Bodo/Glimt will look to strengthen their position at the top of the Eliteserien table when they play host to FK Haugesund on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the visitors occupy 11th place in the standings with just 12 goals to their name, making them clear underdogs for the fixture at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Match preview

Sitting eight points clear of the chasing pack after just 14 matches, the perception may be that Bodo/Glimt are already cantering towards a third league title in four years.

However, just four points have been accumulated from their most recent three outings, with Kjetil Knutsen's side ending a two-game winless streak with victory at Odd.

Before that fixture, Bodo/Glimt were required to come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Molde, helped by their opponents having had a player sent off in the 17th minute.

Beating Odd was more of a formality, with the 2-0 triumph being earned from strikes either side of half time, and the surprise 2-0 reverse at Stromsgodset on June 25 now feels like a distant memory.

While Bodo/Glimt have won 11 of their 14 games this season, their two draws both came on home territory, potentially giving Haugesund reason for hope ahead of this fixture.

Jostein Grindhaug's side find themselves in a relegation scrap with just five points separating them to the 14th and 15th-placed teams in the division.

Nevertheless, three victories have been posted in five games, with the two defeats coming in respective efforts away at Molde and Viking respectively.

Bodo/Glimt's recent frailties will have only left Grindhaug and his squad feeling optimistic ahead of their contest with the leaders, yet they failed to score against the teams in fifth and third position.

Haugesund also possess the third worst attacking record in the league, a return of 12 goals from 14 games less than ideal ahead of a match of this difficulty.

Team News

Bodo/Glimt could be forced into a change in defence after Brede Moe went off injured during the closing stages of the win at Odd.

Marius Lode is on the standby to come into the team, and that could prove to be the solitary alteration with Knutsen having taken the opportunity to rest players during the final 26 minutes.

Grindhaug would have been content with the performance of his Haugesund side for an hour of their contest at Viking, something which may result in an unchanged XI being selected.

Key man Bilal Njie did not feature in the last squad, presumably through injury, and Martin Samuelsen will retain his spot in attack if Njie does not return.

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Elabdellaoui, Lode, Bjortuft, Bjorkan; Fet, Berg, Gronbaek; Zugelj, Moumbagna, Pellegrino

FK Haugesund possible starting lineup:
Selvik; Krygard, Reese, Baertelsen; Therkildsen, Christensen, Leite, Krusnell; Sande, Samuelsen, Pajaziti

We say: Bodo/Glimt 3-0 FK Haugesund

While the visitors can play with a certain level of freedom given the differences in quality between the sides, that does not make it any more likely that they can earn a result from this contest. Bodo/Glimt are superior in all areas of the pitch, and that should make for a routine win.

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

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