SJK vs FC Honka Prediction: A Goal from the visitors won’t be enough to salvage a point

The Finnish top-flight hopefuls SJK will meet Honka on Saturday afternoon, hoping to keep their title aspirations alive. You'll find previews, head-to-head, expert tips, and odds below.

DWWLD

SJK enter this match after a 1-1 draw against Ilves, maintaining their strong position in the Veikkausliiga standings. Currently sitting in 3rd place with 28 points from 13 games, they hold a comfortable eight-point lead over Honka, who occupy fifth place. SJK have their sights set on winning the league title for only the second time in their history, with their previous triumph coming in 2015.

With only three points separating them from league leaders KuPS and two games in hand, SJK are well-positioned to challenge for the top spot this season. Their defensive performance has been particularly impressive, having conceded just eight goals so far. This solid defense will likely be relied upon once again as they face Honka. However, SJK will have to cope with the absence of forward Jaime Jose Moreno Ciorciari due to suspension, which may lead to a lower-scoring match at the OmaSp Stadion.

As the season progresses, SJK will be looking to continue their strong form and build on their defensive solidity in their pursuit of the Veikkausliiga title.

LWDWD

Honka enter this match with a fair performance so far in the Veikkausliiga, having accumulated 20 points from 15 games. They have scored and conceded 13 goals, placing them in 5th place on the league table. The team aim to surpass their previous record from last season and finish higher than third place, which they have achieved in the past five Finnish top-flight seasons.

Although it seemed unlikely a couple of weeks ago, Honka have found their form and made significant progress. Under the guidance of manager Vesa Vasara, the team have been undefeated in their last four Veikkausliiga matches. This positive run has helped them gain momentum and climb up the league standings.

However, Honka will face some challenges in this upcoming match. Midfielder Jerry Voutilainen has been sidelined since April due to a Tibia fracture and will not be available for selection. Additionally, Aldayr Hernández and Mateo Ortíz have accumulated four yellow cards each this season, meaning that a booking in this game would result in a one-match suspension.

In their head-to-head history, SJK and Honka have been evenly matched, with both teams securing five victories each out of the 17 previous meetings. Seven matches between them have ended in a draw, highlighting the closely contested nature of their encounters.

The average goal tally in their previous matches is relatively low at 2 goals per game, indicating that these teams have often been involved in tight and low-scoring affairs. However, it is worth noting that both teams have found the back of the net in 41% of their encounters, suggesting a reasonable chance of both teams scoring in this fixture.

Both sides are determined to get points in the coming game, with this I see the visitors getting on the scoreboard, but a goal won’t be enough for them to savage a point from the game.

• BTTS for 1.90 odds
• W1 for 2.20 odds
• Over 2.5 for 1.75 odds