Aberdeen’s Euro opponents BK Hacken extended their league winning streak to four games with a 1-0 away defeat of IFK Norrkoping.
The Swedish side will face the Dons at Pittodrie in the Uefa Europa Conference League on Thursday in hot form, having racked up another win in the Allsvenskan.
BK Hacken were rock-bottom of the Swedish top flight when Aberdeen landed the Gothenburg outfit in the draw for the second qualifying round.
They had won their final game before the Swedish summer break, when they changed manager, appointing former Norway national boss Per-Mathias Hogmo.
Since his arrival, Hogmo has engineered a major revival in fortunes with BK Hacken winning three Allvenskan games to jump up to eighth in the table.
God morgen! 🇳🇴🐝 pic.twitter.com/8wkyLoTxdj
— BK Häcken (@bkhackenofcl) July 19, 2021
BK Hacken’s recent form indicates the Swedish side will be a far tougher proposition than their previous league position may have indicated.
Debut for former Torino midfielder
Recent signing Samuel Gustafson also made his BK Hacken debut in the win at IFK Norrkoping.
The 26-year-old former Swedish U21 international midfielder was signed from Italian side Cremonese last week, having spent three seasons at Serie A side Torino.
Gustafson, who was introduced as a second half substitute, is in contention to start against Aberdeen at Pittodrie where there will be 5,665 supporters.
The win at IFK Norrkoping also marked the return of Swedish international attacking midfielder Delaho Irandust from injury.
Irnandust was introduced as a substitute in the 67th minute and scored the only goal of the game four minutes later with a sensational strike.
Leo Bengtsson stod för ett av fjolårets snyggaste mål när han avgjorde bortamatchen mot IFK Norrköping. Får vi se ett nytt drömmål från ”Bjässen” idag? pic.twitter.com/7GS6YrKHlM
— BK Häcken (@bkhackenofcl) July 18, 2021
Having adopted a 4-3-3 formation in his previous games, manager Hogmo switched to a 4-4-2 set-up for the trip to IFK Norrkoping.
The two strikers were Leo Bengtsson and Ali Youssef, who had netted in each of the last two games.
Swedish international striker Alexander Jeremejeff dropped to the bench.
BK Hacken struggled to impose their presence in the first half, although winger Patrik Walemark hit the post.
Stort tack till alla er som var på plats i Norrköping idag! 💛
Ni hänger väl med oss hela sommaren och hösten? Köp ditt årskort! 👇https://t.co/bj85idzUcq pic.twitter.com/sXOfn3CJCk
— BK Häcken (@bkhackenofcl) July 18, 2021
In the second half, returning attacking midfielder Irandust picked up a pass from Gustav Berggren in midfield before driving towards the edge of the penalty area.
He then fired a superb left-footed 20-yard rocket beyond the keeper.
In injury time, Swedish international full-back Martin Olsson picked up two quick-fire yellow cards within a minute and was dismissed.
Hogmo confident of squad strength
Manager Hogmo was delighted to have Irandust back and available to face Aberdeen.
Hogmo said: “Every fight has its challenge and its opportunities.
“Now we have got three players back in Leo (Bengtsson), Daleho (Irandust) and Benie (Traore) and in addition Samuel (Gustafson) has joined the squad.
“This means that we have more opportunities in the starting eleven, but also to make changes during the match.
“We are now entering a phase with five matches in two weeks, so it is positive that we have a broad squad.”
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