SønderjyskE-Hobro

Sunday 22/2 14.00
SønderjyskE (8th) lost the versatile defender Hallgrimur Jonasson to OB during the transfer window. Jonasson has been an influential player in SønderjyskE for several season so this could be a tough blow. A fellow Icelandic, the midfielder Baldur Sigurdsson, has replaced Jonasson. Sigurdsson is set to play the right back position although he has not tried this before, but reports from the pre-season friendlies indicate that he is mastering the new role fine. Otherwise the team is unchanged. Do not forget that SønderjyskE only lost three out of 17 matches in autumn. They have a solid squad that is very difficult to beat. The offense also looks great with the reports that winger Absalonsen and striker Bechmann are in form (and not struggling with minor injuries as usual). Add to this the great striker Marvin Pourie and you have a team that could advance during the second half of the season. Strong central defender Niels Lodberg is suspended for the match, but Bjørn Paulsen should be a decent replacement. Hobro (7th) took everyone by surprise at the start of the season, but did tend to struggle as the opponents started to respect them. They lost the big striker Emil Berggren to Eintracht Braunschweig, and they are still desperately searching for a replacement. Without a tall striker they will need to change the tactics, and this is a problematic start to the new season. They have made two impressive signings however. Midfielders Mikkel Thygesen and Mikkel Bechmann have arrived. Both have had fine careers, playing for clubs abroad and managing to get caps for Denmark. They are however both more than 30 years old and nearing the end of their respective careers. It will be interesting to see if they will succeed in a club like Hobro were motivation is key. Hobro will be without the talismanic defensive midfielder Jonas Damborg.

SønderjyskE should be a better team than Hobro, although Hobro should never be underestimated. Without Damborg their chances worsen, and with the chaos surrounding the lack of a target man, SønderjyskE should be pretty clear favourites here.

Idea: 1 (AH -0.5) – 2.16 at Unibet