TEAM NEWS

This is a clash between two teams promoted to First Division last year but they have had a completely different season. Atvidaberg's reaction seems to have stopped and they need to win to leave the relegation zone. Mjallby are back on tracks and can move to fourth place and one point behind third place Orebro if they get three points.

After two consecutive defeats and seven goals conceded, Atvidaberg had a lot to work in the back four. Defensive midfielder Christoffer Karlsson is suspended after picking a third yellow card in the 4-1 away defeat to AIK but Nigerian midfielder Prince Eboagwu is back from suspension and hopefuly will provide more protection to the defense.

Mjallby's performance in the 4-2 home victory over second place Malmo was considered their best this season by manager Peter Swardh. But the last trip to play away from home was also against a team in the relegation zone and Mjallby lost 2-1 to bottoms Trelleborg.

Atvidaberg

Suspended: Christoffer Karlsson (1 game)

Doubtful: Daniel Hallingstrom & Kristian Bergstrom (thigh)

Injured/unavailable: None

Mjallby

Suspended: None

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: William Leandersson (thigh) and Peter Gitselov (knee)

MATCH PREVIEW

Atvidaberg Oscar Moller says his side cannot allow the opponent to stay in charge of the action as they did most of the match in the 4-1 defeat to AIK. “In the few moments we were able to control the game and put pressure on them, we could see them a bit in trouble and making mistakes. Now comes a match against a team we know well and it will be fun to meet them again. We want to prove we can be there where they are too,” says Moller.

They played in the Swedish Cup midweek and was defeated away by a lower league side Jonkopings Sodra 2-1, by an extra time goal.

Mjallby midfielder David Lofquist is not looking forward to the World Cup break. He would like to see the team playing more matches now and taking advantage of their momentum. “We just can hope we will be back performing the same way. This last match is really important. The season has gone better than we expected but we know we have a great team. Maybe the others have underestimated us a bit,” says Lofquist.

They beat a lower league side Limhamn Bunkeflo away 1-0 in the Swedish Cup midweek.

These are two sides that know each other very well after years of encounters in lower divisions. Mjallby are confident, having better results this year, and used to playing at Kopparvallen. The visitors get three points here.

HEAD TO HEAD

This is only the third match between Atvidaberg and Mjallby in the top flight and the first time they meet in the First Division since August 1980 when Atvidaberg won 2-1 at home.

The two sides clashed 14 times in the Second Division in the last decade with three victories to Atvidaberg, five draws and six victories to Mjallby (including a 5-1 in 2008 and a 6-1 in 2009 both at home).