RoPS Rovaniemi and IFK Mariehamn meet at Rovaniemen Keskuskenttä, in a match for the 8th round of the Veikkausliiga. In this stadium, the history of direct confrontations is favorable to the home team, which registers 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 7 matches. However, the last time these two teams played a match at this stadium was on 06‑07‑2019, in a match for the Veikkausliiga which ended with the victory of IFK Mariehamn by (1‑2). The goals of the match were scored by N. Jokelainen (55 ‘), for RoPS Rovaniemi, and by A. Mboma (35’) and K. Isaksson (39 ‘), for IFK Mariehamn. In this match, the home factor may be decisive, since both teams present considerable differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
RoPS Rovaniemi :
The home team is currently in 12th position, with 2 points won, after 2 draws and 5 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost at home to TPS Turku by (2‑3). In the last match, they lost in an away match against Ilves by (1‑0). This is a stronger team with the support of its fans, since in the last 30 games it has registered 1 victory, 4 draws and 10 losses as a visitor, with 10 goals scored and 29 suffered; against 5 victories, 4 draws and 6 defeats in his stadium, with 19 goals scored and 18 suffered. For the championship, the RoPS Rovaniemi won 2 points out of 12 possible, after 2 draws and 2 losses in the last 4 matches they played in their stadium.
For this competition, they have not won any of the last 7 matches. The team has not been very strong defensively, since they have always suffered goals in the last 7 matches they played in this competition. In the last 5 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have conceded 3 of their 7 goals between minutes (61’ ‑ 75 ‘).
It is a team with a certain tradition in Finnish football, but has not yet managed to win a national first division title. In 2018, RoPS had a great campaign in the competition, but ended “just” with the vice. Last year (2019), however, the team disappointed fans with a drastic drop in performance and escaped the relegation zone by just 5 points. This season, the RoPS have yet to win a game, are the last (12th) classified and are heading towards a tragic end. So far, the team has added 5 defeats and 2 draws in 7 days, with 6 goals scored and 12 conceded. Therefore, the home factor should not have much relevance for this match, since the home team’s record is just as bad in their domains as when they are outside their territory.
IFK Mariehamn :
The visiting team is currently in 7th position, with 8 points won, after 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses. In the penultimate match, they lost in an away match against Inter Turku by (2‑1). In the last match, they won at home against Inter Turku by (2‑0). This is a stronger team with the support of its fans, since in the last 30 games it has registered 3 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses as a visitor; against 4 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses in his stadium. In the last 10 away matches for all competitions, IFK Mariehamn won 2, tied 1 and lost 7. The team allowed goals to the opponent in 5 of the last 7 matches, so they have not presented great defensive strength, But his attack has scored regularly, since he has scored goals in 5 of the last 7 matches for this competition. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 15 of the last 17 matches have ended with Over 1,5 goals.
This is the only professional team in the city of Mariehamnn, the largest in the province of Aland. IFK Mariehamn is also a traditional team from Finland, founded in 1919, but far from unanimous in the country. The club won the national first division seven times during the 20th century, but lived through a long dry spell after the 1961 conquest. IFK Mariehamn once again lifted a trophy in 2015, with the Finnish Cup title, and soon in 2016 won the Finnish first division for the eighth time in history. Last year (2019), the team struggled at the top of the table, but lost their breath down the stretch and finished only in sixth place. This season, in 7 games played, Mariehamn lost 3, won 2 and drew 2. The team arrives loaded with victory over the then leaders of the competition, Inter Turku, and has a good chance of winning 3 more points in this game, in the last place. Even playing away from home, this team has a good offensive system, with 10 goals scored, and bets on Albion Ademi to balance the nets, the team’s top scorer with 5 goals.
