Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Norwegian Eliteserien clash between Stromsgodset and SK Brann, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Fresh off the back of a brilliant display in the Conference League qualifiers, SK Brann journey to the Marienlyst Stadion to face Stromsgodset in round 18 of the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday.
Having failed to win any of their seven matches since the start of June, the hosts will head into the weekend in search of a pick-me-up as they look to rekindle their push for European qualification.
Match preview
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Stromsgodset failed to stop the rot as they suffered a somewhat disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Odd when the two sides squared off at the Skagerak Arena last Sunday.
After Filip Ronningen Jorgensen and Tobias Hammer Svendsen scored in a five-minute spell to give them a two-goal lead, Odd turned in an impressive defensive performance in the second half to see out just their fourth league win of the season.
Stromsgodset have now lost three games on the bounce and are without a win in seven back-to-back matches across all competitions, losing four and claiming three draws since a 3-1 victory over Sarpsborg on May 26.
This poor run of results has been owing to their struggles at the attacking end of the pitch, where Jorgen Isnes‘s men have scored just three goals in their last six Eliteserien matches while conceding eight since the start of June.
With last week’s result, Stromsgodset have now lost seven of their 16 league matches while claiming five wins and four draws to collect 19 points and sit eighth in the table, nine points adrift of the European qualifying places.
Brann, on the other hand, booked their spot in the Conference League third qualifying round courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles at the Brann Stadion on Thursday.
Having held on for a goalless draw in Netherlands, Brann had to dig deep in the return leg as Bard Finne and Fredrick Knudsen hit the target to cancel out Soren Tengstedt‘s second-minute opener to turn the game on its head in front of their home supporters.
Head coach Eirik Horneland will hope that Thursday’s victory can serve as a springboard for a fine run of form as his side return to action in the Eliteserien, where they have failed to win any of their last four matches, picking up just three points from the last 12 available.
Brann’s last league victory came on June 1, when they beat HamKam 2-1 at the Briskeby Stadium thanks to goals in either half from Joachim Soltvedt and 24-year-old forward Ole Didrik Blomberg.
The Bergens stolthet have picked up eight wins and six draws from their 17 Eliteserien matches so far to collect 30 points and sit third in the standings, seven points adrift of league leaders Bodo/Glimt.
While Brann will look to pick up where they left off against Go Ahead Eagles and find their feet in the league, they will have to be at their best at the Marienlyst Stadion, where they have lost each of their last four visits and are on a seven-game winless run since claiming a 4-1 victory in September 2014.
Stromsgodset Norwegian Eliteserien form:
Stromsgodset form (all competitions):
SK Brann Norwegian Eliteserien form:
SK Brann form (all competitions):
Team News
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Stromsgodset head into the weekend without the services of Norwegian defender Sondre Hassen, who has been out of action since picking up a back injury in April’s game against Valerenga.
Kosovan midfielder Kreshnik Krasniqi is also ruled out of this weekend’s clash as he is set to sit out his sixth straight game after coming off injured against Odd on June 2.
Ole Enersen continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a severe injury against Lillestrom in February and the 21-year-old forward is also out of contention for Sunday’s tie.
As for Brann, Horneland will be unable to name Niklas Wassberg and teenage defender Jonas Torsvik, who are currently recuperating from muscle and groin injuries respectively.
Moonga Simba has been sidelined since April through a severe injury while Svenn Crone is a doubt after missing the game against Go Ahead Eagles last time out through a groin problem.
Stromsgodset possible starting lineup:
Bratveit; Sormo, Valsvik, Dahl; Vilsvik, Stengel, Danso, Tomasson; Farji, Therkelsen, Mehnert
SK Brann possible starting lineup:
Dyngeland; Kristiansen, Knudsen, Larsen, Soltvedt; Kornvig, Opsahl, Myhre; Mathisen, Finne, Castro
We say: Stromsgodset 0-2 SK Brann
Buoyed by their victory in the Conference League qualifiers, Brann will head into Sunday’s tie with sky-high confidence as they look to break their Marienlyst Stadion hoodoo.
Stromsgodset’s form is currently nothing to write home about and we are backing the Bergens stolthet to come away with a narrow victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.