The season has started almost perfectly, and I have the sense that I might not be the only one who has at times had a dangerous feeling of their feet leaving the solid ground. Therefore I’m going to start this match preview by a simple reminder: so far in Vitonen we have won a team that had had almost no preseason training (Lammin Veto) and a team that is one of the strongest candidates for relegation (FC Rellu). The real tests are still to come.

Saturday’s opponent OldSchool is not exactly a candidate for promotion, but they might indeed be our biggest test yet this season. They have played seven consecutive seasons in Vitonen, and such a streak is no coincidence, but solid proof of their quality. In the past three seasons they have finished second, third, and most recently ninth. They wont be a pushover.

That said, if we play at our own level defensively, OldSchool will have a hard time scoring on us. A lot therefore depends on our ability to finish our own chances. Mika Kytöviita should again start as the striker at the peak, and a lot falls on his broad, bullish shoulders. Of course we have a lot of quality beyond him up top too, not that I want to give a list of five or more players here. We all know who they are.

The new signing

Osku Airesto will be in the lineup too. He will likely start on the bench, but hopefully we will get to see his first minutes for Tampere United in a competitive match. He had a good showing as a left back in the training match against Pelikassit about four weeks ago and has been training with the team since then. All indications are that he will be a solid defensive defender for us, another good option available for us while Ahmed Lakra is dealing with his injuries.

The venue is again the atmospheric Pyynikki Stadium, our last home match there until August. Kick off is set at 5.30 pm. Be there!