KuPS vs SJK Prediction: The visitors’ woe will continue

SJK, who are currently facing a challenging period with three consecutive losses, will be on the road to Väre Areena to take on KuPS in what is expected to be an intriguing matchup. Both teams will be eager to secure a positive result as they look to narrow the gap between themselves and the teams ahead of them in the standings. Previews, H2H, expert tips, and odds are provided below.

WDDLW

KuPS secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Inter Turku in their previous match. The game was filled with drama as Inter Turku missed two penalties, with Timo Stavitski failing to convert in the 60th and 68th minutes. However, KuPS managed to secure the win in the 90+5th minute when Axel Vidjeskog successfully converted a penalty. This victory was crucial for KuPS as they had been winless in their previous three matches. It also keeps their title hopes alive, although dropping points in this match could effectively eliminate them from contention.

Currently, KuPS occupy the second position in the league table with 46 points from 24 games, having scored 35 goals and conceded 17. They trail league leaders HJK by 7 points, with HJK having played one more game. While a European spot appears secure for KuPS, a win in this upcoming match would increase the pressure on HJK in the title race.

LWLLL

SJK's struggles persisted in their last match as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to HJK. Tuomas Ollila opened the scoring for HJK in the 31st minute and added a second from the penalty spot in the 48th minute. Moreno Ciorciari pulled one back for SJK in the 83rd minute and then equalized just 2 minutes later. However, Hassane Bande dashed SJK's hopes of securing any points with a 90+2 winner for his side.

This loss marked SJK's third consecutive defeat, highlighting their ongoing struggles. Their chances of securing a spot in continental competitions appear to be diminishing, as they now trail in-form VPS by 4 points in the standings.

Looking at their previous head-to-head clashes dating back to 2021, KuPS have secured 2 wins, while SJK have won 3 matches, with 1 draw in between. These encounters have seen a total of 17 goals, with 9 scored by KuPS and 8 by SJK, resulting in an average of 2.83 goals per game. In their most recent league fixture on August 20, 2023, KuPS emerged victorious with a 3-0 win over SJK.

SJK’s form has become so bad recently, and I believe their struggles will continue in this clash as well.

• W1 for 1.73 odds
• Over 2.5 for 2.00 odds
• BTTS for 1.87 odds