AC Oulu and KTP will clash on Monday, July 5, at Raatin stadion in a match between two bottom Veikkausliiga teams. It will mark a rematch from three weeks ago, when AC Oulu defeated KTP 3-1 at Arto Tolsa Areena, improving their head-to-head record to 2-1-2 across their last five meetings.
AC Oulu vs KTP
When: Monday, July 5 – 18:30 EEST
Where: Raatin stadion in Oulu, Finland
Weather: Sunny, 27°C
Referee: Mattias Gestranius (FIN)
AC Oulu and KTP will clash for the second time this season, and for the first time since Tuesday, June 15, when AC Oulu claimed their first win of 2021 Veikkausliiga with 3-1. However, they have since lost twice against KuPS (0-2, 0-2) and will be desperate to find some traction as they look towards their second win of the season.
KTP managed only one win and two draws across nine outings and enter this match off a 1-1 draw against Ilves on Wednesday. By claiming a point last time out, KTP broke their five-game losing streak, however, with all the injury concerns, claiming their first win since the third round of the season – when they crushed Haka 3-0 – won’t be easy.
AC Oulu Eyeing Their Second Win of The Season
AC Oulu enter this match with a 1-0-8 record and three points, which sits them at the bottom of the table. They’re two points behind KTP, and with a disappointing 6-19 goal difference.
Across their last five, AC Oulu lost to HJK (1-3), Honka (0-2), and twice against KuPS (0-2, 0-2). Their only win of the season came three rounds back when AC Oulu beat KTP 3-1.
AC Oulu were 0-1 down in that game after Eerola Anton scored his second goal on the season in 51’. While AC Oulu received some help from Eerola, who scored an own goal in 57’, they didn’t have any issues in adding two more in 59’ and 69’ via Niklas Jokelainen and Nikolas Saira.
AC Oulu were the better team on the day and are now facing a much weaker version of KTP. The visitors will miss seven players and will be in for a tough match as they hope to avenge their loss.
KTP Injury Concerns
KTP boast a rather small 22-man lineup, which may seem like a reasonable number of players to have. Although that might be the case, KTP have a long list of missing players for tonight’s match, which won’t do them any favours.
Former Monaco B right-back Pierre-Daniel Nguinda could miss tonight’s match since the club has yet to finalise his contract. He started for KTP in their 1-1 draw with Ilves on Wednesday but is currently listed as a free agent, suggesting he could be out of the club.
To make matters worse, KTP’s 19-year-old midfielder Kimi Kolsi won’t be able to help his side, making Gabriel Garcia Xatart’s job of assembling a compatible roster that much more difficult.
Van Weert continues to recover from his injury and will be joined by Matias Lindfors on the sidelines after the 24-year-old picked up a blow in KTP’s match with Ilves. Adding to the list of missing players are Aleksi Tarvonen Matias Tamminen, Fran Alvarez, and Anttoni Huttunen.
With seven players unavailable for tonight, Garcia Xatart is left with only 15 players and without a few key men.
AC Oulu vs KTP Betting Picks
KTP are 2-1-2 in the head-to-head with AC Oulu since June 2016 but are 0-2 in their last two outings. Besides their 1-3 loss from June, KTP also lost to AC Oulu in last year’s Ykkonen (1-2) after forcing a 0-0 stalemate in August.
AC Oulu will enjoy home advantage tonight as they look to claim their second win of the season. Although playing at Raatin stadion hasn’t helped them achieve much this term, AC Oulu were the best home side in Ykonnen last year, with a 7-3-1 record and an impressive 21-6 goal difference.
Prediction: AC Oulu -0.50 Asian Handicap
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