AIK Solna vs Helsingborg
FreeToday’s featured game is the Allsvenskan game between giants AIK Solna and Helsingborg. AIK are trying desperately to avoid an unprecedented relegation threat whereas Helsingborg are competing for an Allsvenskan crown, which has been made particularly hard following Malmo’s victory over IFK Goteborg yesterday.
AIK Solna have had a terrible season both on and off the field issues. The fact that only Brommapojkarna have lost more home games than AIK have in the Allsvenskan this season should tell a story by itself. AIK’s defence is good; they don’t concede many goals at all. However, the fact that only GAIS Goteborg and Brommapojkarna have scored less home goals than they have has proved a massive problem for the fallen giants of Swedish football. They’ve lost back-to-back Allsvenskan home games against IFK Goteborg and Kalmar because their visitors were frankly better than they were. AIK aren’t the giants that they were last season and they’re looking very susceptible as a result. AIK have now lost four out of their last five Allsvenskan games and morale is naturally low and with goalscoring a real issue for them, relegation is a very real problem for them this season, especially as they’ve scored just three times in those five games.
Visitors Helsingborg have reacted surprisingly well to their defeat at bitter rivals Malmo by winning at home to resilient Mjallby Solvesborg so the visitors’ heads haven’t dropped at all. They’ve still got a very good side and although they traditionally don’t travel well, they have to start doing so to keep up with in-form Malmo. A win today draws them level with league leaders Malmo with five games remaining so Helsingborg can’t afford any mistakes here. They’ve only won five out of twelve on the road this season so given that AIK are quite solid defensive, I can understand the odds given. Nonetheless, Helsingborg have the best defence in the division away from home so if they score here then I expect them to win, especially as AIK are particularly ineffectual in front of goal. I’m a little nervous as Helsingborg have been particularly vulnerable away from home of late but to deny that they’re the better of these two sides currently is nothing more than idiocy and I certainly won’t be making that claim! New signing Alexander Gernt has settled in really well with nine goals in ten games and has provided a necessary outlet for Helsingborg as the tiring Allsvenskan season wears onward. Helsingborg have won here for two out of their last three Allsvenskan visits? Momentum and motivation says that they will!
However, the above is not be all and end all so approach this game cautiously. AIK are not playing well but they’re still a massive Allsvenskan side so they really won’t want to lose this, especially as they really don’t want to be relegated! However, given that I don’t expect Helsingborg to concede, the away win does look particularly appealing today. I’m tempted by the odds of 9/4 on Helsingborg to win without conceding as AIK provide so little threat in front of goal and if Helsingborg do win then I expect them to win without conceding. However, the odds on the away win are good enough to take on their own so that’s my call today.
Verdict: Helsingborg to win at 5/4.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
Nothing else appeals to me today guys – sorry! See below for the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games anyway!
Bulgarian A PFG:
Chernomorets Burgas vs Slavia Sofia (6) 1-0
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Teplice vs Sigma Olomouc (7) 1-1
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense vs Lyngby (6) 2-1
Faroese Meistaradeildin:
EB/Streymur vs HB Torshavn (5) 1-1
NSI Runavik vs AB Argir (7) 2-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
KuPS Kuopio vs Haka Valkeakoski (7) 2-1
FC Lahti vs VPS Vaasa (5) 1-0, draw no bet
IFK Mariehamn vs JJK Jyvaskyla (6) over 2.5 goals
French Ligue 2:
Evian Thonon Gaillard vs Boulogne (6)
German Bundesliga 2:
Fortuna Dusseldorf vs VfL Bochum (5)
Italian Serie B:
Modena vs Triestina (6)
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
Helmond Sport vs Zwolle (4)
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Honefoss vs Start Kristiansand (6) 1-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Vitoria Setubal vs Pacos de Ferreira (6) 0-0
Romanian Liga:
Targu Mures vs Universitatea Craiova (3) 2-1, draw no bet
FC Brasov vs Gaz Metan Medias (6) 1-1
Unirea Urziceni vs Dinamo Bucharest (7) over 2.5 goals
Russian Premier League:
Krylya Sovetov Samara vs Anzhi Makhachkala (5) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Beijing Guoan vs Gombak United (5) 1-1
Spanish Primera Liga:
Malaga vs Villarreal (6) 1-1
Swedish Allsvenskan:
AIK Solna vs Helsingborg (7) 0-1, at least one red card in this game
Mjallby Solvesborg vs Djurgarden (5) 1-1
Gefle vs Halmstad (3) 1-2, draw no bet
Swedish Superettan:
Degerfors vs Jonkopings Sodra (5)
Swiss Super League:
Neuchatel Xamax vs Grasshoppers Zurich (6) 2-2
Swiss Challenge League:
Aarau vs Vaduz (5)
Enjoy your free betting tips!