IFK Goteborg vs Kalmar FF
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Today’s secondary featured game is the Allsvenskan game between IFK Goteborg and Kalmar. Although traditionally a pretty big game between two big clubs, these two sides have gone in opposite directions this season as far as quality goes and I feel that there’s a good chance of that being reflected on the field tonight.
First of all, let’s look at IFK. They’ve come on strongly since their unconvincing start to the season, irrespective of how much luck was against them at that point. Their unfortunate start is enough to ensure that they won’t be competing for the Allsvenskan title this time around, realistically speaking. They’ve got the quality of a top three side but they’ve only recently started to demonstrate it. I reckon that their second-half display against GAIS Goteborg in their last game was some of the best football that they’ve played this season but they were rather unlucky. “Unlucky” sums up IFK’s season, really, right down from the handball that never was against IFK Norrkoping to the repeated shots against the woodwork in recent weeks. IFK are a very good side with plenty of firepower and it’s only a matter of time before the dam bursts. For me, IFK are more than capable of winning this game convincingly, especially based on their spirited and hard-working displays of late. My only issue with IFK is that they’ve not taken their chances well enough but with a nervous goalkeeper like Berisha in the opposing goal, IFK should have plenty of chances to do the business here.
Visitors Kalmar tend to only be good at home and they’ve been patchy even at home this season. It’s no surprise, really – they sold too many good players pre-season without replacing them. Star striker Daniel Mendes is one of their few remaining talents and he’s missing for their trip to Goteborg today, which is a hammer-blow. Statistically speaking, Dauda looks the better striker but for me, he’s very hit-and-miss. If he’s forced into instinctive shots etc. then he’s good. If he’s given time to think, he’s a loose cannon. Defensively speaking, Kalmar have been a bit of a joke this season, especially in recent weeks. I don’t know if the mistakes of Berisha are affecting the defence or whether they’re simply missing the experience of the still-absent Carlsson but whatever it is, Kalmar are vulnerable. That doesn’t help them as they find it hard enough to come from behind as it is but if they fall behind against a good side like IFK then God help them. Kalmar can produce a surprise every now and then but losing 3-0 against Atvidaberg demonstrates the Kalmar that we see more often than not right now.
I’m happy to admit that this is a risky bet because IFK need to take the chances that they’ll inevitably create to win this game. However, I’m confident that they can hold the lead and even improve it when they get it and given the absence of Kalmar’s best attacking player, the -1 Asian Handicap appeals to me at evens today.
Verdict: IFK Goteborg to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at evens.
Thursday’s Picks
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts to prevent endless questions about my thoughts on certain games!
International Friendly:
Georgia vs Turkey (5) 1-2 (played in Austria)
Toulon Tournament:
Morocco vs Mexico (6) 1-2
France vs Belarus (5) 1-1
Copa Libertadores:
Santos vs Velez Sarsfield (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Universidad de Chile vs Libertad Asuncion (7) 2-0, at least one red card in this game
Belarusian Vysshaya LIga:
Neman Grodno vs Slavia Mozyr (7) 1-0
BATE Borisov vs FC Minsk (8) 1-0
Shakhtyor Soligorsk vs Naftan Novopolotsk (7) 2-0
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
FC Honka Espoo vs KuPS Kuopio (4) 1-1
JJK Jyvaskyla vs Jaro Pietarsaari (7) over 2.5 goals
VPS Vaasa vs HJK Helsinki (6) 0-1
FC Lahti vs MyPa Anjalankoski (5) 2-2
IFK Mariehamn vs TPS Turku (6) 0-0
Inter Turku vs Haka Valkeakoski (7) 2-1
Finnish Ykkonen:
KooTeePee Kotka vs SJK (4)
Icelandic Urvalsdeild:
Breidablik Kopavogur vs Fram Reykjavik (6) 1-1
Keflavik vs IBV Vestmannaeyjar (6) 2-1
Selfoss vs UMF Grindavik (6) 2-1
Stjarnan Gardabaer vs IA Akranes (5) 2-2
Fylkir Reykjavik vs Valur Reykjavik (5) 1-2
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Lillestrom vs Aalesund FK (4) 1-1
Haugesund vs Honefoss (7) 2-0
Molde FK vs Tromso (7) 2-1
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Almeria vs Numancia (7) over 2.5 goals
Real Valladolid vs Recreativo de Huelva (7)
Swedish Allsvenskan:
GIF Sundsvall vs Malmo FF (6) 1-2
AIK Solna vs GAIS Goteborg (5) 1-1
Elfsborg Boras vs BK Hacken Goteborg (7) 2-0
IFK Goteborg vs Kalmar FF (7) 2-0
Swedish Superettan:
Halmstad vs Brommapojkarna (5)
Enjoy your free betting tips!