Djurgarden vs IFK Norrkoping Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This is a significant game at the top end of the Swedish Allsvenskan. Hammarby are currently setting the pace with AIK in hot pursuit but these two sides are the next two down and looking to put pressure on in what is shaping up to be a very open title race. Malmo, champions in 4 of the last 5 seasons, are already looking totally out of contention so all the teams at the top will be thinking this could be their year.

Djurgarden last won the title in 2005 but won exactly half of their matches last season to finish 3rd and they’ve built nicely on that success this term. The mid-season break came at exactly the wrong time for them as they were really building up some momentum with four straight league wins, although it is worth noting that they had a pretty kind run of fixtures.

Norrkoping were also on a nice run of form prior to the break for the summer. Their most recent five league games ended in four wins and a draw so in the form stakes there is little to separate these sides. The visitors hold a 3 point advantage in the league table though and with a game in hand, they have a real opportunity to steal a march on Djurgarden if they can bag all three points here.

That may be slightly beyond them but Norrkoping do look very capable of getting at least a point from this one. They average 1.6 points per game away from home this term and that’s particularly good when you consider who they’ve had to play on the road. Their only defeat was via a narrow 2-1 margin at leaders Hammarby and they were really impressive in their most recent away match, scoring 3 goals in a draw against an AIK side that have the Allsvenskan’s best defensive record. Wins at Ostersunds and Goteborg also bode well for them here and they will fancy they can at least avoid defeat.

Djurgarden are a good side but there are seven teams in this division to have claimed more home points than them this season. A 3-0 win against Malmo has been the highlight of their campaign but otherwise they’ve not really turned it on and could only beat relegation-threatened Dalkurd 1-0 in one of their most recent outings in front of their own fans.

Norrkoping will clearly provide a much sterner test and backing Norrkoping Double Chance could be the best move here and they do boast a good recent record on this ground.