Three months after battling out a 2-2 draw, Ilves Tampere and AC Oulu meet again in the Finnish Veikkausliiga and we could see another entertaining clash between the two.
Bookmaker William Hill has the odds at 1.85 for both teams to score on Monday. The odds are also at 1.85 for both not to score in the contest.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 10th, 8:30 A.M. (EST)
Ilves showed great spirit and character in the first meeting of the year as they came back from a two-goal deficit in the second half and ended up getting a point on the board with a 93rd-minute equalizer.
The 2-2 draw with Oulu was somewhat of a kick-starter for Ilves’ campaign as the team had begun the season with two defeats. Only two more losses have followed for Ilves since they opened their points account with a draw against Oulu.
A run of just two defeats suffered in 10 games should keep Toni Kallio’s side very confident ahead of Monday’s match. Ilves also boast a superb run of results on home turf with four wins picked up in five games.
These two teams are level on points in the battle for fourth in the Veikkausliiga, but Oulu take the pitch on Monday in a much poorer situation after suffering back-to-back losses, including a humiliating 6-0 defeat against VPS.
Oulu will be desperate to get their season back on track but it’s easier said than done, especially considering how well Ilves have played in front of their fans.
Can wonder-kid Otso Liimatta make the difference? The talented attacking midfielder has only just turned 18, but he has been heavily used throughout the campaign and plays a key role for the team. Among Oulu’s outfield players, only right-back Riku Selander has logged more league action this season.
With 16 goals conceded, Ilves boast one of the better defensive records in the league, but there have clearly been problems at the back lately as both Lahti and Inter Turku have scored multiple goals against them. Liimatta’s creativity will play a big role in unlocking the Ilves defense.
The visitors will also look for more heroics from Michael Lopez. The Argentinian striker scored both Oulu goals in the first meeting of the season against Ilves and he tops the team’s scoring charts with six goals in total. The 24-year-old even led the whole league in scoring just a few weeks back and he should be highly motivated to regain the top spot.
