Gameweek 16 in the Swedish Allsvenskan sees two relegation-threatened sides go head-to-head as IFK Goteborg host Brommapojkarna at Gamla Ullevi on Saturday evening.
Both teams sit on 18 points after 15 league games in 2024, four points clear of the automatic relegation zone and two points above the relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
Goteborg narrowly escaped relegation last season, finishing just a point above the bottom three, and they could find themselves in a similar situation this year, as they hover precariously close to the drop zone.
Stefan Billborn's men had another close call last time out - having led Vasteras from the start of the second half, they seemed destined for three points until conceding a 99th-minute equaliser, settling for a 1-1 draw.
With the season at its halfway point, the Angels are languishing in 12th place in the Allsvenskan table, level on points with teams from ninth (Sirius) down to 13th (Halmstad), with only goal difference separating the five sides.
Goteborg's season has been significantly impacted by their poor start to the home campaign, as they were winless in their opening four home matches - but they appear to have addressed the issue, having remained unbeaten in their last three at Gamla Ullevi (two wins and a draw).
The home side will be looking to extend this unbeaten run and will be confident against a side they have only lost to once in 15 meetings (winning 10 and drawing four).
In their last seven home meetings against Saturday's opponents, the hosts have triumphed five times and drawn twice - they are currently on a seven-match unbeaten streak against the visiting side and will be looking for a third consecutive victory in this fixture.
Brommapojkarna will head into this match hoping to rewrite history on Saturday, as they seek their first-ever away win at Goteborg - though their away form offers some encouragement, with two-thirds of their total points coming on the road this season.
However, they must quickly bounce back from a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hammarby last time out, where they conceded two goals in the second half after a goalless first period.
BP will be aiming to avoid a repeat of last season's relegation scare, having only secured their safety through a playoff win against Utsiktens BK.
Olof Mellberg's side will fancy their chances on Saturday, given both teams are on the same number of points, and they sit one place ahead of the hosts due to a superior goal difference.
Team News
Goteborg will remain without long-term absentees Suleiman Abdullahi (knee), Hussein Carneil (knee) and Pontus Dahlberg (cruciate ligament tear).
The home side will also be without Mattias Johansson, who has a leg injury, while Oscar Pettersson and Sebastian Ohlsson are suspended after passing the yellow card threshold.
Paulos Abraham scored his sixth league goal in the draw with Vasteras - the most by any player in his team - and he remains the man to watch for the hosts.
For the visitors, Kaare Barslund and Gustav Sandberg Magnusson remain the only injury worries, with both players sidelined until next month.
Nikola Vasic is the team's leading scorer with seven goals, and he is expected to start up front alongside Adam Jakobsen.
IFK Goteborg possible starting lineup:
Bishesari; Salomonsson, Svensson, Wendt, Trondsen; Santos, Kaahed, Thordarson; Mucolli, Skjellerup, Abraham
Brommapojkarna possible starting lineup:
Sidklev; Jensen, Bjoerkander, Abrahamsson; Andersson, Fritzson, Calisir, Odefalk, Christensen; Jakobsen, Vasic
We say: IFK Goteborg 1-1 Brommapojkarna
Traditionally, Goteborg have been strong in this fixture, but this time around it feels like a closer contest, as both sides seem to be on a similar level.
While the home team have recently found some form at home, the visitors have also shown they can be resilient on the road, and for that reason, we are predicting a score draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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