After a convincing success on the continental stage earlier in the week, Hacken will welcome relegation-threatened Vasteras SK to Bravida Arena for a Swedish Allsvenskan clash on Sunday afternoon.
The Wasps made light work of opposition from Luxembourg on Thursday night in the Conference League, whilst the Green and Whites have enjoyed a full week of training following last Sunday's draw at IFK Goteborg.
Match preview
© Imago
Following their first-ever Swedish Allsvenskan title in a record-breaking 2022 campaign, Hacken are on the hunt for their maiden European glory, with Sunday's hosts securing a 6-2 win over F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg on Thursday night to all-but seal passage into the third round of Conference League qualifying.
The Wasps were four goals ahead at Stade Jos Nosbaum at the half-time whistle and hit their hopeless hosts for six by the end of play, with attacking duo Ali Youssef and Amor Layouni both bagging braces in the handsome win despite only having five goals between them prior to the contest.
Focusing on Allsvenskan matters, Hacken have endured a patchy run of form since returning from the summer break, with the Wasps collecting just a single point against strugglers Varnamo over the past fortnight, in which Pal Arne Johansen's troops were smashed 5-3 at home by in-form Elfsborg.
Finding the net during the week in Luxembourg, Zeidane Inoussa scored his sixth goal in just 14 competitive matches this season, meaning that the 22-year-old has already equalled his best campaign in front of net, with the forward scoring six for Brommapojkarna in 2023.
Heading towards the business end of the Allsvenskan season, Hacken are occupying seventh place in the top-flight standings, with the 14-point chasm to league leaders Malmo leaving the Wasps' title dreams shattered, although the five-point gap to third-placed Mjallby could be bridgeable.
After their title-winning campaign of 2023 in the Superettan, Vasteras are struggling to keep their head above water at the top level of Swedish football, however the collection of four points from the last two games has lifted relegation-fighting spirits around the club.
In matches against IFK Norrkoping and Goteborg, the Green and Whites have shown their character and considerable powers of recovery to earn results, with a 99th-minute equaliser from 25-year-old winger Abdelrahman Boudah ensuring that his side forced a share of the spoils at Gamla Ullevi last weekend.
Ahead of this weekend's daunting trip to Conference League contenders Hacken, Vasteras are languishing at the bottom of the Allsvenskan table, claiming just 12 points from 15 league matches, leaving them six points behind Halmstads BK in the safety of 13th place.
Although a return of five points from seven Allsvenskan outings is not a reason for celebration, the Green and Whites have been unusually solid on the road for a relegation candidate, as Sunday's visitors to Bravida Arena have only conceded seven goals in away matches so far, with only Varnamo (6) allowing fewer in the division.
Vasteras appeared as if they were heading for a rare league win the last time these two sides locked horns on July 8 when Matteo Ahlinvi netted a fourth-minute strike, however Hacken staged a comeback to claim maximum points, with the aforementioned pair of Youssef and Inoussa getting onto the scoresheet.
Team News
After picking up his third yellow card of the Allsvenskan campaign last time out, Adam Lundqvist will be unavailable for Hacken on Sunday afternoon.
The Wasps are also without the services of 17-year-old prospect Isak Brusberg, who sustained a groin injury during the final part of April.
Nikola Zecevic was hoping for a breakthrough term in Swedish football this year, however multiple injury issues have kept him sidelined since March.
Vasteras suffered a significant injury blow during the draw at Goteborg last weekend, with Minnesota United loanee Mikael Marques breaking his foot.
With the centre-back now out of action for the remainder of the campaign, Gustav Granath is in line to join the first-choice back three for the Green and Whites.
Hacken possible starting lineup:
Abrahamsson; Fridriksson, Hovland, Lode, Laursen; Romeo, Rygaard, Lindberg; Hrstic, Inoussa, Youssef
Vasteras SK possible starting lineup:
Fagerstrom; Magnusson, Jonsson, G Granath; Bouzaiene, Ask, Magnusson, Warneryd; Ahlinvi, Boudah, V Granath
We say: Hacken 1-0 Vasteras SK
Despite the ease of success on Thursday night, Hacken suffered a major fitness blow in the form of Layouni's groin injury, meaning that the hosts are set to be weaker in attack this weekend.
That being said, a makeshift centre-back trio for Vasteras is unlikely to keep the Wasps at bay, so we are predicting a narrow home victory on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
