Brommapojkarna welcome Conference League semi-finalists Djurgardens IF to Grimsta IP in an all-Stockholm clash in the Allsvenskan on Thursday night.
This fixture was postponed back at the end of April, as the league allowed Djurgarden ample time to prepare for their clash with Chelsea in Europe, which ultimately ended in elimination.
Match preview
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Djurgarden's best-ever run in Europe has come at a price, because the club from the Swedish capital have struggled domestically this season, being unable to juggle two competitions at once.
Being afforded a week to prepare for their semi-final first leg with Chelsea did little to bridge the gap between the two clubs, as Djurgarden were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Enzo Maresca's men, bringing their dream Conference League journey to an end.
All in all, the competition has proven to be a distraction, as they have suffered in the Allsvenskan, and they currently find themselves just three points above the relegation zone.
The club finished just one point outside the European places last season, so only have domestic football to focus on in 2025, but any thought of the title or even qualifying for continental action again looks unlikely already.
Jani Honkavaara's men have a game in hand, but they are a whopping 13 points off third-placed Elfsborg, and are the league's lowest scorers with a mere seven goals in their opening 10 games.
Since losing to Chelsea and having that weekend off, Djurgarden's fortunes have not improved in the league, taking just five points from five games, but they did halt a brief losing streak at the weekend, drawing 1-1 with Hacken.
Honkavaara will target their next five games as all winnable, with each of them coming against sides currently in the bottom half, and 15 points might be the minimum requirement if they want to get back in the race at the top, approaching the midway point.
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For the hosts, they will want revenge, because Brommapojkarna have lost six in a row against Djurgarden, and were beaten 5-0 at home to them last season.
Ulf Kristiansson's men are in dismal form though, having lost each of their last four matches, all in agonising fashion, by one-goal margins.
That is not how the Brommapojkarna faithful envisioned following up a win away to champions Malmo at the start of May, which at the time saw them take 10 points in a spell of four matches.
Those 10 points are all they have managed so far this season, and it leaves them just one point above the bottom three after 10 games.
The hosts now have two tricky home games on the horizon against Djurgarden and Goteborg before the league has a substantial break throughout much of June, and they will want slightly more breathing space between themselves and the drop zone.
Team News
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Brommapojkarna are set to be without Nikola Vasic and Liam Tahwildaran, who are both currently sidelined with knee injuries.
Joining that pair on the sidelines, Rasmus Orqvist, Liam Jordan and David Isso are all currently recovering from injury themselves, and are unlikely to feature before the break.
Daleho Irandust is often one of the important players in attack for the hosts, but he had a difficult afternoon against AIK over the weekend, missing a penalty with the score still level at 0-0, before going on to lose.
Djurgarden remain without a whopping 10 players due to injury, with the most notable being experienced midfielder Albin Ekdal, and Finland international Rasmus Schuller.
Adam Stahl, Nino Zugelj, Zakaria Sawo and Oskar Fallenius are among some of the other players injured, with Honkavaara delving deep into his squad to put an XI together at present.
Djurgarden's attacking issues are illustrated by the fact August Priske is the only player to have scored more than one league goal so far, and his second of the campaign came at the weekend against Hacken, getting the important second-half equaliser.
Brommapojkarna possible starting lineup:
Blazevic; Timossi, Karlsson, Hovland, Christensen; Ngouali, Arrhov, Jakobsen; Irandust, Alladoh, Lind
Djurgardens IF possible starting lineup:
Manojlovic; Bergvall, Tenho, Danielson, Kosugi; Siltanen, Finndell, Guilliksen; Priske, Nguen, Alemayehu
We say: Brommapojkarna 0-1 Djurgarden
Djurgarden have flattered to deceive in the early stages of the Allsvenskan season so far, playing well below the level of their squad, but results should pick up, and this local derby provides a great chance for them to move up the table.
Brommapojkarna are in really poor form, and this is not the ideal fixture they would have wanted in their attempts to stop the current rut, and a fifth straight one-goal defeat would not be a surprise.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
