3. Hacken (13) v Kalmar (6)

Kalmar will continue unbeaten against Hacken

TEAM NEWS

Hacken will be trying to achieve their first home win since March 30 against an opponent full of confidence for being the only side to have beaten leaders Helsingborg in 2010. To make things worse they have never beaten Kalmar in six meetings in the top flight.

The home side will have an important player returning from suspension, midfielder Erik Friberg. But another one, Nigerian John Chibuike, is likely to miss the game with a foot injury. One more problem for a team that has won only once in ten games.

Kalmar have climbed from bottoms to sixth place and have a five-match unbeaten run to defend in Gothenburg. But they make the trip without their hero from last match. Brazilian striker Daniel Mendes scored the fastest goal of Swedish League history (6”4) in the 1-0 win over Helsingborg and beat the record of Hacken midfielder Jonas Henriksson (8”) established only one week earlier. Daniel also managed to be sent off in the 27^th minute and is suspended.

Hacken

Suspended: None

Doubtful: John Chibuike (foot)

Injured/unavailable: Peter Nystrom (heel)

Kalmar

Suspended: Daniel Mendes (1 game)

Doubtful: None

Injured/unavailable: None

MATCH PREVIEW

Hacken striker Mathias Ranegie had no reasons to celebrate the first goal scored in the league after the 2-1 away defeat to Brommapojkarna in the last match and thinks the team have been unlucky. “A goal always brings you confidence but in a match like that it just makes it feel more painful. Referees make mistakes, managers make mistakes and so do players too. It happens. But it was not the case in the last match and we should not have lost. Now we have to get three points,” says Ranegie.

In the Swedish Cup midweek, they stunned a lower league side Ostersunds 5-0 easily away.

Kalmar manager Nanne Bergstrand admits the way his side reacted after failing to win in the first eight matches made even himself surprised. Now he has new plans for the rest of the season, starting in the away game at Hacken. “It was impressive and surprising at same time to see the way the team reacted. We have not lost since April 29. We have been through bad times before and it is then you see you have to keep working hard the same way, you cannot lose your character and your attitude. We still have a lot to do in this season,” says Bergstrand.

Kalmar continued to show their strengths and beat a lower league side Trollhattan 3-0 midweek in the cup.

Kalmar have the momentum and are unbeaten against Hacken. If the visitors scored first it is likely to be decisive here. But Kalmar are also the team most drawn matches this year along with IFK Goteborg and this can be another one. A draw.

HEAD TO HEAD

Kalmar are unbeaten against Hacken in Swedish League matches since their first ever clash in 2005: three victories, three draws, seven goals scored and two conceded.