Preview: Lillestrom vs. Sandefjord - prediction, team news, lineups

Lillestrom will be aiming to quickly bounce back from the departure of their former head coach Geir Bakke when they host Sandejford on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, must avoid defeat at worst if they are to have any chance of moving outside of the relegation zone this weekend.

Match preview

Having finished fourth for two seasons running since bouncing back from Norway's second tier at the first attempt in 2020, Lillestrom will be hoping to make their games in hand count by moving up the table across the coming weeks.

However, Bakke - who had been in charge during the club's promotion campaign, as well as their recent strong seasons in the Eliteserien - surprisingly left for Valerenga Futbol earlier this week, leaving Simon Mesfin and former Liverpool defender Frode Kippe to share interim duties.

Lillestrom had returned to winning ways in dramatic fashion in Bakke's last match in charge, with Akor Adams equalising against Rosenborg in the 85th minute, before the forward snatched all three points in the second minute of injury time.

Mesfin and Kippe will be hoping his players can build on this victory by backing it up against their relegation-threatened opponents, but they must avoid becoming distracted by the club's surprising developments behind the scenes.

Sandejford, meanwhile, are aiming to avoid relegation once again after overcoming Kongsvinger 5-2 on aggregate in last season's relegation playoffs.

Hvalfangerne avoided automatic relegation by a solitary point, but they eased their fears by thrashing their second tier opponents 4-0 in the first leg at Release Arena.

Andreas Tegstrom and Hans Erik Odegaard, who is the father of Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, continue to share head coaching duties at the club, and they appear to be set for another relegation battle given that they find themselves sitting third from bottom once again.

Having lost five of their previous six matches prior to hosting Stabaek last time out, Tegstrom and Odegaard Senior may have been content with seeing their side play out a goalless draw, and they would likely settle for a similar result on Sunday.

Team News

Lillestrom will be without Espen Garnas due to suspension after the defender received another booking during his side's sensational win against Rosenborg, with Kristoffer Tonnessen likely to replace him.

Martin Ove Roseth is likely to remain out of action due to a neck issue, but Lars Ranger could return to the hosts' starting XI after only being used from the bench last time out.

Sandejford, meanwhile, appear to have a clean bill of health at present, providing their joint-managers with plenty of options to mix things up should they desire to.

However, after keeping their first clean sheet in seven games and generally performing to a decent standard in their last match, the visitors may go with an unchanged side for this one.

Lillestrom possible starting lineup:

Christiansen; Tonnessen, Gabrielsen, Skjaervik; Ranger, Ibrahimaj, Hoff, Asen, Dragsnes; Olsen, Adams

Sandefjord possible starting lineup:

Keto; Loftesnes-Bjune, Taaje, Foss, Smeulers; Ayer, Ottosson, Nilsson; Koomson, Tveter, Al-Saed

We say: Lillestrom 1-0 Sandefjord

Sandejford will likely be aiming to keep things tight once again after their goalless draw last time out, with avoiding defeat likely to be their main target from this match.

However, while Lillestrom face uncertainty off the pitch, they should be full of confidence after coming from behind to beat Rosenborg last time out, and we can envisage them claiming another tight victory.

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