JJK Jyväskylä began the month of April by competing in the final of the Liigacup against FC Inter Turku. The competition provided a competitive warm up for the players of Veikkausliiga clubs ahead of the new season, which started in April, following the final. Suomen Cup action for Finland's top clubs also went underway in what was a busy month on the pitch for Christian Schäfer's team.
Results
3-0 Win vs FC Inter Turku (N), Liigacup Final - 01/04/2026 Attendance: 670
Having never won the trophy before, JJK were expected to concede defeat to FC Inter Turku, who were heavily backed to win the trophy. However, Christian Schäfer's team were well-prepared and proved to be tactically secure against an unsuspecting FC Inter. Mikael Luostarinen broke the deadlock for JJK late on in the first half, and Genc Kovaqi doubled their advantage just before half-time. FC Inter fought desperately to break back in to the team, but their efforts proved futile as JJK stood firm. With the clock running down in stoppage time, there was time for one more goal for JJK as Aleksis Lehtonen, who was filling in for the injured Antto Hilska, scored to secure a rampant victory in the final.
Genc Kovaqi (JJK) - 9.0/10
1-0 Win vs FC Lahti (H), Veikkausliiga - 12/04/2026 Attendance: 2,493
Christian Schäfer's JJK began their Veikkausliiga with an inspiring home victory over the much-favoured FC Lahti, although the fixture did little to settle the supporters' nerves ahead of a relegation-battling campaign. Both sides had their fair share of chances to score, but it was JJK's Genc Kovaqi who scored the decisive goal before half time as he tucked a low shot in to the bottom left corner following intricate build-up play in the middle of the park.
Genc Kovaqi (JJK) - 7.5/10
0-1 Loss vs SJK (A), Veikkausliiga - 19/04/2026 Attendance: 2,767
Following a promising start to the season, JJK's players and fans were brought back down to earth as they suffered defeat at the hands of SJK. It was a very evenly-matched contest on the pitch, and it took a jaw-dropping goal to separate the two sides. Vesa Ahvenkoski delivered the killing blow early on in the second half as he dispatched a low driven free-kick from all of thirty-five yards which bounced twice before beating JJK's goalkeeper and finding the bottom corner. It truly was a sensational goal, and a worthy winner of any fixture.
Vesa Ahvenkoski (SJK) - 8.5/10
3-2 (ET) Win vs KuPS (H), Suomen Cup 6th Round - 22/04/2026 Attendance: 2,057
If ever there was a game to settle the nerves of the fans, this was not it. The third Väli-Suomi derby of 2026 was a thrilling one, with 120 minutes of play and five goals. JJK's captain Saku Leppänen opened the scoring in the second half with a superb volley from inside the box, but KuPS' star striker Ansu Sherrif leveled the score a minute later with a clever turn and low shot after being put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Iiro Järvinen restored JJK's lead with fifteen minutes to go, but Toni Länsimies had other ideas, as KuPS equalised once more, just minutes after Järvinen's strike. The game was brought to extra time to attempt to separate the two sides, and full-back Anselmi Nurmela managed to do so in spectacular fashion. On the right flank and just in to the opposition half, Nurmela spotted KuPS' keeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob. His effort creeped under the crossbar and in to the far corner to deliver the killer blow in the derby, and in spectacular fashion.
Topias Tammelin (JJK) - 8.4/10
1-1 Draw vs HIFK Fotboll (H), Veikkausliiga - 26/04/2026 Attendance: 2,261
Exhausted from their Suomen Cup exhertions mid-week, JJK players may have found themselves guilty of complacency in a game which they should have won. Genc Kovaqi headed home Niko Markkula's deep cross to give the home side the lead with twenty-five minutes remaining. It should have been a victory for JJK, but defensive complacency with just minutes remaining allowed the away team to level the game.
Jari Räsänen (HIFK Fotboll) - 8.2/10
1-0 Win vs TPS (A), Veikkausliiga - 30/04/2026 Attendance: 1,774
JJK were back to winning ways in the league following a fruitful trip to TPS. Having conducted extensive research on the opposition, Christian Schäfer opted to begin the game with his team lining up in a defensive 5-4-1 structure, holding possession of the ball and providing no avenue of attack to the opposition. Following seventy minutes of frustrating the home side, Schäfer changed the shape of his team and brought on three fresh attackers in order to land a killing blow on a tired and nervy opposition. Joona Itkonen provided the goal as he scored a powerful header from Mikael Luostarinen's corner.
Joona Itkonen (JJK) - 8.0/10
Player Of The Month
Joona Itkonen produced a very solid month of football in defence. While he primarily played as a left back over the course of the month, he played in central defence in a back row of five defenders against TPS. His goal in the game proved to be a decisive winner, and one which appeared to lift the morale of the team significantly.
Joona Itkonen's Season Stats:
Overview
Appearances: 11
Goals: 1 (1,016 minutes per goal)
Assists: 0
MotM Awards: 1
Attacking Play
Shots On Target Ratio: 40% (2/5)
Dribbles Completed: 10 (0.89 per game)
Key Passes: 12 (1.09 per game)
Cross Completion Ratio: 7.69% (2/26)
Defensive Play
Key Tackles: 2 (0.18 per game)
Tackles Won Ratio: 87.5% (28/32)
Interceptions: 128 (11.64 per game)
Mistakes: 25 (2.27 per game)
|
Disciplinary Record
Fouls Committed: 14 (1.27 per game)
Fouls Against: 0
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
General Play
Pass Completion Ratio: 71% (415/581)
Headers Won: 88 (8 per game)
Distance Covered: 11.45km per game
Key Moments: 15 (1.36 per game)
Matches Won Ratio: 64% (7/11)
Average Rating: 7.32
Assistant Manager's Report
Current Ability: ![]()
Potential Ability: ![]()
|
Veikkausliiga
A mixed, but equally impressive, month for JJK saw them in a very respectable fourth place after their opening four league games. With seven points between themselves and the single relegation spot of the division, Christian Schäfer was sure to focus on closing the gap between JJK and those above them in the league, rather than looking behind him to hold the gap between themselves and last-placed KTP.
JJK Jyväskylä News
JJK Jyväskylä announced an affiliation with Finnish Second Division East team FC Kiffen 08. Nicknamed
'Mustat hurmurit', FC Kiffen 08 play their football in Helsinki. The main objective behind the affiliation was for JJK to be able to loan players to Kiffen without any difficulty, so that these players could gain experience playing at a senior, but lower, level.
May Fixtures
May promised another busy month of football for JJK. It promised seven Veikkausliiga fixtures, including 2026's fourth addition of the Väli-Suomir derby against KuPS, and a trip to league contenders HJK at the end of the month. JJK were also drawn against HJK in the Suomen Cup quarter final, and would face the Helsinki giants mid-month in this tie.