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Ljungskile - Landskrona
Ljungskile actually rank among the top in many of the key categories such as offense and defense. Offensively they are the second highest scoring team in the league (2.06 goals/game) and defensively they are hard to break with the best defense in the league at (0.94 conceded goals/game). This should be some key numbers when they face Landskrona who are the worst defensive side in the league with their 1.88 conceded goals per game ratio. Ljungskile have a home record of (6-1-1). They are particularly strong recently at home where they have really seen their scoring accelerate, in fact they have scored an average of 3.2 goals at home in their last 5 home matches, much of it thanks to top scorer Johannesson.
For Landskrona, they fired their coach in order to get a change which has not completely generated effect yet. The team is 3-1-4 on the road, often involved in high scoring encounters. They have particularly struggled against Ljungskile in the past.
Since 2009 - in the last five meetings on the road against Ljungskile, the visitors Landskrona have only scored one single goal, with a total record of 0-2-3 and 7-1 in total goal differential. The last two visits ended 3-0 and 2-0. This is a trend which should not be overlooked. Much of Landskronas success will rely hevaily on their American striker Andrew Stadler who looks to be the only player of real top-form.
I see Ljungskile grabbing 3 vital points by comfortable margin against a currently weak Landskrona side, thereof the -1.5 AH
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Norrköping - Häcken
I like Häcken to an ok price here due to their current form and the way they have sneaked into the title race again. The team is charming in many ways, always manage to have one-two good strikers who are very successful, but then get sold and the team brings in new strikers. This time, their best striker El-Kabir left the club, and 17 year old second best striker Strandberg is heading to Borussia Dortmund and is not included.
Nonetheless, the fact that the team have risen in form and included themselves as a title candidate makes this game massively important. They signed Thorvaldsson from a team in the Turkish league, which means he returns to Swedish football where he was a very reliable scorer in Norrköping, but he now represents Häcken against his former team. Häcken have no important missings here which should give them optimal chances to compete
Norrköping are tricky on their home turf which is artifictial but they do miss two-three players which weakens the team here, right back Tkalic and midfielders Gerson and Frempong will be gone. They're an energetic side but lack discipline which is why theya re involved in crazy games lately, they lost 3-5 at home vs Djurgården and later beat Elfsborg with 4-2 at home as well. Goal galore? - Likely so. Häcken are very fluid and strong offensively so I expect goals - but also a Häcken victory. A very important game for them if they want to have a shot on the title. Häcken PK it is
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Örebro - Halmstad
Another home side that are difficult to handle at home is Örebro on their artificial turf. They might be newcomers but have impressed me through the season. Örebro are 2-4-2 at home as they tend to draw too much, but I see good chances for them to grab a three pointer against a weak road side.
Halmstad rank second to bottom as usual in Allsvenskan, they have managed to survive thanks to good runs towards the end of the seasons and it looks to be the same struggle this year. Their road record is laughable at 0-1-7 (4:19 goal differential). To make things worse they miss their forward Balvinsson (4 goals in 15 matches) which is good for a bottom team, moreover defenders Gyan and Baffo are suspended. A weakened Halmstad team on the defense makes it impossible for me to put faith in them, even if they play quite well (fun to watch kind of team) they remind me of the Oilers in the NHL (to speak in hockey terms).. fun to watch, but end up losing most of the time. Örebro can be taken at an attractive price.
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Summarized plays (all 1 unit)
1. Ljungskile -1.5 AH @ 2.03
2. Häcken PK @ 1.70
3. Örebro @ 2.10
GL to all