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Both teams finished mid-table last season, Jonkopings on 7th place and Degerfors just above the relegation zone, on the 12th spot. Things changed this year, with today`s hosts fighting to avoid the drop while the visitors are actually in with a solid chance to achieve promotion.
Jonkopings played really bad this season, they are nowhere near last year`s form, and even then they were not anything special. The hosts are also in a bad run of form, they lost 6 out of their last 9 matches and they were just very poor in the last three months. In the last three games Jonkopings has a goal difference of 3-8. The squad is pretty weak and my personal opinion is that they will at best be in the relegation playoffs.
Degerfors was not expected to make big noise this season, but they have brilliant so far. The visitors are just 2 points behind the promotion playoff and 3 points behind direct promotion. It`s an understatement to say they really need the three points today in order to remain in the race for Allsvenskan football next season. Despite the excellent season Degerfors had, they continue to be underestimated by the bookies just because they don`t have any star players and were expected to finish mid-table. After 18 rounds, Degerfors deserves some respect, as it is pretty obvious this team is strong and will manage to maintain the same rhythm until the end of the season.
Probable line-ups:
Jonkopings: Helgesson – K.Svensson, Ronneklev, J.Svensson, Calisir – Smylie, Karlsson, Nanchoff – Thelin, Hajdarevic, Nilsson.
Degerfors: Stromberg – Anttonen, Eriksson, Jakobsson, Solberg – Bertilsson, Klingberg, Jernberg, Sundgren – Astvald, Rennie.
Earlier this season, Degerfors won 2-1 at home against Jonkopings. The visitors miss a few players, but nothing that could blow their chances, and anyway they have appropriate cover for them. Jonkopings also have a few squad problems, nothing major. Degerfors only have 2 wins away from home this season, but on the other hand they only lost 3 out of 9 away games.
Jonkopings has no right to be made favorite in this one, as Degerfors is the better team, in better form. It should be a pretty close game but in the end the visitors should edge it. I am going with double chance for safety, also because the promotion hopefuls rarely lose and are prone to draws. Degerfors not to lose this one!
Pick: x2
Odds: 1.60 @ Bet365
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 4.80
Event date: 15 August
