- Team form: HJK are third in Veikkausliiga 2026 with 34 points from 20 games.
- Opposition form: IF Gnistan Helsinki are 6th in Veikkausliiga 2026 with 29 points from 19 games.
- Head-to-head: HJK Helsinki have won the last two head-to-head meetings between the two clubs, including a 3-0 away win in Veikkausliiga 2026 four months ago.
IF Gnistan can make a nuisance of themselves
Match context and tactics
HJK are the clear favorites for this one at 1.61, but IF Gnistan are a useful club that can make a game of it on Sunday at the Bolt Arena in Finland. Jussi Leppaelahti's side, who he has led since 1 January 2024, is a compact, disciplined team that likes to spring fast transitions when they get the opportunity to do so.
Head-to-head, odds and recent form
They have beaten the home advantage twice in the last three head-to-head matchups with HJK Helsinki, although they are rightfully the long shots for this matchup at 4.59. Gnistan are in solid form, coming into this game with three wins, a draw and a defeat in their last five games, although both of those negative results came in their most recent outings – a 1-0 home defeat to KuPS and a 2-2 draw away to SJK.
Gnistan have a great record of 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 losses from 10 matches on the road in Veikkausliiga 2026, which points to a competitive, although not dominant, away side. HJK have a win and a draw in their recent home matches, which suggests they are a tough team to break down in Helsinki and Klubi have made the fortress count so far this season with six wins, two draws and two losses from 10 home games.
Kipinä will try to stop the flow of HJK attacks
Joonas Rantanen has been HJK Helsinki's coach since 1 January 2026 and he has installed a system that tries to maintain territorial control by pressing in waves and creating chances through central overloads.
Akinyemi is in red-hot form and with Gnistan having scored ten goals in a run, this could be a game where HJK have to work hard for their win.
In terms of odds, the home side is a clear favorite at 1.61, so a reasonable alternative is HJK to win and over 1.5 goals, which will fit better with the way they will try to control the game.
- Klubi have scored 16 goals in 10 home Veikkausliiga 2026 matches, which is a steady average of 1.60 per match, but that will be a challenge in this game against a side that have conceded just ten goals in 10 away matches in the league.
- Akinyemi has 9 goals in 19 Veikkausliiga 2026 matches and is Gnistan's danger man in this matchup with four goals in their last five.
- Mads Borchers has 7 goals in 17 Veikkausliiga 2026 games for HJK and he is their sharpest finisher on the day, so his strike power could be the difference between the teams on Sunday.
