Halmstads BK host Örgryte IS at Örjans Vall on Saturday afternoon in the final round of Allsvenskan fixtures before the league pauses for the World Cup break. Both sides find themselves anchored to the bottom of the table and desperately need a positive result to kickstart their campaigns.
With the long break looming, there is no room for squad rotation. Both managers will field their strongest available lineups in a bid to secure three points and escape the relegation zone.
Halmstads BK Form & Analysis
Halmstads sit rock bottom of the division with just three points from their opening eight matches. They are the only team in the Allsvenskan still searching for a first league victory this season, having drawn three and lost five.
However, there are signs of life under veteran manager Stuart Baxter, who replaced Johan Lindholm on 5 May. In their last outing, Halmstads earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against IF Elfsborg. Hussein Carneil opened the scoring in the first half after being set up by Andre Boman, before Elfsborg equalised late on. Baxter is trying to instill defensive stability, but Halmstads have now gone 10 consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet.
Örgryte IS Form & Analysis
Örgryte IS are only slightly better off in 15th place with five points. Andreas Holmberg's side enter this fixture on the back of a chaotic and heartbreaking week. Their recent derby against IFK Göteborg was suspended on Monday, 18 May due to crowd trouble and completed the following day behind closed doors. Örgryte fought back to 2-2 through goals from William Hofvander and Daniel Paulson, both assisted by Tobias Sana, only to concede a 90th-minute winner to lose 2-3.
That defeat was Örgryte's third loss in a row, and they have now gone six games without a win. Holmberg has experimented with a five-back system recently, but it has failed to stop the leaks. The visitors have conceded 21 goals in eight games and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six matches. To make matters worse, they are missing Rasmus Alm and Aydarus Abukar through injury, while Charlie Vindehall and Michael Parker are doubts.
## Head-to-Head
Matches between these two sides usually guarantee goals. In five of the last seven meetings between Halmstads and Örgryte, both teams have found the back of the net. Örgryte themselves have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven games against Halmstads.
We Predict: Both Teams To Score
Both teams are desperate for a win before the World Cup break, which should lead to an open game. Halmstads need to find their first win of the campaign under Stuart Baxter, while Örgryte must address a defensive record that has seen them concede in six straight matches.
Given that both defences have been highly vulnerable this season, backing Both Teams To Score at 1.7097 is the standout bet. A 1-1 draw looks a likely scoreline as both sides seek to avoid a damaging defeat before the break.
