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Sports Mole previews Friday's Norwegian Eliteserien clash between Fredrikstad and Stromsgodset, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Fredrikstad will be hoping to gain ground in the Eliteserien's race for Europe when they take on struggling Stromsgodset at Fredrikstad Stadion on Friday.

Aristokratene are looking to get back on track after failing to win their last two matches, while Godset will be desperate to stop the rot this week.

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Match preview

Andreas Hagen's Fredrikstad recorded an eight-game unbeaten streak between early April and mid-May, but having won just one of their 10 fixtures since - losing six and drawing three - they are slipping down the rankings.

On Sunday, Aristokratene were held to a 1-1 stalemate by relegation-threatened HamKam, and the manager will be concerned that their 4-2 triumph over Molde on July 12 seems to have been a one-off result.

Drawing at the weekend has left Hagen's side eighth in the table with 22 points, level with seventh-placed Sarposborg 08 but seven shy of fourth-placed Bodo/Glimt, who occupy the division's spot for entry into the Conference League qualifiers.

If the hosts are to re-establish themselves as a top-four contender on Friday, then they will need to overcome their dire home form after losing three, drawing one and winning just one of their last five games on their own turf, and fans will be longing for a return to the type of play that earned their team four consecutive victories at the start of the season.

Three points this week could lift Fredrikstad up to sixth, leapfrogging Sarpsborg and Sandefjord in the process, but another disappointing defeat would give ninth-placed Kristiansund the chance to go level with Aristokratene.

Meanwhile, Dag-Eilev Fagermo's Stromsgodset are in worse shape than their faltering opponents ahead of this clash, and will be low on confidence off the back of a nine-game losing run.

This past Saturday, Godset followed up their narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of title-challengers Tromso by being thrashed 4-1 on the road to Molde, though while the results were frustrating, the boss could take heart from the fact that his team netted three goals in two games after failing to score in any of their previous four.

Walking away empty-handed once again caused Fagermo's men to fall further behind HamKam in the relegation playoff spot, and their tally of six points has them 15th in the table, eight short of a chance at safety.

The visitors are undoubtedly the underdogs in this fixture, but the fact that they have earned all of their points on the road this season could offer fans some hope this week, especially given that they are up against another struggling club.

An unlikely first victory since late April could give Stromsgodset a small glimmer of hope, but defeat would mark their tenth loss on the bounce, and may see them fall a near-insurmountable 11 away from potential survival.

Fredrikstad Norwegian Eliteserien form:

Stromsgodset Norwegian Eliteserien form:

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Team News

Fredrikstad will be without the versatile Benjamin Thoresen Faraas, who has been dealing with a lower leg injury, as well as centre-back Sigurd Kvile, who is recovering from a back issue.

In their absence, expect to see Simen Rafn, Ulrik Fredriksen and Maxwell Woledzi line up at centre-half, while Rocco Robert Shein starts on the right-hand side of midfield, and Oskar Ohlenschlaeger makes the XI up top.

As for Stromsgodset, they will be missing a number of attacking players on Friday, including wingers Jostein Ekeland and Eirik Ulland Andersen, and striker Elias Melkersen.

In their places, Marko Farji should start on the right flank, with Gustav WIkheim on the left and Alie Conteh at centre-forward.

Elsewhere, Gustav Valsvik will captain the side from the heart of Fagermo's defence, where he and Jesper Taaje will be protecting goalkeeper Per Kristian Bratveit between the sticks.

Fredrikstad possible starting lineup:

Fischer; Metcalfe, Rafn, Fredriksen, Woledzi, Molde; Shein, Owusu, Sorlokk; Ohlenschlaeger, Holten 

Stromsgodset possible starting lineup:

Bratveit; Sormo, Taaje, Valsvik, Dahl; Farsi, Bakke, Stengel, Ardraa, Wikheim; Conteh

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We say: Fredrikstad 1-1 Stromsgodset

 

Fredrikstad have struggled over the past two months, and despite coming up against one of the favourites for relegation, they may have to settle for a point this week.

Stromsgodset are in disastrous form themselves, but having improved their goalscoring with three goals in their last two matches, they could avoid a 10th consecutive defeat on Friday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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