There are some crucial matches happening in the Superettan this season with the top four ahead of the 15th round of fixtures all facing each other this weekend. GAIS are currently third in the table, whilst Västerås are second.

Following promotion from the regionalised third-tier last season, GAIS have overperformed all pre-season expectations by beginning this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting in fourth place. The hosts were however held to a 1-1 draw by fellow newly-promoted side Gefle in their most recent outing.

The Gothenburg club are now unbeaten in four matches either side of the mid-summer break and they have been very impressive in terms of performances. In fact, their underlying data, such as expected goals, goals against and points, ranks them as the best side in the league so far.

Västerås began last week sitting five points adrift of league leading Utsiktens but a victory in a top-of-the-table clash saw them extend their winning streak to four matches in the Superettan and close the gap to just two points at the top.

The visitors have been exceptional throughout the campaign and have significantly overperformed their pre-season expectations which would have been to simply establish themselves firmly in mid-table, potentially kicking on into the top-half.

Given that these are the two best defensive teams in the Superettan, being the only sides that have conceded fewer than ten goals; this is likely to be a low-scoring and fairly nervy top-of-the-table clash.

Both of these sides have struggled and underperformed to different extents throughout the opening 14 matches of this 2023 Swedish Superettan campaign. However, the two teams head into this 15th round of fixtures on the back of polar opposite form.

Last season, Helsingborg were relegated from the Allsvenskan and were expected to mount a serious and sustained challenge to gain promotion straight back to the top-flight this season. However, four successive defeats at the start of the campaign saw their co-management duo of Alvaro Santos and Mattias Lindstrom sacked, replaced by Stuart Baxter, who had been appointed Technical Director prior to the season.

Since Baxter’s appointment, performances have pretty much immediately improved and results have now begun to follow. The hosts come into this on the back of a 2-1 win away at fellow strugglers Örgryte IS, making it three successive victories and just one defeat in their last eight Superettan matches.

Unlike the hosts, who have struggled but hit some good form of late, Trelleborg have struggled and are in all sorts of trouble at the moment. The visitors come into this on the back of a goalless draw with Örebro, meaning they have managed just one win in their last five matches as they sink into the bottom-half of the table.

Only two sides have conceded more goals than Trelleborg so far this season with 24 goals let in in their 14 matches so far. In contrast, they are coming up against a side that have a peculiarly impressive defensive record, despite being in the bottom-half, with Helsingborg having conceded fewer than a goal per game so far.

Given the form of these two sides and how they are now separated by just a point in the table, as well as the home advantage of the in-form Helsingborg, a victory in favour of the resurgent hosts looks like the way to go for this one.