Home and Away: Stjarnan looking to freeze out Thor on their own patch

 

Jonno Turner previews action in Iceland and Sweden as he looks to secure two more winners in his Home and Away column...

 

We're off to Sweden for our first pick of the day - as Djurgardens host Kalmar at the Olympic Stadium, looking to build on two home league victories.

 

The Blaranderna line up for this clash sitting bottom of the Allsvenskan, but their recent form belies their position, and they have looked a formidable force on their own patch in the last couple of weeks.

 

A win in this outing could lift the Stockholm side out of the drop zone places, and boss Per-Mathias Hogmo will be desperate for his charges to take advantage of that opportunity.

 

Three unbeaten in their last three league encounters suggests that a corner may have been turned, but today will be a real test of that improvement.

 

Kalmar travel to the capital sitting fifth in the table, but find themselves in inconsistent form on their travels, having won just two of their opening five league outings away from the Guldfageln Arena.

 

Nanne Bergstrand's side will have been rattled by a 2-0 loss at IFK Goteborg in their last game on the road, and that makes four outings without a clean sheet for Roda Broder ahead of this one.

 

Djurgardens are unbeaten in four of their last five against their guests, and I fancy their home advantage to see them to another three points here.

 

Bet 1: Djurgardens (HOME) @ 2.48

 

Staying in Scandinavia now, but switching our attentions to Iceland - as Stjarnan aim to extend their excellent recent form, with a win at Thor.

 

The visitors sit just one point outside the Europa League places, fourth in the Urvalsveild following four unbeaten, and two wins on the bounce away from home will give them much confidence ahead of this clash.

 

Furthermore, two clean sheets in those games suggests that Logi Olafsson's side are more than capable of grinding out a hard-fought win on their travels, and I reckon that could give them the advantage in what looks likely to be a tight cup encounter.

 

Thor line up for this clash having lost three of their opening five league games - and, occupying an underwhelming seventh place in the table, they may look to focus their attentions on their Urvalsveild campaign.

 

Pall Gislason's side have kept just one clean sheet from their last half a dozen outings, and that indicates that their guests are likely to be presented with a chance or two here.

 

And history certainly doesn't favour the Thorsvallur side, who have lost two of their last three outings in this competition on their own patch.

 

When these two sides met in the League Cup in March, Stjarnan ran out 5-3 winners at Thor - and I think that the visitors have enough about them to win this clash, too.

 

Bet 2: Stjarnan (AWAY) @ 1.87

 

Bet HERE

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