Inter Turku vs AC Oulu 12/04/2024
In round 2 of the new Veikkausliiga season Inter Turku vs AC Oulu promises to become one of the most exciting and competitive clashes. The two teams lost their opening matches. Both have very high ambitions for this season. Both will be eager to win now. Who will prevail?
Inter Turku latest: Will the home debut for the new head coach be a happy one?
After several years of mediocre results, Inter Turku made some drastic changes this off-season. The new head coach Vesa Vasara already led his new team to a trophy in 2024. Inter Turku won the League Cup.
This deep run in the cup affected the freshness of the display last weekend though. Inter Turku lost 1-2 away against Gnistan. The players got physically tired past the hour mark in this match. Vasara must be thinking of changes now.
Inter Turku team news
It seems for the Inter Turku vs AC Oulu clash the 17-year-old goalie Eero Vuorjoki will have to start again. This is because the main goalkeeper of Inter Turku Eetu Huuhtanen remains unavailable due to an injury.
Axel Kouame and Djoully Nzoko are the other players in the treatment room right now.
In terms of possible changes last year’s top goalscorer Darren Smith, who also scored the most goals in the recent League Cup competition, could start now after surprisingly being left on the bench in round 1.
Inter Turku player to watch: Darren Smith
The South African striker Darren Smith led Inter Turku for goals scored in 2023. He also scored 5 goals in 6 matches in February and March this year. We expect him to start now after being benched in round 1 and Smith will be determined to shine and prove his worth.
Inter Turku vs AC Oulu line-up
Vuorjoki (GK), Granlund, Hämäläinen, Almen, Legbo, Jansen, Krebs, Stavitski, Jarvinen, Smith, Botue
AC Oulu latest: Will talent from the Americas improve the forward actions?
AC Oulu lost 1-2 in round 1 on their visit to SJK Seinajoki. The display was not all bad but ultimately the inability to create clear chances and to defend set pieces proved costly.
The new duo of forwards from across the ocean had quiet debuts in that match. American striker Justin Rennicks and Brazilian winger Marcos Andre will need to be much more impactful going forward.
AC Oulu team news
Just like in round 1 for the Inter Turku vs AC Oulu fixture the visitors will be only without their three long-term absentees – Roope Salo, Alexander Forsström and Danny Barrow. None of them is a hugely important squad member.
In search of improved ball control and passing accuracy, the manager might consider giving his new inner midfielders Dimitrios Metaxas and Aleksi Paananen their first starts of the season.
AC Oulu player to watch: Niklas Jokelainen
AC Oulu’s new captain Niklas Jokelainen was given the armband this season for a reason. Despite only just turning 24 his leadership skills and football ones make him the real leader of the team.
‘Joki’ produced the assist for the only goal in round 1 and we expect to see another impactful and aggressive performance from him this Friday.
Inter Turku vs AC Oulu line-up
Ward (GK), Elo, Abadid, Daoussi, Lehtiranta, Metaxas, Kallinen, Jokelainen, Rennicks, Coffey, Andre
Inter Turku vs AC Oulu – head-to-head and other stats
- Inter Turku vs AC Oulu H2H – W6 D1 L5 – Both teams scored in 4 of their last 5 meetings.
- In all of the last 4 H2Hs played in Turku, there were at least 2 goals scored in the first half.
- Inter Turku are on a run of six consecutive matches in which they scored the first goal of the game.