The battle for European football continues on Sunday afternoon in the Norwegian Eliteserien as fourth-placed Molde host fifth-placed Viking FK at the Aker Stadion.
Just two points separate the two teams coming into this one, but the visitors do hold the advantage of a game in hand on those above them.
Match preview
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After six consecutive finishes within the top two between 2017 and 2022, including league titles in 2019 and 2022, Molde had an extremely disappointing finish last year as they ended the season in fifth place.
Eleven games into this campaign and they currently find themselves outside the top two yet again as they occupy fourth place, but they trail league leaders Bodo/Glimt by just four points.
While that leaves Molde firmly in the battle for the title a third of the way into the season, Erling Moe will be far from happy with the manner of his side's three defeats in the league.
Molde lost for the first time this season on matchday four in a 2-1 defeat to Odd, but the frustrating losses both came in May as they fell to defeats against Sandefjord and Sarpsborg 08, who both currently occupy the bottom two places in the Eliteserien.
A crucial victory against second-placed SK Brann in their last fixture would have lifted their spirits after the two humbling defeats, and they come into this match looking to continue that winning run against a Viking FK side they have defeated in all of the last three meetings.
The visitors come into this one outside of the European places by just two points but Morten Jensen's men do have the advantage of a game in hand on all of those above them and two games over second-placed SK Brann.
A disappointing 4-1 loss to 14th-placed Lillestrom SK had the potential to derail their campaign, but Viking FK have since won both their following outings by 3-0 scorelines.
Three points in this one could be crucial for Jensen's side in their push for European football as it could see them move into third depending on results elsewhere, while a defeat would see them fall further behind the top four.
The visitors have only won one of the last five meetings between the two sides, and last won at this ground in May 2022 in a game that saw them brilliantly come back from 3-0 down to win 4-3.
Team News
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The hosts are carrying a number of injuries into this game that could leave them without up to seven players.
Gustav Nyheim, Martin Bjornbak, Jacob Karlstrom, Kristoffer Haugen and Oliver Petersen are all out until later this month, while Veton Berisha is not expected to return until early July.
Emil Breivik was taken off with an injury in the 82nd minute of Molde's 3-1 win last time out, and the midfielder is a doubt for this one.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without up to three of their own for this match.
Kristoffer Lokberg has not featured for Viking FK since the second week of April and is not expected to return until early July.
Franco Lino and Sondre Klingen Langas, who was forced off with an injury in their last game, are both doubts here.
Molde possible starting lineup:
Posiadala; Haugan, Oyvann, Amundsen; Stenevik, Linnes, Eriksen, Kaasa, Lovik; Eikrem, Gulbrandsen
Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Gunnarsson; Haugen, Stensness, Diop, Vevatne; Bell, Auklend, Kvia-Egeskog; D'Agostino, Salvesen, Tripic
We say: Molde 4-2 Viking FK
The hosts have won all of the last three meetings between these two as well as four of the last six that have taken place at the Aker Stadion, and for that reason, we believe Molde will win this one.
All of the last four games between these two sides have seen the victorious team score four times, and we believe this one will follow that same trend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
