SJK vs Ilves 19/04/2024
Round 3 of the 2024 Veikkausliigan season is upon us and it will start with a thrilling SJK vs Ilves clash. Both teams are young and full of ambition. Who can prevail? Will SJK extend their unbeaten start to the season? Are Ilves ready to react to a shameful defeat last weekend?
Here’s our detailed preview of the SJK vs Ilves match from Veikkausliiga.
SJK latest: Is Kasper ready to score again?
SJK made a solid start to the new season under their new manager. They earned 4 points from their first two matches in the league. Last weekend came from behind to draw 1-1 away vs VPS. Played well and deserved to earn this point.
SJK proved their good current form once again on Monday when trashing RoPo 8-0 in a very one-sided Suomen Cup match. Some of the reserves got a chance to shine in that game.
SJK team news
SJK are close to full strength entering this game. The only player that is likely to miss is the talented forward Tuomas Kaukua. Sidelined since last season he’s still building his fitness.
The manager is not likely to make many changes compared to the starting line-up he picked up last weekend.
SJK player to watch: Kasper Paananen
The young SJK winger Paananen is growing fast into an important player. He scored in the last two home games and SJK won both matches. SJK have won all of their last 3 games in which Kasper found the back of the net. Can he now make it a hat-trick of home games with a goal?
SJK vs Ilves line-up
Paunio(GK), Fati, Pires, Tikkanen, Naamo, Gasc, Arsalo, Hannola, Paananen, Moreno, Karjalainen
Ilves latest: Can the Lynxes bounce back after last weekend?
Ilves were involved in possibly the match of the season last time around when they hosted Gnistan. Unfortunately, for the Lynxes they were on the losing side of what was a crazy game of football. Despite leading 2-0 and 3-1 in the game Ilves lost 4-6 in the end.
With a single point after two rounds and six goals conceded in their last match, Ilves are naturally under pressure already.
Ilves team news
The main team news for the Lynxes ahead of the SJK vs Ilves clash concerns their wingers. Both Vincent Ulundu and Maksim Stjopin miss this game due to injuries. In better news, the main left winger Santeri Haarala is back after serving his ban in round 2.
Changes in defence are possible for the upcoming match but Roope Riski should lead the attack from the off again. He scored his first two goals for Ilves last time around.
Ilves player to watch: Otso Virtanen
Goalkeeper Virtanen is the team captain and after conceding six goals last weekend he will need to be much better this time around. Virtanen is capable of big displays for the Lynxes and they will need one of those now if they are to record their first win of the season.
SJK vs Ilves line-up
Virtanen (GK), Mäenpää, Umer, Miettunen, Aspegren, Arifi, Söderbäck, Veteli, Jukkola, Riski, Haarala
SJK vs Ilves – head-to-head and other stats
- SJK vs Ilves H2H – W15 D6 L15 – SJK are unbeaten in the last 5 H2Hs – W3 D2.
- In all of SJK’s last 13 home matches, there was at least one first-half goal scored.
- Both teams scored in 6 of the last 7 H2Hs.