgeirsson's 53rd-minute strike was enough to separate the two sides at Gamla Ullevi Stadium as the hosts were condemned to their seventh league defeat.
Norrkoping have now won three games on the bounce, scoring four goals and keeping three clean sheets, having failed to win any of their eight league matches preceding this run.
This turnaround has seen Andreas Alm's men surge from the danger zone as they now sit 12th in the Allsvenskan standings with 20 points from 17 matches, two points above the relegation playoff spot.
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With a little under half of the season left to go, Vasteras will need to turn their fortunes around sooner rather than later if they hope to preserve their top-flight status and avoid an immediate return to the second tier.
Kalle Karlsson's men, who clinched the Superettan title last season to end their 26-year absence from the Allsvenskan, have picked up just three wins and three draws from their 17 games to collect 12 points and sit rock-bottom of the standings.
Vasteras head into the weekend off the back of a 2-1 defeat at the hands of AIK last Saturday, when Rui Modesto and Dino Besirovic scored first-half goals to hand the Gnaget all three points at the Hitachi Energy Arena.
The green-white have now gone four consecutive matches without a win across all competitions, losing three and picking up one draw since beating Norrkoping 2-1 when the two sides squared off in July's reverse fixture.
Vasteras' underwhelming campaign has been owing to their struggles on the road, where they are on a run of one win in their eight league games and have picked up the division's fewest number of points so far (5).
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Team News
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Norrkoping will take to the pitch without 26-year-old midfielder Jacob Ortmark, who has been out of action since sustaining an ACL injury back in August 2023.
Isak Ssewankambo was forced off injured midway through the first half against GAIS and the 28-year-old centre-back is a major doubt for this weekend's hosts.
In his absence, Anton Eriksson should come into the starting XI, forming the back four with Yahya Kalley, Max Watson and Dino Salihovic while Christoffer Nyman, who has seven goals to his name, should lead the attack once again.
Meanwhile, Vasteras remain without the duo of Simon Johansson and 22-year-old defender Mikael Marques, who are both recuperating from foot injuries.
Experienced defender has missed each of the last three matches due to a knee problem and the 29-year-old is also out of contention for Saturday's game.
New signing Viktor Granath opened his account for the green-white with his strike against AIK last time out and the former Halmstad striker should retain his role in the starting lineup this weekend.
IFK Norrkoping possible starting lineup:
Nilsson; Salihovic, Watson, Eriksson, Kalley; Lushaku, Traustason; Neffati, Sigurgeirsson, Bjork; Nyman
Vasteras SK possible starting lineup:
Fagerstrom; Granath, Nsabiyumva, Magnusson; Warneryd, Ask, Linday, Larsson; Ahlinvi, Granath, Boudah
We say: IFK Norrkoping 2-0 Vasteras SK
Vasteras are in for another tough 90 minutes this weekend as they go up against a spirited Norrkoping side who have turned a corner in recent weeks. Following their win at the Gamla Ullevi Stadium, Alm's men will head into the game with confidence and we are backing them to secure all three points in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
