Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the headline clashes of the 14th round in the Swedish championship sees Elfsborg face off against Häcken this Saturday at Borås Arena. I’m backing a result in this encounter with a promising set of odds.
Match preview
Jimmi Thelin’s men got off to a confident start this season and remain among the frontrunners — with 26 points and a game in hand, they’re still right in the hunt for the title. The team went on an impressive five-match winning streak in May, but in their last two rounds failed to score, losing to Hammarby (0-2) and drawing with Värnamo (0-0).
Still, the home stats for the "Yellows" are encouraging — 5 wins in 7 matches, and in six of those, the team found the net at least twice. Elfsborg have shown a potent attacking style and a reliable back line, keeping them firmly among the main contenders for a top-three finish.
Häcken are going through a rough patch — just 15 points from 13 rounds leaves them in mid-table. Last time out, the "Wasps" fell 1-3 at home to GAIS, and before that had managed just one win in six games, underlining their serious struggles with form.
Their away record is also far from impressive: only two wins in six trips, and in four of those they conceded at least twice. The defense has clearly slipped, and the attack isn’t making up for it — with those trends, it’s hard to see them picking up points against one of the league’s pace-setters.
Probable line-ups
- Elfsborg: Eriksson – Holmén, Bukhari, Wikström – Hedlund, Olsson, Magnusson, Hult – Zeneli, Ilér, Silverholt
- Häcken: Berisha – Lundqvist, Lode, Hilvenius, Euman – Leach Holm – Rygaard, Gustafson, Niule, Mitrovic – Brusberg
Match facts and head-to-head
- Elfsborg have won 5 of their last 7 league matches.
- Häcken have conceded at least two goals in 4 of their last 6 away games.
- In six of seven home matches, Elfsborg have scored two or more goals.
Prediction
Elfsborg stumbled after the break, but a home fixture is the perfect opportunity to bounce back. They remain one of the league’s most prolific sides, especially on home turf. Häcken, meanwhile, can’t find consistent form and are prone to defensive lapses. Backing the hosts to win at odds of 1.80 looks like the logical play.
