VPS Vaasa vs Ilves Predictions

In Finland the Veikkausliiga table is starting to take shape nicely and with multiple time champions HJK Helsinki not exactly having the best of starts to the season, there are plenty of sides who will be fancying their chances at the title. One of those sides is Ilves but they know that if they are to go on and mount a challenge at the top of the table then they have to take advantage when they come up against sides who are struggling, a category Saturday’s hosts, VPS Vaasa, certainly fit.

VPS Vaasa have not exactly been at their free flowing best of late and although they were able to hold out for a draw last time out, they are now without a win in their last 13 contests in all competitions. With that sort of form, it perhaps should not come as a surprise to anybody to learn that they are just above bottom of the table with just seven points coming from their opening 12 league matches of the season. A major reason for their issues is their inability to find the back of the net and the 10 goals they have managed this season represents one of the worst returns in the Veikkausliiga.

Making the trip to Hietalahti Stadium is an Ilves Tampere side who will be delighted with the way their season has gone today and with 22 points coming from their 11 matches to date, they currently sit just a point off top spot in second place. The visitors have been especially impressive on the road and the 13 points they have managed on their travels represents the joint best record in the division.

With the lack of form shown by the hosts combined with the excellent form of their visitors, especially on their travels, it seems pretty clear that an away win is in the offering here. When you also factor in that Ilves are undefeated in their last eight matches against this Saturday’s hosts, then backing an away win looks to be the only bet which makes sense.

We are not done there though, as a look at the league form of both of these sides in recent outings shows that they are both in pretty high scoring affairs. The hosts have seen both teams score in each of their last three matches and with 11 goals scored in the last two Ilves matches, we think that backing both teams to score and combining it with our initial tip represents a fantastic opportunity to boost the return on offer.