Edit: Here
Likely lineups:
Sometimes it is nice to look at the h-2-h stats, but in this case they do not reflect the current situation at all. MyPa was one of the best clubs at the early 21st century and KuPS have always been the team most likely to get relegated if they have been in the top league. This season KuPS are stronger than they have been in 30 years, and maybe they do not really belong to the top-3 but it is a nice reward for the good work they have done, and biggest part of the success is after all the manager Esa Pekonen who has made them a hard-working team who believe in themselves. All in the material is not top class, but they have been using their full capacity so far.
This is round 8, and I can not remember a round where I had not talked down MyPa´s chances and the easiest thing would be to read the earlier previews. The team lack creativity, the material available is very narrow and handles injuries and suspensions poorly and there are no players in the team who can score the deciding goals.
Votinov is dangerous in front of the goal as he is a big and athletic fellow, but the problem is really how to get that far. Pele Koljonen is a very straight-forward power striker, just not good, fast or skillful enough to be a real threat on his own.
The midfield consist of winger-out-of-form Ilari Äijälä, a work horse from Kakkonen team YPA Ville Saxman, Antti Okkonen who is responsible for everything in the team and Felipe who is nothing special. Äijälä did score a couple of lucky free-kicks vs. TPS, but has really been in the shade this season.
The defenders have also been in trouble this year, there have injuries which are hard to replace and center-back Aho is still suspended. Tuunainen and Timoska might return to defense today, and it will help. The goal-keeper Antti Kuismala is not a winning keeper, but usually can not be blamed for the goals.
Manager Janne Lindberg is an ex-player, he was a hard-working midfielder with a professional career and international experience, but it looks like he has run out of tricks already years ago and MyPa have not renewed themselves, only the material is getting weaker year by year because of the worse economical situation.
Their latest 0-1 win away at Haka was helped by a Haka own goal and some luck in defending their own, and creating goal chances is also this year the biggest hurdle for MyPa which basically looks like a decent team, but then when the whistle blows they seem to lack a bit of everything.
The home advantage is minimal. The club does not attract the locals and the stadium will be rather empty tonight, perhaps some 1000 quiet watchers will be sitting there trying to remember the good old days with Sami Hyypiä and Jari Litmanen in the squad.
KuPS have an important cup match away at Haka on Thursday and it would not surprise me if they give that match a priority as the winner goes already to semifinals. Striker Williams returns from suspension, and I am afraid KuPS will try rotating some of their key players tonight. Hopefully Dickson, Venäläinen and Oravainen play at least some of the match, as they are very effective and entertaining players.
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