Elfsborg and Esbjerg will face off in a crucial Europa League matchup on Thursday.
Danish side Esbjerg sits in second place in the group with three points in two matches while Elfsborg is in last place with a draw and one loss. Elfsborg lost 4-0 in its first game against Red Bull Salzburg before drawing at home with Standard Liege. Esbjerg defeated Liege but lost against Salzburg in its opening two matches.
A win here would keep Esbjerg in the race for the top spot in the group, especially if Red Bull Salzburg fails to defeat Standard Liege at home. A draw would potentially hold the team back if Salzburg wins while a loss would be most detrimental of all in its hopes of finishing second. Elfsborg could jump past Esbjerg into second place if it manages a win.
This is the first meeting between the two clubs. Elfsborg has played four games against Danish competition and has managed an even record of one win, two draws and one loss. Meanwhile Esbjerg has only played against Swedish competition in the European Champion Club's Cup back in 1980-81. The team managed a 3-2 win and 0-0 against Halmstads BK.
Prediction: Elfsborg is off to a poor start in this tournament and is the underdog against the Danish side. The team did manage a draw at home and should be happy knowing that it has the comfort of a home crowd; however, the Danish team has looked solid to start the tournament and will be hungry for points. Look for Esbjerg to win 2-0 on Thursday.
Start Time: 3 p.m. EST