Viking FK take on Bodo/Glimt in a top-of-the-table Norwegian Eliteserien clash at the SR-Bank Arena on Sunday evening.
The hosts are second in the table, having taken 35 points from 16 games, while the visitors are in first place, currently on 41 points.
Match preview
After finishing 11th in the Eliteserien last season, Viking FK have really managed to kick on this term, currently sitting just six points behind Sunday's opponents, with a game in hand at their disposal.
The Dark Blues have shot up the table over the last couple of months, having been on a fantastic run of form, winning their last seven league games to cement their place as challengers for the title.
Having scored 36 goals so far this season, Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim's side are the division's third-top scorers, and they have also started to improve defensively in recent weeks, keeping clean sheets in three out of their last four games.
Last time out, Viking picked up yet another impressive victory, defeating Brann 2-0 away from home courtesy of goals from Sondre Bjorshol and Niklas Sandberg, but they face a significantly tougher test this weekend.
In their last seven matches against Sunday's opponents, the Dark Blues have won just once, and they were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture earlier this season, losing 5-1 at Aspmyra Stadion.
Indeed, Bodo/Glimt blitzed Tromso back in May, and they have been very impressive for the entire season, currently sitting six points clear at the top of the table, in a very strong position to win their first league title since 2021.
Having scored 43 goals so far this season, the Yellow Horde are the top scorers in the division, and they have the second-best defensive record, conceding just 18 goals in 17 games.
However, Kjetil Knutsen's side did slip up in their last Eliteserien match, losing 2-0 at home against Tromso IL at the end of July to blow the title race wide open, with their opposition that day now sitting eight points behind them in the table, with a game in hand.
As such, Bodo/Glimt will be determined to get to winning ways in the league this weekend, and they head into the game fresh off the back of a victory, winning 4-2 against Bohemians to progress in Europa Conference League qualifying on Thursday night.
Team News
Given that Viking are on a seven-game winning streak, there is unlikely to be too many changes this weekend, but Sandberg could replace Sander Svendsen at right-wing, having scored after being brought on as a substitute against Brann.
The only notable absentees for the hosts are Jost Urbancic, who has not made a single appearance so far this season, and Gianni Stensness, with the defender missing the last seven games due to a knee injury.
Bodo/Glimt manager Knutsen has almost an entirely fully-fit squad, but forward Nino Zugelj remains sidelined due to an injury which has ruled him out of the last five matches, meaning Sondre Sorli should get the nod at right-wing.
Striker Faris Moumbagna missed the last league match, but after scoring against Bohemians on Thursday night, the Cameroonian is poised to return to the starting lineup.
Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Gunnarsson; Bjorshol, Brekalo, Diop, Pattynama; Tangen, Solbakken, Yazbek; Sandberg, Tripic, Salvesen
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Wembangomo, Bjortuft, Lode, Bjorkan; Fet, Berg, Gronbaek; Sorli, Pellegrino, Moumbagna
We say: Viking FK 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
Viking FK are in very impressive form, having won their last seven league games, and they have proven they could be capable of taking something from the game against the league leaders this weekend.
However, Bodo/Glimt are top of the table for a reason, and they have won seven of their eight matches away from home so far this season, so we expect them to pick up an important victory on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
