Halmstad vs AFC Eskilstuna Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

This is the second huge game in the space of four days for Halmstad. They dealt their promotion hopes a huge boost in midweek and face fellow top three rivals again here in the shape of AFC Eskilstuna. The visitors are one of the real form teams in this division so it certainly promises to be a real contest between two strong sides.

Halmstad hosted 3rd placed Helsingborg on Thursday night and claimed a priceless win in their bid for an immediate return to the top flight. They scored a 94th minute winner to claim a 2-1 victory via Johan Oremo’s goal, one which ended the division’s only remaining unbeaten record. They can only take confidence from that success as they prepare to take on 2nd placed AFC Eskilstuna here.

Like Halmstad, Eskilstuna were relegated from the top flight last season and are dreaming of an immediate return to the big league. They’ve barely put a foot wrong this term, certainly since the opening two weeks of the season when they only collected a single point and were perhaps still suffering from something of a hangover from last term.

It’s hard to see this being anything other than a pretty even contest. The bookies make the visitors the favourites but Halmstad will certainly believe they can at least get a point from the game. They are after all unbeaten in 9 matches now and since a disappointing early season defeat to Norrby, they’ve been tough to beat and have proved their metal against the other top sides, also drawing at home to leaders Falkenbergs.

AFC Eskilstuna have only lost once all season though and are unbeaten in 10 so you wouldn’t really want to bet against them either. They could have a slight fitness advantage having not played in midweek but backing the Draw could be the smart move in the Full-Time Result market.

A draw wouldn’t be a disaster for either side and it certainly has the potential to be quite a cagey affair. All of AFC Eskilstuna’s away matches this term have produced under 2.5 goals in total so they’ve been fairly cautious travellers. Their overall defensive record of just 0.42 goals per game conceded is by far the best in the division so the hosts are going to have to work hard for any openings.

All things considered, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if the pair cancelled each other out to some extent and backing Under 2.5 Goals could be a decent punt too.