Molde will be hoping that last weekend's victory signals the beginning of a turnaround as they prepare to host Eliteserien leaders Viking FK at Aker Stadion on Sunday.
After a difficult start to life under new head coach Per-Mathias Hogmo – appointed in January – the hosts are still searching for rhythm and stability as they take on the division's most in-form side.
Match preview
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Following a run of stuttering performances, Molde finally offered a glimpse of their true potential with a commanding 3-0 win over Brann in their previous outing.
Having lost three successive matches in all competitions, MFK knew a response was required and delivered just that with Fredrik Gulbrandsen opening the scoring inside 11 minutes before second-half goals from Kristian Eriksen and Veton Berisha wrapped up a much-needed result that lifted them into 10th place.
That victory was only Molde's third in the league this season and lifted them to 11 points from nine games, with two draws and four defeats, having scored and conceded 11 goals apiece.
Hogmo's men have managed back-to-back Eliteserien wins only once in the current campaign, and repeating that feat will be no straightforward task against opponents they have failed to overcome in their last two meetings — a 2-2 draw at Aker Stadion last June followed by a narrow 1-0 loss in Stavanger the following month.
Current form on their own turf offers little encouragement, with just one victory in Molde's last four league outings in front of their fans — a run that includes a 1-0 defeat to Kristiansund, while MFK's most recent home game was a painful 4-2 extra-time cup exit to the same opponents.
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After finishing third last term, Viking have made significant strides and are now regarded as genuine contenders for the top-flight crown.
The Dark Blues sit five points clear at the summit and travel north in sparkling form, boasting an unbeaten run of 12 games and a winning streak of six matches in all competitions following a thrilling 4-2 victory away to Bodo/Glimt last time out.
De Morkebla have amassed 26 points from their opening 11 league fixtures, recording eight wins, two draws and just one defeat — that solitary setback coming on the opening day against Valerenga.
Since that reverse, Viking have pieced together eight consecutive away victories across all competitions, including four in the Eliteserien, and have scored at least four goals in three of those matches, with the only exception being a gritty 1-0 win over Kristiansund.
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Team News
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Kristoffer Haugen lasted only 10 minutes for Molde in the previous outing before being forced off, and Samukelo Kabini, who replaced him on the day, could be handed a start in his place here.
The hosts may also continue to do without Daniel Daga, Markus Kaasa, Jalal Abdullai, Albert Posiadala, Caleb Zady Sery and Gustav Nyheim, while Martin Linnes remains a doubt as he could miss a third consecutive appearance.
Berisha and Mads Enggard were both sent off in the previous clash with Brann and will play no part this time — while the former did not start that encounter, Hogmo is likely to replace the latter in midfield with either Mats Moller Dæhli or Johan Bakke, who returned from injury last time around in a 13-minute cameo.
Gulbrandsen and Magnus Wolff Eikrem could once again be paired in a two-man frontline as the hosts look to inject more fluidity into their attacking setup.
The bench made all the difference for Viking in their win over Bodo/Glimt, with substitutes Zlatko Tripic, Sondre Bjorshol and Semen-Kvia Egeskog all chipping in with goals to turn the game on its head, so it would not come as a surprise if any of the trio were rewarded with a starting berth.
Kristoffer Klaesson returned between the sticks in midweek after sitting out the prior game, though Gianni Stensness, Nicholas D'Agostino and Martin Roseth remained unavailable – all likely to miss out once more.
Molde possible starting lineup:
Karlstrom; Stenevik, E. Haugan, Lund, Kabini; Eriksen, Breivik, Bakke, Hestad; Gulbrandsen, Eikrem
Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Klaessson; Heggheim, Baertelsen, Falchener, Vevatne; Bell; Austbo, Egeskog, Svendsen, Tripic; Christiansen
We say: Molde 2-2 Viking FK
This fixture has often delivered fireworks, with nine of the last 10 meetings producing at least four goals, and while Viking head into this one with wind in their sails, they have managed only one victory from their last four visits to Molde.
Two of the remaining three ended in score draws, so a repeat outcome would not be far-fetched.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
