Tromso IL welcome newly-promoted Valerenga Fotball to Alfheim Stadion for a Norwegian Eliteserien fixture on Saturday afternoon.
While the in-form hosts are bidding to win a fourth match in a row, the visitors are hoping to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
Featured betting offer: 50/1 on either side to win the Champions League final
If you're reading this preview, you're no doubt aware that Europe's biggest club game takes place on Saturday night, with PSG and Inter doing battle for the Champions League title.
Whoever you fancy to win, licensed UK bookies Betano have got you covered. They're giving out odds of 50/1 on either side to win the match, when you sign up for a new account ahead of kick-off.
Get 50/1 on PSG or Inter at Betano
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet max £1 on Paris Saint-Germain OR Inter Milan - Match Betting - 90mins by 20:00 on 31.05.2025. Get enhanced odds paid in Free Bets, 7 days expiry. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Commercial disclaimer: Clicking on the link above may result in us receiving a payment for referring you.
Match preview
© Iconsport
After plummeting from third place in 2023 to 13th in 2024, Tromso have accumulated 13 points from their opening eight Eliteserien matches this term and sit seventh in the table, seven points behind the top there with two games in hand.
The Boys began the month of May in disappointing fashion as they suffered back-to-back 1-0 home defeats, losing to Sanderfjord in the top flight and to KFUM in the third round of the NM Cupen.
However, Jorgen Vik's side gained their revenge over KFUM in the Eliteserien just three days later, winning 3-1 on the road, and they have since extended their winning run courtesy of 2-1 and 1-0 successes over reigning champions Bodo/Glimt and Sarpsborg 08 respectively, beating the latter away from home last weekend.
Tromso are now aiming to win four top-flight fixtures in a row for the first time since July/August 2023, but success on Saturday is not a given as they have failed to win any of their last three competitive encounters with Valerenga (D2 L1).
Valerenga required extra time in their most recent 1-0 win over Tromso in the third round of the NM Cupen in May last year. However, in this season's cup competition, they were stunned by fourth-tier outfit Gamle Oslo, losing 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
After winning the second division title last season, Enga have since picked up 11 points across their opening nine Eliteserien fixtures (W3 D2 L4) and sit 11th in the table, five points above the bottom three and just two points behind Tromso in seventh.
Geir Bakke's men failed to win any of their first three games in May, but that winless run came to an end on Monday when they secured a slender 1-0 away victory over 10-man KFUM, thanks to a second-half strike from 19-year-old Filip Thorvaldsen - the first of his career in the Eliteserien.
Valerenga have won two of their last three away league matches, but they head into Saturday's contest without a victories in their previous four visits to Tromso (D3 L1) - a 4-2 success in June 2017 represents their last league win away against The Boys.
Team News
© Imago
Tromso currently have a clean bill of health and Vik is seemingly unlikely to make too any changes, if any, to his starting lineup following three wins on the bounce.
August Mikkelsen is in danger of losing his place up front, though, having failed to score in any of his nine appearances in the 2025 campaign. Daniel Braut has also drawn a blank in eight league games this term, but he has netted five times in just three cup outings and will be pushing for a start on Saturday.
As for Valerenga, Henrik Bjordal remains out with a knee injury, while Magnus Riisnaes was available to return from suspension last time out, but the 20-year-old was not involved amid speculation about his future, and the Bodo/Glimt-linked midfielder is a doubt once again this weekend.
Brice Ambina, Elias Hagen and Carl Lange could all keep their spots in the middle of the pitch, while Muamer Brajanac will hope to continue up front, even though he has scored only one goal in his first 10 games this season
Tromso IL possible starting lineup:
Haugaard; Skjaervik, Guddal, Kinteh; Cornic, Edvardsson, Jenssen, Hjerto-Dahl, Norheim; Braut, Erlien
Valerenga Fotball possible starting lineup:
Storevik; Hedenstad, Olsen, Jarl, Nogueira; Hagen, Ambina, Lange; Thorvaldsen, Brajanac, Sorensen
We say: Tromso IL 2-1 Valerenga Fotball
Both teams enter this weekend's clash on the back of claiming maximum points last time out, but it is Tromso who will be regarded as favourites and they should find a way to outscore Valerenga en route to another victory, albeit a potentially narrow one in a closely-contested battle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
