IF Elfsborg head into Sunday's away match against Djurgården with confidence after a recent victory. The team defeated Djurgården 2-1 just last week and now sit in a solid fourth place in Allsvenskan with 37 points.
The match will be played at 3Arena at 14:00 and broadcast live on TV4. Oscar Jonsson is the referee.
Elfsborg's manager Björn Hamberg, a former assistant to Graham Potter, has the team in a strong position. Their recent form is good with three wins, one draw, and one loss in the last five games. The attack has been bolstered by summer signings Angelo, Abdulmalik, Ringberg, and Rosenkvist. However, Per Frick remains injured and will be unavailable. "We've brought in players who can make an immediate impact, and that gives us depth and quality in attack," Hamberg said in a pre-match interview.
Djurgården, who are second in the table, will be without Christos Almyras. He received a red card in their last match. "Christos Almyras got a red card in the last match against GAIS and is therefore suspended for the match against Elfsborg," a club spokesperson said. Manager Kim Bergstrand expressed disappointment at the suspension but is confident the team has cover. "It's a big loss, but we have other players ready to step in. It's part of the season," Bergstrand said.
For Elfsborg, Leo Håkan Östman is the team's top scorer this season with six goals. In the previous win over Djurgården, goals came from Rasmus Wikström and Simon Olsson. The team's stats show 31 goals scored in 22 matches. In defense, Michael Baidoo has been a stable force, while goalkeeper Tim Rönning has kept four clean sheets this season.
After this tough away fixture, an important home match against Halmstad awaits on October 11th. Halmstad are second from bottom, presenting an opportunity for Elfsborg to secure points.
A key note for Djurgården is that several of their players are at risk of suspension. "If one of Hegland, Siltanen, Ståhl, Tenho or Une picks up a yellow card in the match against Elfsborg, they will be suspended for the next round," according to a club statement. Their next match is the derby against Hammarby, meaning the manager may need to think tactically regarding bookings.
For Elfsborg, it's about building on the positive trend and maintaining a top position. A win would pull them closer to a European qualification spot. The team's current league standing is fourth place, six points behind Hammarby in third. "We know what's required. We've shown we can beat the best teams, and now we'll do it again," captain Johan Larsson said ahead of the match.
This story first appeared at SvenskaFans.com
