- Team form: Silkeborg are in better form and have been scoring goals consistently since March.
- Recent history: Silkeborg have matched FC Copenhagen in the Superliga in recent seasons.
- Defensive issues: FCK have conceded several late goals in this Superliga campaign.
Svensson’s system may get a silky reception
Bo Svensson, a master of organised defending and high-pressing football, takes over at FC Copenhagen on Sunday when they host a Silkeborg IF side that are placed below them in the bottom half of the table. The hosts have suffered poor recent form with several late defensive collapses, so his first task will be to get them to defend deep and get their pressing game back to how it was under Jacob Neestrup.
FCK are 7th with approximately 29 points in this season’s Superliga relegation group while Silkeborg are 11th with about 19 points. So, this Sunday’s clash is a heavyweight battle between two clubs in the midst of survival battles that could be decided by momentum. Svensson is expected to be given the benefit of the doubt, but don’t count on any new manager bounce at Parken against a familiar foe like Silkeborg.
Kent Nielsen’s side have enjoyed a mixed bag of results, but have found some rhythm in the relegation group and could cause problems for the hosts.
Silkeborg’s attacking weapons can hurt FCK
Attack threats
Callum McCowatt’s hat-trick at Parken will live long in the memory of FCK fans from last September and Silkeborg’s other danger man, Tonni Adamsen, has been assisting and scoring goals for his team in the league since March. The two attackers should combine to cause problems for a Copenhagen side that has had defensive issues all season, especially in the late stages of matches.
Tactical battle
Silkeborg’s ability to outplay Copenhagen over the past two seasons has been built on the boss's consistency with the first team and the energy that the team plays with. They are a possession-based side who overload the midfield with runners and quickly transition when the ball is won or lost.
FCK are more compact and structured, playing a pragmatic game where the midfield is clogged and the ball is played wide to try to get into transition. With Nielsen sticking to his guns and giving the game to his lively attackers, this will be a chess match and it could be the team that dominates the wide areas and can counter-attack that wins.
Silkeborg can win if FCK defence struggles
Odds of 1.44 on FCK are far too short here given the home side’s poor form and the fact that Silkeborg are outsiders at 6.2 with the draw at 4.6. The draw price seems a little on the low side, but we’re not taking it for this game because of FCK’s recent collapses.
Over 2.5 goals looks good enough at 1.48, given the high-scoring nature of recent meetings between these clubs.
- Silkeborg have been performing well since early March and have some of the ingredients to come away with all three points if FCK’s defensive problems persist.
- The weather forecast is for a mild, damp Sunday which won’t suit the FCK playing style if it produces a slick pitch.
- FCK have the best head-to-head record in this fixture, but Silkeborg have been a better side than their opponents over the course of the campaign and are certainly capable of avoiding defeat.
