IN NORWAY, Viking may be the team to hand Lillestrom their first home defeat of the season. This column has followed the hosts through some good times at the Arasen Stadium, but Viking have won five in a row in the league and last month, became the only side to beat title hopefuls Valerenga on their own patch this term.
Take them to avenge last month’s NM Cup defeat where they lost 2-0 to Lillestrom at home.

On to Sweden. Malmo’s first Swedish title since 1988 prompted an outbreak of football fever in the city and even the stuffed giraffe in the museum was decked out from head to hoof in scarves and flags.
The champions put together an excellent run in April and May but their title defence has since faltered allowing Djurgarden to take over at the top.

They’ve lost two of their last three away from the Malmo Stadion, and had to come from behind twice last week to beat Israeli minnows Maccabi Haifa in the home leg of a Champions League qualifier. It’s not the most encouraging form.
Kalniar are prominent among the chasing pack, and have only been beaten at home by league leaders Djurgarden this season. Take them to put the pressure on the champions.

BK Hacken and IF Elfsborg are the two sides to have beaten Malmo recently, and they meet at Elfsborg’s Boras Arena this week.
Both rank among the Allsvenskan’s most improved sides this season, and the visitors have taken the division by storm since winning promotion from Sweden’s second division last term. However, Hacken’s weak point is their away form - two away wins and five defeats this season before Monday night’s trip to IFK Gothenburg -so this looks like another home.

In Finland, MyPa-47 look like banker material at home to struggling FF Jaro. The visitors have lost six of seven aways this term mostly against modest opposition, such as R0PS, FC Laliti and KuPS Kuopio.
HJK Helsinid, MyPa-47’S only rivals in the Veikkausliiga title race, can keep up the pressure on their fellow title contenders with a win away at TPS in the southern port city of Turku.

The hosts have already lost twice at home this term, to fellow strugglers Lahti and league leaders MyPa-47 and they’ve only won once in the Veritas Stadion since mid-May. That was against KooTeePee, who have been blowing hot and cold all season.

HJK Helsinki are unbeaten on their travels and have an away record that is second only to the league leaders. They should improve it here.