Preview: Varbergs BoIS vs. AIK Fotboll - prediction, team news, lineups

Varbergs BoIS will be aiming to move off the foot of the Swedish Allsvenskan table and leapfrog AIK Fotboll in the process by beating them on Monday.

AIK, meanwhile, won their first league game since mid-April in their last away outing.

Match preview

Since being promoted to Sweden's top flight for the first time in their history in 2020, Varbergs have survived three consecutive campaigns in the Allsvenskan.

However, after finishing behind Degerfors on goal difference last season, they were forced to take on second tier outfit Osters IF in a two-legged relegation playoff in order to fight for the final spot in the division.

Varbergs secured 2-1 wins in both matches to ensure they would remain competing at the elite level of Swedish football, but they look set for another long season at this level, with only eight points from 14 games seeing them sit bottom of the table ahead of hosting AIK on Monday.

However, they will head into the relegation clash with renewed confidence after finally winning their first game of the season away to IFK Goteborg last time out, with Dion Krasniqi's brace potentially set to kick-start his side's campaign.

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Clearly, AIK have a much more prodigious history than their forthcoming opponents, having been crowned Swedish champions for the 12th time as recently as 2018.

However, Gnaget are staring down the barrel at the prospect of their first relegation in almost two decades, with their 2-1 defeat to high-flying Hacken last weekend leaving them occupying the relegation zone.

The club's poor form led them to appoint former Manchester United defender Henning Berg as their manager earlier this month, and squandering a one-goal lead to walk away with nothing was certainly not the result that the 53-year-old would have been hoping for from his first game in charge.

There remains plenty of time for Berg and his players to turn things around, of course, but with a four-point deficit to the closest side above them, they will certainly be targeting all three points from their trip to Varberg on Monday.

Team News

Having finally recorded their first win of the season in their last match, Varbergs will be desperate to name the same starting XI provided they have no unknown injury concerns.

At present, Oliver Alfonsi is their only absentee, with his knee injury set to keep him out for at least another two months.

AIK, meanwhile, will travel without Abdussalam Magashy, while Aboubakar Keita is suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards after being booked during his side's defeat to Hacken.

Following his move from Caen last week, Anton Saletros could make his first start for the club as Keita's replacement in midfield.

Varbergs BoIS possible starting lineup:

Lukic; Silverholt, Lindner, Stanisic, Zackrisson, Oliveira; Karlsson, Le Roux, Junior, Lushaku; Krasniqi

AIK Fotboll possible starting lineup:

Nordfeldt; Thychosen, Milosevic, Papagiannopoulos, Haliti; Modesto, Hussein, Saletros, Ouma; Guidetti, Besirovic

We say: Varbergs BoIS 1-1 AIK Fotboll

Both sides have massively struggled so far this season, culminating in them heading into this clash within the relegation zone, but Varbergs should have much more confidence after ending their winning drought last time out.

However, AIK clearly possess more quality than their opponents, and we expect them to return to Stockholm with at least a point to their name.

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