Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Norwegian Eliteserien clash between Fredrikstad and Molde, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Molde will be bidding to make it three straight wins in the Eliteserien when they continue their campaign away to Fredrikstad on Saturday afternoon.
The visitors, who are third in the table, will enter the contest off the back of a 3-0 victory over Lillestrom, while fifth-placed Fredrikstad suffered a 3-1 defeat to Kristiansund last time out.
Match preview
Fredrikstad have won six, drawn four and lost three of their 13 league matches this season to collect 22 points, which has left them in fifth position in the table, five points behind third-placed Molde with a game in hand.
Aristokratene have performed above expectations this season considering that they only secured promotion back to the top flight last term by winning the Norwegian First Division.
Mikkjal Thomassen‘s side were last victorious in the Eliteserian towards the end of May, recording a 4-0 victory over Lillestrom, and they have only picked up two points from their last four matches.
Fredrikstad will enter the contest off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Kristiansund, but they have performed better on their travels this term than at home, with 14 of their 22 points coming away from their own stadium.
The Red Shorts have not actually tackled Molde in Norway’s top flight since October 2009, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat on home soil.
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Molde are five-time Eliteserien champions, with their last success coming in 2022, but they finished a disappointing fifth in the top flight last term.
MFK have won eight, drawn three and lost three of their 14 league matches this season to collect 27 points, which has left them third in the table, six points behind the leaders Bodo/Glimt.
Erling Moe‘s side will enter this match in strong form, having won three and drawn one of their last four league matches, including victories in their last two against Tromso and Lillestrom.
Molde have been strong on their travels this season, picking up 13 points from six matches, but Fredrikstad have lost just once in front of their own fans in the league this term.
The visitors will be the favourites to triumph on Saturday afternoon, but surprise package Fredrikstad are certainly capable of making it a difficult afternoon for the Norwegian giants.
Fredrikstad Norwegian Eliteserien form:
Molde Norwegian Eliteserien form:
Team News
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Fredrikstad will be unable to call upon Morten Bjorlo on Saturday, as the midfielder is suspended due to the red card that he picked up in the team’s last match with Kristiansund.
Brandur Henriksson could be the player to benefit, but it might otherwise be an unchanged side.
Jeppe Kjaer and Joannes Bjartalid are out of the contest due to injury problems, but the home side have not picked up any fresh fitness issues.
As for Molde, Fredrik Gulbrandsen and Oliver Petersen are out of the match due to injuries, while Veton Berisha is again expected to be unavailable for selection.
Kristian Eriksen has been in excellent form this season, finding the back of the net on 15 occasions in 31 appearances, and the 28-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field.
Magnus Wolff Eikrem has also managed double figures this term, netting 11 times in all competitions, and the 33-year-old is another certainty for the visitors this weekend.
Fredrikstad possible starting lineup:
Fischer; Woledzi, Kvile, Aukland; Rafn, Magnusson, Metcalfe, Hendriksson, Molde; Sorlokk, Johansen
Molde possible starting lineup:
Posiadala; Amudsen, Oyvann, Lund; Lunnes, Daehli, Kaasa, Breivik, Lovik; Eriksen, Eikrem
We say: Fredrikstad 1-2 Molde
Fredrikstad are more than capable of picking up a positive result in this contest, and it would not be a shock to see a draw this weekend, but we just have a feeling that Molde will be able to navigate their way to an important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.