Preview:AIK Fotboll vs Oster - prediction, team news, lineups

In a match that could impact both ends of the Allsvenskan standings, AIK Fotboll will host relegation-threatened Oster at the Strawberry Arena on Sunday.

AIK are third in the standings with 32 points from 17 matches, while Oster are second from bottom, having amassed a miserly 12 points from 16 games.

Match preview

A 2-0 defeat suffered against Mjallby in their last outing meant that AIK failed in their bid to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time since April.

Gnaget were bereft of attacking ideas in that fixture, managing only one shot on target in the entire game, and they were not defensively astute either, conceding from the two shots they faced in that encounter.

Mikkjal Thomassen’s men did respond to that defeat with a 2-0 triumph against Estonian side Paide in their Conference League first leg fixture during the week, putting themselves in good standing to progress to the next round.

Now back to league action this weekend, the Stockholm-based outfit will go out in search of their 10th victory of the season against the struggling visitors.

It is worth noting that they have reasons to be confident going into this clash, as they are unbeaten against the visitors in 15 games across all competitions, a run which includes two victories and a pair of draws in their last four Allsvenskan meetings at the Strawberry Arena.

What makes their home form more significant is that they are unbeaten in their last 15 fixtures on their turf, winning 10, including the last two contests, which ended in 3-0 triumphs respectively.

Oster gained promotion to the elite division after they finished runners-up in the second tier last term, but their return has been far from sunshine and roses, as they are currently neck-deep in relegation trouble.

It has been a tumultuous campaign, with a record of three wins, three draws and 10 losses from 16 matches - a situation which leaves them with 12 points, a point and two places from safety.

Up against one of the top sides in the league, the visitors will have their hands full on Sunday, and their current form of three losses and two draws in their last five league exertions inspires little or no confidence for Martin Foyston’s team.

Interestingly, eight of their 12 points accrued so far have come from games on the road, from two wins, two draws and five losses across nine fixtures.

That said, the Vaxjo-based side have some glimmer of hope going into this fixture on Sunday, but they have to figure out a way of solving their attacking problem, which leaves them with no strike in three consecutive league fixtures.

A victory for the visiting side will give them their first win since May 25, when they claimed a 2-1 away triumph over Degerfors.

AIK Fotboll Swedish Allsvenskan form:

AIK Fotboll form (all competitions):

Oster Swedish Allsvenskan form:

Oster form (all competitions):

Team News

Although Bersant Celina and John Guidetti fired blanks in their team’s last league outing, the former was on the scoresheet during the week in their 2-0 win against Paide on Thursday in the Conference League fixture, but both are expected to lead the line again this weekend.

However, on the injury front, the home side will have to cope in the absence of several key players like Eskil Smidesang (back) and Martin Ellingsen (leg).

Kevin Filling, Andreas Redkin, Jere Uronen and Victor Andersson are recuperating from various undisclosed injuries, and as such, they will not feature on Sunday.

As for the visiting side, Tatu Vermanen is a doubt for this encounter, and he will wait for the outcome of a late fitness test to ascertain his readiness for this clash.

AIK Fotboll possible starting lineup:

Nordfeldt; Tiedemann, Papagiannopolous, Benkovic, Thychosen; Csongvai; Besirovic, Saletros, Hove; Celina, Guidetti

Oster possible starting lineup:

Wallinder; Gyamfi, Adolfsson, Kricak, Bergquist; Ask, Christensen, Ljung; Uddenas, Aliev, Sejdiu

We say: AIK Fotboll 2-0 Oster

AIK suffered a setback last time out, but quickly got back to winning ways on Thursday. Facing one of the worst sides in the league, who are winless in their last five matches and without a goal in their last three outings, smart money will be on the home side to claim a 2-0 win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.