Eliteserien leaders Viking FK will welcome rivals Bodo/Glimt to Lyse Arena on Saturday in what could be a defining moment in the title race.

Viking’s 3-1 defeat against Brann on July 13 means they come into the weekend’s match with 36 points, 10 more than fourth-placed visitors Bodo, who beat Fredrikstad 1-0 on Wednesday and have three games in hand on the home side.

Match preview

The hosts failed to create a single big chance against Brann – facing three – and they did not produce a shot on target until the early stages of the second half.

Viking are the division’s leadings scorers having netted 40 times, but they only scored four goals in their past five games.

Manager Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim’s side are still six points ahead of second-placed Brann, but the boss will know that his team have to defy recent history to stay at the summit given they have not won the title since 1991.

The Dark Blues have lost their last two fixtures – one being in the Eliteserien – but they avoided defeat in their prior 19 outings, winning 16 times in that period.

It should be noted that the hosts’ record at Lyse Arena is phenomenal given they are unbeaten in their eight home matches this term, achieving six victories in those games.

Bodo defended well for large periods against Fredrikstad, though they could have easily conceded an equaliser in the closing stages considering Stian Stray Molde missed a golden opportunity from close range in the 92nd minute.

The visitors’ clean sheet was their fourth in six matches, and their record of 0.8 goals conceded per game is the best in the top flight.

Boss Kjetil Knutsen will hope his team can avenge their 4-2 loss earlier this season against Viking, when they conceded three times in the final 20 minutes and squandered a 2-1 advantage.

Superlaget are unbeaten in their past three matches – winning two – and they also triumphed in two of their prior three while losing just once.

Bodo’s away record is mixed, as while they emerged as victors in two of their last three fixtures on their travels, they were defeated in their previous three on the road.

Viking FK Norwegian Eliteserien form:

Viking FK form (all competitions):

Bodo/Glimt Norwegian Eliteserien form:

Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions):

Team News

With centre-back Gianni Stensness ruled out for Viking, Anders Baertelsen and Henrik Saelebakke Falchener will almost certainly be selected.

Defensive midfielder Joe Bell could support number eights Jakob Segadal Hansen and Kristoffer Askildsen.

Though winger Nicholas D'Agostino is unavailable, Aarsheim will still be able to call upon Sander Svendsen and Zlatko Tripic.

As for Bodo, key midfielder Patrick Berg is injured, so perhaps Anders Klynge, Sondre Auklend and Ulrik Saltnes will play together in the middle of the pitch.

Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin could be shielded by a backline consisting of Fredrik Sjovold, Odin Luras Bjortuft, Jostein Gundersen and Fredrik Andre Bjorkan.

Striker Kasper Hogh blanked in front of goal when his side last played, but he will hope that forwards Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen can provide him with enough chances to score from.

Viking FK possible starting lineup:

Klaesson; Heggheim, Baertelsen, Falchener, Auklend; Hansen, Bell, Askildsen; Svendsen, Christiansen, Tripic

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:

Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Klynge, Auklend, Saltnes; Evjen, Hogh, Hauge

We say: Viking FK 1-1 Bodo/Glimt

Though Viking have been impressive in the final third, Bodo have been similarly impressive at the back.

The weekend’s game could be a tense affair, with both sides knowing that three points will be significant in the title race, but it would not be surprising if the clubs had to settle for a draw.

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

Written by
Lewis Nolan

Previews by email