Gefle v Elfsborg – Saturday 18 June- Strömvallen, Gävle (16:00)
Gefle v Elfsborg
The Swedish Allsvenskan is in full swing with top performers Elfsborg sitting at the top of the table. In the match of the weekend they will play away to Gefle who are unbeaten in their last 4 matches and occupy 4th spot.
After escaping a relegation play-off last season, Gefle have kicked off their 2011 season well. They moved into 4th spot after earning a hard earned away draw with 3rd placed Kalmar over the weekend. Gefle have lost only 1 home match and 1 away match having played 5 home matches and 6 away matches. Their defence has been key and especially at home where they have conceded just 3 goals. They have also gone 4 games without conceding a single goal. However they have only managed 11 goals in 11 matches which is bad and an area where they will need to improve. Ghanaian midfielder Yussif Chibsah is a key player for Gefle and will need to try take control of the game from the midfield from the get-go as Elfsborg are known as a team who dominate matches.
Since winning the league title in 2006 they have finished in the top 4 every year since then. The club have won five national championship titles and were runners up in 2008. With their last league title coming 5 years ago, they have started their 2011 season showing their intent of winning the league. They sit at the top of the table having won 7 of their 11 games and scoring 20 goals in the process. Elfsborg, under the guidance of Coach Magnus Haglund and his 4-2-3-1-formation, have established themselves as a top club in Swedish football. Their away form has been a worry for some time and has been the reason they have lacked those few critical points that could have clinched them the title every season since 2006. They managed just 2 away victories in 15 matches last season but have improved on that shocking statistic this season having claimed 2 wins in their 5 away travels, losing the other 3 matches. Striker Lasse Nilsson has found good form bagging 6 goals so far and will want to carry his form to keep Elfsborg at the top of the table.
Log leaders Elfsborg might look favourites here to extend their 3 match winning run but their away performances have left little to be desired. The draw is tipped.
