Superettan Preview: GAIS Göteborg on a Four-Game Losing Streak Against Struggling Away Side Djurgården, Who Have Changed Their Coach

On July 23 at 1:00 AM, the 15th round of the Swedish Super League will see GAIS Göteborg host Djurgården at the Ullevi Stadium.

The two teams are currently placed 7th and 8th in the Superettan, with a points difference of 2 and a goal difference of 1, indicating that their overall strength and standing are fairly similar. Both teams have been inconsistent in form recently. GAIS Göteborg, after a strong run of four wins in five matches in May, have failed to win in their last three games (one draw and two losses). Djurgården, who have won only two out of seven league games since May, managed to halt their losing streak with a 2-1 victory in their previous match.

Two notable points stand out. Firstly, in terms of head-to-head records, GAIS Göteborg has been at a disadvantage. In the past four meetings, Djurgården achieved four consecutive victories over GAIS Göteborg, and during these encounters, GAIS Göteborg scored just one goal, being shut out in three of those matches. However, it is important to note that the last meeting between the two sides was seven years ago in 2017, and there have been many player changes since then, so the historical data may not be very indicative.

Secondly, Djurgården has the most significant home-away performance disparity in the Superettan. This season, they have accumulated 15 points from seven home games and scored 18 goals, placing them among the top three in the home standings with a 71.4% win rate and an average of 2.57 goals per home game. However, they have only collected 5 points from their seven away games, with a significant drop in scoring ability compared to their home form, conceding an average of 3.0 goals per away game, the highest in the Superettan. While it’s common for most teams in Nordic leagues to perform better at home than away, such a stark contrast is relatively uncommon.

Currently in the transfer period, both teams have made some personnel adjustments. GAIS Göteborg loaned out two young talents and signed the 25-year-old forward Hedlund on a free transfer. The versatile forward has already made two appearances with good performances. Djurgården replaced their coach after the 13th round, promoting former assistant coach Goytom, whose impact was evident in their last match, where they secured a win after losing five out of six previous games, demonstrating the saying “changing the coach is like changing a knife.”

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