Nordic Football News

Here we go again. Tonight has two games in store for us, followed by four on Sunday and one on Monday. I’ll only be previewing Saturday’s games for now, because I have to go and attend a drunken psycho circus of 30 000 people.

Tampere United (10th) – JJK (13th), Saturday 6:30 PM

Underachieving TamU can hope for European spots at best, but they did show some promise when they cancelled out a two-goal deficit and emerged as the victors in their last game against Inter on Wednesday. Aleksei Kangaskolkka finally scored and the team will be hoping he can score a few more in the coming weeks. Tonight’s game is a good opportunity to embellish the goalscoring charts, because JJK are not quite of the same calibre as a team. JJK have caused some minor upsets – mainly draws – but now that they have lost five of their last six games, it seems the promotion bubble has been broken.

Toni Koskela and Matti Lähitie are returning from suspensions for JJK, Antto Tapaninen, Niko Markkula and Niko Kautto are doubtful. TamU are still missing many first team players, among them Juska Savolainen, Tomi Petrescu, Antti Pohja and Toni Järvinen, but against a lowly JJK side that should not count too much.

Home win

KuPS (14th) – RoPS (12th), Wednesday 4 PM

KuPS have signed two new players for the remainder of the season. Dickson Nwakaeme will provide options for the final third of the pitch, while Segun Ikudehinbu reinforces the midfield. They are available for this relegation six-pointer, but whether they are able to make a difference is another thing. RoPS have improved under new boss Mika Lumijärvi and last Wednesday saw them climb out of the relegation zone with a last-minute victory over JJK. Christopher Musonda has been very good in the last couple of games, and against a weak team like KuPS he could prove to be a game-winner. RoPS are not the greatest football team out there and the game should be quite even, but RoPS are the more likely winners.

KuPS are missing Tuomas Kuparinen, Atte Hoivala Jani Hartikainen and Miikka Ilo, Jussi-Pekka Savolainen is doubtful. RoPS have to get along without Jarno Tenkula, Chileshe Chibwe and goalkeeper Jung-Hyuk Kwom. Veteran midfielder/assistant coach Zeddy Saileti is doubtful.

Away win