Preview: Mjallby AIF vs Sirius - prediction, team news, lineups

League leaders Mjallby AIF will aim to maintain their stronghold at the summit of the Allsvenskan table when they welcome struggling Sirius IK to Strandvallen on Sunday, July 27.

With the business end of the campaign drawing closer, every point is vital in what remains a tightly contested title race.

Match preview

Anders Torstensson’s men come into this encounter riding a wave of momentum, having collected 14 points from their last six league games and remaining unbeaten in that sequence.

A 2-0 win over AIK last time out further cemented their credentials, and their defensive record, the second-best in the division, has been a key factor in their title charge. They have now gone 17 home matches without defeat in the league and have scored in 23 straight outings at Strandvallen, a run that highlights their consistency and attacking edge.

Strikingly, Mjallby have also enjoyed a dominant recent record against Sunday’s opponents, winning five of their last six meetings and scoring at least twice in each of those victories.

Their most recent clash, a 2-1 win away to Sirius earlier this month, was another demonstration of their superiority in this fixture. With the goals shared across multiple contributors in the squad, their depth and versatility up front could again prove decisive.

In stark contrast to the table-toppers, Andreas Engelmark’s men find themselves just above the relegation zone, and they make the trip to Solvesborg knowing they must produce something special to halt Mjallby's impressive home run. With little margin for error, both sides will be targeting maximum points for very different reasons.

The blue-blacks, meanwhile, approach the fixture on the back of three consecutive defeats, including a 1-0 home loss to IFK Goteborg in their most recent outing. They have conceded in each of their last 10 away matches, a concerning trend given Mjallby’s strong home scoring form.

Though they have managed to score in 11 straight away games themselves, a lack of defensive structure continues to undermine any attacking progress.

Away form has particularly been a concern for Sirius, who have taken just one win from their last 10 games on the road.

Going in at half time level has been common, but the Uppsala-based club have struggled to carry that stability into second-half performances, often allowing games to slip away from them. With just 13 points from 16 matches and a negative goal difference, they face an uphill task to contain a well-drilled Mjallby unit.

Mjallby AIF Swedish Allsvenskan form:

D W D W W W

Sirius Swedish Allsvenskan form:

L W D L L L

Team News

Mjallby AIF boss Torstensson will be pleased to have a fully fit squad available, with no injuries or suspensions reported ahead of Sunday’s clash. The table-toppers are expected to name an unchanged starting XI from the side that overcame AIK Fotboll last weekend.

Ludvig Tidstrand will be pushing for a recall after netting from the bench in that encounter, while Abdoulie Manneh remains the club’s top scorer with six goals.

Midfielder Nicklas Rojkjaer has contributed five, while Elliot Stroud, Herman Johansson and Eric Alexander Johansson have all chipped in with four goals each, demonstrating Mjallby’s strength in depth and shared attacking responsibility.

Sirius IK head coach Engelmark is also working with a clean bill of health ahead of the trip to Strandvallen. With no suspensions in the squad, the visitors are likely to field a familiar XI, though minor tactical tweaks could be on the cards following three successive defeats.

Despite recent struggles, Sirius have found goals on the road. The attacking quartet of Bjerkebo, Svensson, Walta and Ure, should any of them feature, will be crucial if the Uppsala-based outfit are to pull off an upset.

Mjallby AIF possible starting lineup:

Tornqvist; Noren, Kiilerich, Pettersson; Johansson, Gustavsson, Thorell, Stroud; Gustafson, Manneh; Johansson

Sirius possible starting lineup:

Celic; Castegren, Sandberg, Anker, Widgren; Heier, Lindberg; Bjerkebo, Svensson, Walta; Ure

We say: Mjallby AIF 2-1 Sirius

Given Mjallby’s imperious home form, their superior head-to-head record, and the contrasting fortunes of both sides this season, the hosts will be firm favourites to claim all three points.

However, Sirius’ habit of finding the net on their travels could keep things competitive, even if it ultimately proves insufficient against a more complete and confident opponent.

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