Sarpsborg 08 will be aiming to end a losing streak of four matches when they host FK Haugesund in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, returned to winning ways against Lillestrom last weekend.

Match preview

Having taken an impressive tally of 21 points from their opening 12 games of the season, Sarpsborg have hit a wall in more recent weeks, crashing out of the Norwegian Cup as well as losing three straight league matches.

Reigning champions Molde have been the culprits for two of those matches, but Sarpsborg will have been hugely disappointed to take no points from two games against sides beneath them in the table in the form of Stromsgodset and HamKam.

Stefan Billborn's side have conceded 16 goals across those four defeats, albeit the fact that they have scored in each of their last 16 games in all competitions clearly showcases that their issues do not lie at the offensive end of the pitch.

Indeed, only five side have scored more than them in Norway's top flight, yet only three have conceded more goals. As such, Billborn will be targeting a rare clean sheet against their goal-shy opponents this weekend.

Haugesund, who finished tenth last season, have scored the second fewest amount of goals in the entire division, but one goal proved enough for them to beat Lillestrom last time out.

In a match devoid of attacking quality, Soren Reese's 76th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides, with Akor Adams' injury-time dismissal leaving the visitors with little chance of mounting a late comeback.

Jostein Grindhaug's side had lost three of their previous four matches, and they are clearly a more competent team at home than on the road having now won three straight matches at Haugesund Stadion, which is in stark contrast to their record of just one win from their last nine away trips.

As such, Grindhaug will be determined to pile on the misery for their forthcoming opponents at Sarpsborg Stadion on Sunday, with the hosts' leaky defence in recent times potentially providing an opportunity for Haugesund to finally cut loose in front of goal.

Team News

Sarpsborg will be without Kristian Opseth due to suspension after the forward was sent off during his side's 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Molde last weekend.

Steffen Skalevik will fancy his chances of replacing the 33-year-old in attack, with Billborn likely to be weighing up making other changes given their poor run of form across recent weeks.

Haugesund, meanwhile, appear to have a clean bill of health at their disposal, meaning Grindhaug is free to pick the same starting XI that defeated Rosenborg.

That would mean a starting berth for Mads Sande in midfield once again, despite the 25-year-old already agreeing to join SK Brann on a free transfer in January.

Sarpsborg 08 possible starting lineup:
Kristiansen; Reinhardsen, Kvile, Skipper, Soltvedt; Andersen, Ngouali; Maigaard, Tibbling, Lundqvist; Skalevik

FK Haugesund possible starting lineup:
Selvik; Therkildsen, Baertelsen, Krygard, Reese, Krusnell; Sande, Leite, Eskesen; Diarra, Njie

We say: Sarpsborg 08 2-2 FK Haugesund

Sarpsborg have proven to be one of Norway's most entertaining teams so far this season, both scoring and conceding plenty of goals, and we can envisage another excellent match on Sunday.

Haugseund have struggled in front of goal as well as producing results on the road, but we can envisage them claiming a well-earned point this weekend.

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

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