Round nine of the Norwegian Eliteserien sees struggling Kristiansund hosting high-flying SK Brann at the Nordmore Stadium on Monday.
The hosts come into this fixture on a four-match winless run, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last eight league matches.
Match preview
Kristiansund finished fourth in Norway's second-tier league before winning the relegation/promotion playoffs, earning promotion to the Eliteserien just a year after relegation.
Their aim will be to retain their top-flight status by the season's end, but things have not been rosy so far in this campaign. The Owls started the season with an unexpected 3-2 away win at Lillestrom, but failed to build on that, recording a draw and a loss in their next two matches.
Amund Skiri's side picked up their second win of the season against Tromso, but have gone back to struggling again, failing to win any of their last four matches, the last of which was a 1-0 defeat to Haugesund.
Kristiansund sit 11th in the table with nine points after eight matches, just above the relegation zone, having scored ten goals and conceded 13.
Next up is a game against high-flying opposition. However, they won their last home match against Monday's opponents back in 2021.
Brann finished second last term, edging past third-placed Tromso on goal difference. This season, their aim is the championship, having fallen short by 11 points in the last campaign.
Apart from an opening day home defeat to Fredrikstad, Eirik Horneland's side are unbeaten in this campaign, having played seven games since then, drawing two and winning five.
Brann will be hoping for a fourth win in a row when they visit Kristiansund. However, the visitors have not found it easy whenever they visit the Owls as they are yet to win in five top-flight trips there.
With four defeats and one draw in five attempts, the Bergen side are looking for their first-ever Eliteserien win away at Kristiansund, while also aiming to keep their unbeaten streak intact.
Team News
Kristiansund's 20-year-old defender Max Williamsen is set to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury.
Habib Gueye has scored the most goals in the league for the hosts so far (three) and should start as part of an attacking trio that also contains Hilmir Mikaelsson and Oskar Sivertsen.
Brann will be missing up to four players for this clash, all of which are midfielders.
Niklas Wassberg (knee), Jonas Torsvik (groin), Thore Pedersen (thigh) and Mads Sande (ACL) are all sidelined.
Kristiansund possible starting lineup:
Lansing; Ulvestad, Isaksen, Rakneberg, Jarl; Bruseth, Willumsson, Alte; Gueye, Mikaelsson, Sivertsen
SK Brann possible starting lineup:
Dyngeland; Crone, Sery, Knudsen, Kristiansen; Kornvig, Nilsen, Myhre; Blomberg, Heggeboe, Castro
We say: Kristiansund 0-2 SK Brann
In recent years, Viking have dominated this fixture, but they have not looked like a strong side this campaign. Sandefjord have been decent at home this season, so we think that could play a role in this match. However, neither team seems likely to dominate, so we are predicting a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
