Djurgårdens IF host IF Brommapojkarna on Friday evening in the final round of the Allsvenskan league season, with both sides already fairly settled in the table. It is not a high-pressure night in terms of standings, but it still matters as the last chance to finish on a positive note and tighten up the numbers before the league breaks.
Djurgården also have one eye on their deferred away league match at Mjällby AIF on May 31, but Jani Honkavaara has made it clear he wants a response after the 3-2 home defeat to IK Sirius. With more than 24,000 tickets already sold, the atmosphere should still feel like an occasion at home, even if the wider table picture is relatively calm.
Djurgårdens IF Form & Analysis
Djurgården’s recent run has been a mixture of the excellent and the frustrating. They thumped IFK Göteborg 6-0 at home, won 4-2 away at AIK, but then followed that up with the disappointing home loss to Sirius. That inconsistency is why they sit 6th on 13 points, with a record of four wins, one draw and three defeats, and a goal difference of 18-11.
At home, though, Djurgården have generally carried more threat. Their league home record stands at 2-1-2, and they have scored 12 goals in five home matches. The attack has enough pace and quality to cause problems, but the Sirius game was a reminder that they are not always as secure at the back as the scorelines earlier in the month suggested.
The short turnaround is worth noting. Honkavaara may manage minutes with the Mjällby fixture coming up soon, and there are a few players one yellow away from suspension for that match after the restart. Still, this looks like a game Djurgården will want to win first and foremost. The manager’s own message has been simple: bounce back and stay focused.
One strong angle here is Djurgården’s habit of striking first. They have scored first in all five of their recent league matches, and that fits a pattern in this fixture as well. If they start well, they usually make life difficult for Brommapojkarna.
IF Brommapojkarna Form & Analysis
Brommapojkarna come in off a narrow but useful 1-0 home win over Kalmar FF, a match settled by Sion Oppong’s first-half goal. It was not pretty — the numbers were heavily against them, with only 7 shots to Kalmar’s 24 — but it was a clean three points and a timely lift after a mixed spell.
Ulf Kristiansson’s side are 8th with 11 points from three wins, two draws and three defeats. Their overall numbers are not far behind Djurgården’s, but there has been a little less control in matches, as shown by the 13 goals conceded and some uneven away results. On the road, though, they have been better than their league position might suggest: 2-1-2 away, with seven goals scored.
That said, they arrive at 3Arena without much room for optimism at the back. Lukas Björklund is suspended through three yellow cards, which is a blow to the midfield balance, and Brommapojkarna have gone through most of this season without keeping things especially tight away from home. They can carry a threat when matches open up, but they have also been exposed when the tempo rises.
Kristiansson will likely ask for patience and discipline, especially if Djurgården start quickly. Brommapojkarna’s best route is probably to stay in the game early and try to take advantage if Djurgården’s attention drifts even slightly toward the Mjällby trip.
Head-to-Head
Djurgården have had the upper hand in this matchup for some time. They beat Brommapojkarna 2-0 in the Svenska Cupen in March and have also won three of the last four league meetings, including a 1-0 home win last August. One useful trend is that Djurgården have often scored first in this fixture, and that has helped them control the tone of the game.
We Predict: Both Teams To Score
Both Teams To Score is priced at 1.75, and that looks the best call here. Djurgården have enough attacking form to score at home, but they also conceded three against Sirius last time out, and Brommapojkarna have enough quality to nick a goal even in defeat.
The most likely outcome is a Djurgården win, with 2-1 the best scoreline pick. Their home edge, the head-to-head record, and their stronger attacking ceiling point that way, but Brommapojkarna should have at least one clear chance to land a reply.
