IFK Mariehamn vs KPV Kokkola Predictions

There is still a long hard road ahead for the members of the Finnish Veikkausliiga but the table is already starting to take shape nicely and with plenty left to play for, the next round of fixtures look to be essential. This weeend sees mid-table IFK Mariehamn welcome a KPV Kokkola side who will be looking to build on an impressive victory which lifted them from the bottom of the table last time out.

IFK Mariehamn will look at their performances in the opening rounds of the season and know that they are pretty much where they expected to be as they were not expected to be in the title hunt but probably too strong to be involved in a fight at the bottom of the table. That being said, the hosts still have a long way to go in the season and know that if they do not see off teams such as this weekend’s visitors then they could quite easily find themselves in a battle at the bottom they have no intention of being a part of.

Making the trip to the Wiklöf Holding Arena is a KPV Kokkola side who will be determined to back up an vital victory last weekend as they seek to pull themselves away from the danger zone. The visitors won their spot in the top league of Finnish football last season and a tough start to the campaign meant that they were staring down the barrel of an immediate return. However, that victory last time out means that they are now off the bottom of the league and if they can continue impressing in front of goal they know that they should be able to start picking up some essential points in their bid to stay in the division.

The hosts may look to be the favourites in this contest but they have not been particularly comfortable on home soil so far this season and have conceded in 71% of their league matches in front of their own fans. When you factor in that the visitors have been improving in front of goal of late and have scored in 71% of their away matches, we think that backing both teams to find the back of the net represents the best opportunity for a decent return.