Three matches in the 13th round of the Swedish Allsvenskan will be played on Sunday evening, with Hacken away to Halmstads in one of them. Halmstads have looked very poor this season, and their leaky defence has dragged them back into another losing streak. Against a solid Hacken side, a home defeat looks hard to avoid.
Halmstads finished in the lower mid-table last season, but after 12 league games this term they have managed just 1 win, 3 draws and 8 defeats, leaving them bottom of the table and showing clear signs of regression. Since beating fellow strugglers Osters in late May, they have lost their last three Allsvenskan matches, their second three-game losing run of the season. They conceded 11 goals across those games, allowing at least three in each, which underlines their major defensive problems. Notably, in every league defeat this season they have conceded at least two goals, and they now face a Hacken side with reliable attacking output, so another heavy loss is a real possibility.
Hacken sit near the top of the standings with 5 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats. Their unbeaten run through the first 10 rounds was particularly impressive and suggests improvement compared with last season. Although they have lost their last two league matches to Djurgardens and Osters respectively, conceding four goals in each game, which has clearly dented morale, this time they face the league's weakest attack in Halmstads, so their back line should be under less pressure. Hacken remain a strong attacking team, averaging 2.08 goals per game this season. Key players such as Svanback and Lindgren have provided solid numbers in goals and assists, helping explain why the team has not been shut out at all this season. Away to the bottom side, Hacken deserve to be rated higher.