Mjallby AIF face a tough task as they travel to Stockholm to take on AIK at Strawberry Arena in the 18th round of the Allsvenskan. The team enters the match after a difficult run, having taken just one point from their last five league outings. They currently sit 12th in the table with 21 points from 20 games played.
Worrying run of form
Mjallby's recent results show a concerning trend. Following a 1-1 draw away to BK Häcken, the team has suffered four consecutive defeats against IFK Göteborg, Djurgården, and Red Bull Salzburg. Their last league win was over a month ago. Striker Jacob Bergström has been a bright spot with eight goals this season, but the team has conceded 34 goals, one of the worst defensive records in the division. The manager and players are under pressure to turn things around.
Defensive absences
The team's back line will be missing two key figures. Timo Stavitski and Villum Dalsgaard are both sidelined with injuries and will be unavailable against AIK. This forces changes to the starting eleven that last lined up in a 5-3-2 formation against Häcken. Goalkeeper R. Wallinder and centre-backs like Abdullah Iqbal and A. Norén carry a heavy responsibility.
AIK are themselves coming off a heavy home defeat to Västerås SK and will be eager for redemption on their own turf. For Mjallby, it's about rediscovering the defensive solidity that earned points earlier in the season. The team's current squad situation is available under squad.
After the AIK match, an away game against 8th-placed Västerås SK awaits on October 18th.
