We are now past the half-way stage in the 2023 Superettan season and these two have experienced very different campaigns so far. Despite that, though, both teams come into this weekend on the back of some very impressive recent form.

Last season, AFC Eskilstuna began with four successive victories before quickly fading into mid-table mediocrity and, for much of the 2022 campaign, were one of the weakest teams in the Swedish second-tier. They started this season in a similar fashion and have languished in the bottom-half for much of the last few months.

However, following the appointment of former Newcastle United and Peru winger Nolberto Solano a couple of weeks ago, they have now enjoyed three successive victories. That impressive run of form, which continued with a 3-0 hammering of bottom-of-the-table Skovde last weekend, has seen them move into the top-half of the table.

Osters, under the management of Stefan Tufegdzic, missed out on promotion to the top-flight last season in the Allsvenskan/Superettan playoffs against Varberg. This time around, they expected to go better and finish inside the automatic promotion spots. Beginning the campaign with four successive victories made it seem like an inevitability but the visitors suffered poor form for a couple of months into the summer.

However, they come into this on the back of a 4-0 hammering of fellow high-flyers Jonkopings Sodra which has extended their current winning streak to three matches since returning from the mid-summer break.

The fact that AFC Eskilstuna are one of the lowest scoring teams in the division with just 15 goals being scored in their opening 16 matches, they are a side in excellent form, hosting an Osters team that have produced 53 goals in their 16 games so far. As Solano’s side seek to attack a dangerous opponent, this should be quite an intriguing encounter for the neutral.

The OBOS Ligaen returns after nearly a month-long break and both teams will have their eye on promotion. Kristiansund have perhaps the best squad in the entire league and also possess some of the best metrics. They are only in 4th but from an offensive perspective, nobody can get close to their 26.40 xG which is an average of 1.76 per 90 mins.

KBK have hit the back of the net 29 times so have lived up to their billing in this area. The main problem that Christian Michelsen’s men have encountered are individual mistakes at the back that have regularly cost them. Kristiansund have only kept 2 clean sheets in 15 matches. Whilst they can outscore themselves out of trouble most weeks, this is probably a statistic which needs improving if they are to go up.

Start are in exactly the same boat. If they fail to achieve promotion, then it will be defensive issues which are to blame. They have conceded 24 goals which is the third most of any team in the OBOS Ligaen. In their most recent match before the summer break, they did keep a rare clean sheet but that was the first time in 13 league fixtures they managed to shut out an opponent.

At the other end of the field, they have amassed 32 goals which is the most of any team. The whole squad can contribute but striker Alagie Sanyang stands out as a key player with 7 goals and 5 assists. This squad is full of promising young attacking players such as Tom Strannegard and hot prospect Sander Sjokvist who has racked up a huge 9 assists this year. Loanee striker Henrik Skogvold has returned to Lillestrøm which is a blow because he netted 7 goals in 10 appearances.

Neither team has added anyone new yet in this August transfer window. Kristiansund have lost important midfielder Sander Kartum to Eliteserien side Brann who they sold for £250k. They might lack a little bit of creativity without him, but this is still a loaded squad full of quality. The big strength of both teams is to attack, whilst each have their own defensive issues. Taking over 2.5 goals at 1.40 really looks like an excellent bet.

Despite each team losing an important offensive weapon in the transfer window this should still be a clear over 2.5 game. For those who want some bigger odds then over 3.5 goals are available at 2.10 which also has a great chance of landing.

Brommapojkarna have, after a very impressive opening 10 matches, dropped off somewhat since and slipped downwards in the table. While their run of four defeats in the last five matches is concerning, the overall play has been encouraging enough to not put too many butterflies in their fans’ stomachs.

The 2-0 loss to bottom-of-the-table Degerfors last weekend was unnecessary and followed a similar pattern to previous losses – controlling much of possession and creating plenty but being too fragile defensively and conceding two late goals due to lapses in concentration. While the defensive solidity has been lacking, they have been underperforming their xG regularly and still managed to score in most matches. To boost, they have only failed to find the back of the net twice at home this season, pointing towards a goal for the hosts in this match-up.

Värnamo have themselves been up and down, often putting in strong performances and keeping the ball incredibly well but seeing varied results. In their last five games they have suffered two defeats, however, these were to top contenders Djurgården and Malmö, with the latter beating them 3-1 last weekend. Värnamo were dangerous throughout and should have made more of a couple of big opportunities, but the quality of their opponents shone through in the end.

New addition Simon Thern is versatile and provides plenty of quality, while Gustav Engvall has been deployed both upfront and on the left-hand side and gives them weight in attacking areas. They are an exciting side and can always be counted on for entertainment, as evidenced by scoring in six consecutive matches.

Both the statistics and the teams’ style of play point to a scintillating encounter with goals in both directions.

After heading past the half-way stage of the 2023 Superettan campaign last week, these are two sides still in the hunt for promotion to the top-flight in the second-half of the campaign. Not only are they both challenging for promotion but they are both doing it in an entertaining fashion.

Ahead of the 2023 season, after a mid-table finish last year, Jonkopings Sodra appointed former Getafe youth coach Andres Garcia and they have been the better for it; both in terms of results and performances, as well as for entertainment value. In their 16 matches so far this season, there has been a combined total of 56 goals.

Whilst they have been impressive and remain fifth in the table and in the hunt for promotion, they come into this on the back of some poor results. Their most recent outing was a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Osters, who are third in the table, to make it back-to-back defeats.

After a mid-table finish in 2022, in which they only managed to sit two points above the bottom four and the relegation playoff places, Utsiktens have been magnificent in 2023 and sit at the top-of-the-table, despite one win in three matches following the mid-summer break.

The visitors begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting seven points clear of Osters in third-place and, with just 14 games to go, would have to be subjected to be a wild collapse in order to miss out on the top two and the automatic promotion places, let alone the top three and the playoff spots.

Despite that, though, they have shown vulnerabilities in recent weeks, conceding in three successive matches and making their goals against column jump 25% in just three games. Given that J-Sodra have been an attacking side, they will hope to inflict further damage upon the league leaders, especially with their home advantage. However, victory for J-Sodra remains something to avoid backing.