Market: HIFK win
Odds: 1/2 @
Desperate to secure back-to-back Ykkonen victories on Friday afternoon, HIFK will welcome JJK Jyvaskyla to the Bolt Arena.
Starting with the hosts, managing to claim a crucial boost last week as they cruised their way to a stellar 4-0 romp away at KPV, HIFK will know that they face another must-win showdown here. Drawing a line under their extended seven-match winless run and now trying to find some much-needed stability, Sami Okkonen’s men will also be hoping their buffer in the top-six chase. Still sat in pole position to punch a play-off ticket in 2023, the Helsinki-based outfit will also be excited by a return to the Bolt Arena this weekend. Including a 2-0 victory against TPS Turku prior to June’s international break, the Reds are unbeaten in each of their previous five showdowns in front of their own supporters a run that stems all the way back to April 21st. Likewise, not suffering a single defeat from any of their last eight straight meetings against Friday’s guests, Okkonen’s side should be smelling the chance to clinch back-to-back Ykkonen wins for the first time since the end of May.
As for the visitors, last seen putting in another downbeat display as they slumped to a 1-0 loss at home against SalPa, JJK find themselves tipped as a standout contender to be hit with an immediate third-tier return in 2023. Only collecting 11 points from their 15 Ykkonen appearances this season and firmly battling it out at the foot of the table, Toni Lehtinen’s side have claimed just a single win from any of their previous 11 straight appearances across all competitions. With that rut stemming all the way back to May 17th, the Jyvaskyla-based outfit should face a stern challenge here. Along with opening July with a routine 3-1 drumming at the hands of SJK, Friday’s guests have lost each of their last three Ykkonen showdowns by an aggregate score of 7-3. Showing a string of defensive issues this season and not recording a sole win against the top-six contenders since July 2014, we are expecting a home victory this weekend.
Bet: HIFK 1/2 to beat JJK Jyvaskyla in Friday s Ykkonen matchup @
