Östersunds and Sundsvall will face off in the upcoming matchday 18 of the Swedish Superettan. The hosts are in 4th place in the standings with 29 points and are still fighting for promotion to Allsvenskan. The visitors, meanwhile, are firmly entrenched in 16th place with a paltry 9 points and look like clear underdogs in this clash. It's worth noting that Sundsvall have won only 3 of their last 22 league matches, suggesting a systemic crisis for the team.
Despite their status as favorites, Östersunds have struggled in their head-to-head record (they have won just 1 of their last 6 matches), but their current form and home field advantage should prove decisive. The hosts are unbeaten in 9 of their last 10 home matches, while the visitors have lost all 6 of their last 10 away games with a combined goal difference of 4-19. Moreover, the change of coach and consultations with Lars Lagerbäck did not bring any positive effect to Sundsvall – three defeats in a row with a total score of 2:10.
