Hammarby vs Elfsborg 15/04/2024
The Allsvenskan clash Hammarby vs Elfsborg from round 3 promises to be as exciting as all recent clashes between these teams had been. Will the trend of home wins in this fixture from recent years continue? Which team will be able to improve their defence?
Hammarby latest: Can they make it four in a row at home vs Elfsborg?
Hammarby opened the new season with mixed results. They beat Kalmar 3-1 at home in round 1. Then last weekend failed to trouble champions Malmo away and logically lost 0-2. In both those matches Hammarby showed defensive issues.
Hammarby team news
One of the reasons for the problems in defence has to be the absence of three important defenders. The big winter signing centre-back Frederik Winther and last season’s regulars in defence Dennis Collander and Marc Llinares remain sidelined.
Hammarby have a young squad in general and once again the oldest of the front trio is expected to be the 20-year-old Erabi.
Hammarby player to watch: Oliver Dovin
For the Hammarby vs Elfsborg clash we pick young goalkeeper Oliver Dovin as the player to watch from the home team. Despite being just 21 years old Dovin already established as the first choice.
He can be hugely impactful when playing well. Hammarby will need him to do that if they want the win, simply because defensively they keep allowing lots of chances. Dovin is bound to be busy again and it’s up to him to rectify the mistakes the defenders in front of him keep making.
Hammarby vs Elfsborg line-up
Dovin (GK), Skoglund, Fenger, Kurtulus, Pinas, Johansson, Hammar, Besara, Erabi, Gul, Dukanovic
Elfsborg latest: Is Simon Hedlund’s return going to be decisive?
After dramatically missing the title last season, and throwing it away in the final round, Elfsborg are making a decent start to the new campaign. That said their display in both rounds so far was far from convincing. After a 2-2 home draw vs Varnamo to open the season last weekend scrappy 1-0 away win against the newly-promoted Vasteras was achieved.
Elfsborg team news
One of Elfsborg’s most important attacking assets Simon Hedlund was hurt in the season-opener. He missed the last game but can return now. This will be a major boost to the front line.
Midfielder Andri Baldursson is also an option again after sitting out the last game sick. This leaves only striker Per Frick as unavailable. Teenager Jalal Abdulai has been grabbing his chance in Frick’s absence.
Elfsborg player to watch: Jalal Abdulai
The 19-year-old Abdulai is an attacking midfielder by trade. However, in the first two games he was used as a false nine. He should start in that role again now and we could see him scoring his first goal of the season soon. Abdulai was solid in both games played and he is very unlucky not to have scored already.
Hammarby vs Elfsborg line-up
Sorensen (GK), Larsson, Holmen, Yegbe, Hult, Soderberg, Thomasen, A. Zeneli, Baidoo, Hedlund, Abdulai
Hammarby vs Elfsborg– head-to-head and other stats
- Hammarby vs Elfsborg H2H – W18 D11 L17 – All of the last 5 H2H were won by the team hosting the fixture – 3 wins for Hammarby and 2 for Elfsborg.
- Hammarby kept clean sheets in all of their last 3 home games vs Elfsborg.
- Both teams scored in only 1 of their last 5 H2Hs.