Two of the relegation-threatened sides in the Norwegian Eliteserien clash on Saturday afternoon, as Valerenga Fotball play Sandefjord at the Intility Arena in Oslo.

The hosts are currently enduring a winless run in the league which is set to put their top-tier status in jeopardy, while Sandefjord are coming into this game off the back of two heavy defeats.

Match preview

Since a third-placed finish in the 2020 campaign - one which saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League - there has been a decline in standards in the Norwegian capital at Valerenga, and the club are now in a scrap to maintain their first-tier status.

Jan-Frode Norne took the reins in June but has been unable to steer his men away from danger, as Valerenga are currently seven games without a victory, with their last success coming on May 16 against fellow strugglers HamKam.

The Pride of Oslo have fared significantly better on their travels so far this term, but an outing to Odd on Sunday ended in defeat, with an own goal from Simen Juklerod and an Espen Ruud penalty downing the visitors at Skagerak Arena.

The Intility Arena has not been a happy home for Valerenga in 2023, as Norne's men have collected only three points from seven matches in front of their own fans - four fewer than any other side in the division.

Goals have been spread evenly around the hosts' team so far, with young attackers Daniel Hakans and Seedy Jatta both chipping in with three strikes each as the season approaches its halfway point.

Sandefjord have been perennial strugglers in the Eliteserien since their promotion from the second tier four years ago, and 2023 looks set to be the same old story for the Release Arena club.

The Boys are currently 15th in the league standings, one point behind Saturday's opponents in 14th and five behind HamKam in the relative safety of 13th place after a run of five games without a win.

Andreas Tegstrom will be hoping to stem the flow of goals going past goalkeeper Hugo Keto in recent times, with Sandefjord conceding 18 times in their last five clashes.

Like many of the sides fighting at the foot of the Eliteserien, Sandefjord have struggled to pose a significant threat on the road this campaign, only managing to earn two points from eight matches, meaning they are still awaiting their maiden victory away from home this year.

A crowd of over 4,000 turned up to the Release Arena last weekend to watch the Bodo/Glimt juggernaut roll into town - youngster Albert Gronbaek bagged a brace for Kjetil Knutsen's men as the league leaders extended their lead at the top of the table to nine points with a 5-2 victory.

Team News

Valerenga will be without the services of Vegar Hedenstad on Saturday after the 32-year-old picked up two yellow cards in the defeat at Odd last time out - the latter of which led to Rudd's winning penalty.

The Pride of Oslo have missed the presence of leading scorer Hakans in their attacking line since his knee injury earlier this month, with the Finland international expected to be sidelined until early August.

The up-and-coming career of Storm Strand-Kolbjornsen has been halted by a serious cruciate ligament injury suffered in December 2022, although the Norwegian stopper could be back in contention next month.

Sandefjord also have a player who will sit out of Saturday's match due to poor discipline, with left-back Ian Smeulers serving a one-match suspension following his red card against Bodo/Glimt on Sunday.

Vetle Walle Egeli is the obvious candidate to replace Smeulers in the visitors' backline - the 19-year-old has started 10 of his side's 14 Eliteserien matches so far this season.

Valerenga Fotball possible starting lineup:
Sjoeng; Kjelsen, Jensen, Zuta; Ofkir, Bjordal, Strand, Juklerod; Riisnaes, Eng, Jatta

Sandefjord possible starting lineup:
Keto; Palerud, Taaje, Foss, Egeli; Ayer, Ottosson, Nilsson; Dunsby, Tveter, Al-Saed

We say: Valerenga Fotball 2-1 Sandefjord

Valerenga have been struggling massively of late at their Oslo home, but a Norwegian Cup victory over Brann earlier this month hinted that Norne's side can impress in front of their own supporters.

In the Eliteserien, Sandefjord are leaking goals - which often points towards relegation - and we expect the visitors to narrowly lose out at the Intility Arena on Saturday.


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