Form club Elfsborg will seek a sixth straight victory in Sweden's Allsvenskan this weekend, as they welcome Hammarby to Boras Arena on Saturday.
Thanks to a stunning run of results, the hosts occupy third place on 25 points, sitting just above their visitors from Stockholm.
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Match preview
© Imago
Scoring four times for the third consecutive game, Elfsborg swept past Halmstad last time out, winning 4-1 at Orjans Vall to record their fifth straight success.
Top scorer Frederik Ihler was among the goals again, as the side that finished seventh last term climbed within two points of league leaders Mjallby AIF, who have played one game more.
So, Oscar Hiljemark's men may have started the current campaign by taking just a point from their opening two fixtures, but they can now be considered strong contenders for the title.
Unbeaten at home this season, with five wins and one draw, the Boras-based club memorably beat Roma in the Europa League last October and are, at the least, intent on returning to continental competition.
However, they must end a winless streak versus Hammarby to continue their surge up the standings: Elfsborg are looking for both their first win and first goal against this week's opponents since July 2023.
© Imago
The sides played out a 0-0 draw at Boras Arena when they last met in September, as Hammarby kept their third straight clean sheet against Elfsborg - also scoring four times without reply during that run.
Yet, the capital club now trail their hosts in the table, sitting one place and a point behind them ahead of this Saturday's contest, having played one game more.
With reigning champions Malmo below their best, the title race seems to be wide open, so last year's Allsvenskan runners-up will aim to capitalise over the coming weeks, and Monday's 1-0 home win over Degerfors certainly helped.
Kim Hellberg's side have won seven of their first 11 games, and they head for Boras on a three-match unbeaten streak away from home - the last time they lost on the road was to Mjallby in April.
Like Elfsborg, Hammarby are ultimately targeting another European qualification - having already booked a place in the 2025-26 Conference League playoffs - so there is plenty at stake, even at this early stage of the campaign.
Team News
![Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/35/oscar-hiljemark.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Elfsborg manager Oscar Hiljemark during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on August 25, 2024 [on August 27, 2024]")
© Imago
Elfsborg boss Oscar Hiljemark has been boosted by the news that Kosovan winger Arber Zeneli can return to full training, following a five-month injury layoff.
However, he is not expected to feature this weekend, when younger brother Besfort Zeneli should play a key role in midfield: the 22-year-old has made 11 Allsvenskan appearances this season, contributing one goal and four assists.
Both Jens Thomasen and goalkeeper Isak Pettersson are set to miss out, but main man Frederik Ihler will be ready to start up front. The latter is second-top scorer in Sweden's top flight, with seven goals to his name so far.
Meanwhile, Hammarby's matchwinner on Monday, captain Nahir Besara, is their leading marksman with six; he should support Abdelrahman Boudah in the final third once again.
The visitors will be missing centre-back Pavle Vagic due to suspension, while Dennis Collander and Oscar Johansson Schellhas are sidelined by knee injuries.
Elfsborg possible starting lineup:
Eriksson; Holmen, Buhari, Wikstrom; Hedlund, B. Zeneli, Olsson, Hult; Ostman, Ihler, Sigurpalsson
Hammarby possible starting lineup:
Hahn; Skoglund, Eriksson, Fofana, Pinas; Karlsson, Tekie; Madjed, Besara, Tounekti; Boudah
We say: Elfsborg 1-0 Hammarby
Full of confidence and firing on all cylinders up front, Elfsborg can end their wait for a win over Hammarby and move further ahead of their rivals in the standings.
The hosts are in scintillating form at the moment, so they should be able to break through one of the league's best defences.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
