Eliteserien’s week 14 sees defending champions Molde face Valerenga in the opening fixture, while league leaders Bodoe/Glimt look to add another 3 points to their tally and stretch the gap between them and the teams behind them as they sit comfortably at the summit.
Saturday 15 July
Valerenga 26/10 | Draw 24/10 | Molde 17/20 (18:00)
Valerenga are hosting Molde in the opening fixture of the weekend. With the 0-0 away draw at Tromso, Valerenga snapped a four-game losing streak in the league but still remain winless since their 3-0 win over HamKam on 16 May.
Molde have won their last five home matches, extending their unbeaten run to three matches in the league after their 2-0 home win against Brann. A win is a must for the defending champions as they look to climb the table and put Valerenga to the sword. Molde to win.
Sunday 16 July
Aalesund 17/10 | Draw 39/20 | Odd 15/10 (17:00)
Aalesund find themselves in a difficult position, sitting bottom of the league standings. The 2-1 away defeat at HamKam last time out just made it that much harder to climb out of the relegation zone with just seven points after 13 matches.
Odds are winless in their last two fixtures and hope to get back to winning ways against the lowest ranked team in the league. A test of character will be on display from Odd as their away form has been far off the pace coming into this fixture. Both teams need to get back to winning ways, but Odds are the superior team coming into this fixture; back them to win.
Bodoe/Glimt 2/11 | Draw 56/10 | Haugesund 11/1 (17:00)
Bodoe/Glimt sit handsomely at the summit of the league standings and will welcome Haugesund to their home turf. Bodoe/Glimt went back to winning ways in their previous outing, following two winless matches, extending their unbeaten run to two matches as they look to further the gap between them and the teams around them.
Haugesund currently occupies 11th spot and come into this fixture on the back of a defeat to Viking in their previous fixture. Coach Jostein Grindhaug knows what a difficult task he has on his hands but must remain positive and ready for battle as another three points hang in the balance. Bodoe/Glimt to win and extend their gap at the top of the league standings.
Lillestrom 3/10 | Draw 38/10 | Sandefjord 7/1 (17:00)
Lillestrom is hosting Sandefjord at the Arasen Stadion in the city of Kjeller. With the 2-1 away win at Rosenborg, Lillestrom went back to winning ways following two winless matches in the league. Confidence will be flowing but still need to be cautious as they look to add to Sandefjord’s woes.
Sandefjord have recorded one win in their last five fixtures ahead of this encounter. A draw in their previous match brought Sandefjord’s winless run to three matches. Sandefjord have lost their last four away fixtures and need a strong performance in hopes of getting anything out of this fixture. There is a 10-point difference between these two teams which shows you that Lillestrom are clear favorites to win this fixture. Lillestrom are tipped to claim maximum points.
Rosenborg 21/20 | Draw 2/1 | Tromso 24/10 (17:00)
Rosenborg will host second place Tromso after a 2-1 home defeat against Lillestrom. Rosenborg are on a three-match losing run, making this an even bigger mountain to climb for Norwegian native Svein Maalen and his team. But will use home ground advantage to pull off an upset.
Tromso have extended their unbeaten run to six matches and did not concede any goal in their last two games in the league after their 0-0 home draw against Valerenga. Tromso have a chance to close the gap on the league leaders with a win away from home. Looking at the form of these two teams, I back Tromso to come out victorious.
Sarpsborg 4/10 | Draw 34/10 | HamKam 5/1 (17:00)
Sarpsborg prepare to face HamKam after a heavy away defeat to Stromgodset. The defeat ended a two-match unbeaten run for Sarpsborg but now have a chance to make it seven defeats in seven away matches for HamKam.
HamKam went back to winning ways following nine winless matches in the league after their 2-1 home win against Aalesund. HamKam have struggled to shut the back door and suffered the consequences by conceding two or more goals in each of their last six away games, making this a huge mountain to climb for the boys from the city of Hamar. Both teams have found it difficult to find any rhythm and consistency, and I back Sapsborg to brush HamKam off their feet in front of their home fans.
Stabaek 2/1 | Draw 22/10 | Viking 12/10 (17:00)
Stabaek welcome third place Viking to the Nadderud Stadion after a disappointing 0-0 draw to Sandefjord in their previous outing, bringing their winless run to five matches and failing to score in their last two games in the league.
Viking are on a four-match winning run in the league after their 2-0 home win against Haugesund. Confidence and belief will be at an all-time high for the players of Viking as they look to shorten the gap between them and the teams ahead of them. Viking are in hot form ahead of this fixture, I back them to win.
Brann 4/10 | Draw 36/10 | Stromsgodset 5/1 (19:15)
Brann complete the weekend’s fixtures with a meeting with in-form Stromsgodset. With the 2-0 away defeat at Molde, Brann have failed to find consistency, although their home record has been super strong and could be on course for another three points.
Stromsgodset are in red-hot form coming into this fixture following a four-match winning run in the league after their emphatic 5-2 home win against Sarpsborg. The form that Stromgodset found themselves in could be the difference on the day as they look to clinch all three points and make it five wins out of five. Not a lot between these two teams. It could be an exciting matchup to end this weekend’s fixtures and I back the away team to pull off an upset.
