Hässleholms IF vs Trollhättan - Ettan - Södra

The Ettan - Södra returns to the home ground on September 20, 2026, where Hässleholms IF and Trollhättan will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. How smooth can you be when receiving the ball, how quickly can you move from the back foot, hips open, face forward and find quality with the pass.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Ettan - Södra contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. Hässleholms IF have held their own of late, WL in their last five reflecting a steady win rate of 59.09%. Trollhättan have struggled to string results together away from home, WWWLL over their last five with a win rate of 36.36%. Goals could be in short supply or plentiful — Hässleholms IF average 1.95 per game to Trollhättan's 1.64, and that gap may dictate the rhythm of the contest. The on-loan Southampton striker had scored on his debut for Auxerre in defeat last weekend but followed it up with the winning goal against Nice to earn his old boss Will Still his first points in the job.

How the two sides approach the contest strategically will be key. Hässleholms IF will want to control proceedings in front of their own supporters, while Trollhättan will back themselves to cause problems on the break. His passing display at the World Cup was yet more evidence of his suitability for City and the possession-heavy style Maresca favours.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. But this is still £10m short of what Etihad bosses are demanding for the World Cup winner, having originally stated they wanted at least £60m for the midfielder.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 2-2 draw feels like a fitting result. With positions in the Ettan - Södra table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. The 22-year-old was likely quite high up on the list of United's midfield targets and potentially even higher after Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga blows.