SJK vs Ilves Predictions

• SJK have failed to win two of their last three home league games and three of their last four overall.
• Ilves are unbeaten in four of their last five Veikkausliiga away games.
• Both teams have not scored in three of SJK’s last five home league games.

Hosts have bigger fish to fry in Finland

Ilves are capable of springing a surprise in Seinäjoki on Sunday when they face an SJK side that just enjoyed a big European win to set up another huge contest in a few days time. Joaquín Gómez’s men overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit against FC Flora to send the Estonians, who reached the group stages of the Europa Conference League last season, out of the current edition of the competition.

SJK can now look forward to a two-legged battle with Norwegian league pacesetters Lillestrom and the temptation for Gomez will be to rest some of his stars, who took Thursday’s tie to extra-time, for those important encounters.

Kerho are sat in the wrong half of the table, but shouldn’t get into relegation trouble this season and can pull level with sixth-placed Ilves if they get all three points this weekend. But the visitors, who were beaten 2-0 at home by Oulu on Monday, have got good away form and should avoid defeat here.

Take Ilves to avoid defeat against SJK

The Tampere-based side have won one and drawn three of their last five away Veikkausliiga dates with the only defeat during that run coming when two late goals from HJK rescued the champions.

Ilves held third-placed Honka to a 0-0 away draw a few weeks ago and kept another clean sheet against bottom side HIFK on their most recent road trip. So a third clean sheet in four may not be too much to expect for Ilves coach Toni Kallio.

The correct score forecast of a 1-0 away win is in anticipation of Gomez making changes to the home side, who have drawn four of their last six games, and the usual quality not being there.