With weather, wind, and artificial turf on their side, Elfsborg have impressed at home at Borås Arena in the European Championship this season.
Just in time for Thursday, the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute has issued yellow warnings for snowfall in, among other places, central and northern Götaland.
The hope is that the late January evening in Borås can be a shock even for French Nice.
Yes, it's clear. They're not at all used to this, so we hope to be able to take advantage of both the weather and the artificial turf to our advantage. Hopefully, it will take energy from them, says Niklas Hult to TT.
"My first foreign club"
Over ten years ago, the 34-year-old veteran swapped Elfsborg for Nice on the French Riviera. He spent two seasons there.
It's my first foreign club, so of course, you have special memories and feelings for Nice. But it's been many years, so there are no players left there now, he says.
After winning at home against Roma and Qarabag, as well as drawing against Braga, Elfsborg are hanging on to a spot in the playoffs when the European Championship's new league format is decided with two matches in two weeks.
24 out of 36 teams will advance to the playoffs. If Elfsborg – currently 25th – are to be one of the teams that get to continue, at least one win will be required against Nice or Tottenham.
MFF forced to win
Meanwhile, the Borås team has not played a competitive match since the 1–0 win against Qarabag in mid-December.
It's not possible to simulate competitive matches, so it's going to be special when the other teams are in full season. But I think it feels like we're completely ready. It's up to proof tomorrow, says Niklas Hult.
In a similar situation is Malmö FF.
It's true that we've had a little break. At the same time, we've trained really well and prepared ourselves physically and mentally, says Erik Botheim at MFF's press conference on Wednesday.
Malmö – who have so far scraped together four points – will take on Dutch Twente on Thursday and are forced to win to have a chance to reach the playoffs.
Getting a match like this in January is wonderful. We're ready, says Botheim.
Elfsborg
Played matches: 6
Points: 7
League position: 25 out of 36 (24 teams advance)
Remaining matches:
23 January: Elfsborg-Nice.
30 January: Tottenham-Elfsborg.
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Malmö FF
Played matches: 6
Points: 4
League position: 31 out of 36 (24 teams advance)
Remaining matches:
23 January: Malmö FF-Twente.
30 January: Slavia Prag-Malmö FF.
