Sandefjord, who are languishing at the bottom of the league, are set to clash with league-leading Bodo/Glimt at the Komplett Arena in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Saturday.
The hosts have just 10 points after 14 fixtures and trail safety by four points, while the visitors have a healthy five-point lead at the top of the table.
Match preview
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Sandefjord have consistently flirted with the drop zone in their past two seasons in the Eliteserien, surviving via victory in the relegation/promotion playoffs in 2022 before narrowly avoiding the bottom three by two points in the last campaign.
This season, Andreas Tegstrom's team seem destined for relegation, as they currently anchor the league table with only 10 points from 14 games, from two wins and four draws, making their bid to extend their five-year stay in the top flight looking increasingly unlikely.
At their current rate of 0.71 points per game, Sandefjord are on course to finish with 21 points, less than the 23 points that saw them relegated in last position in 2018 and a points tally that would see them drop to the second division in all of the last 13 Eliteserien seasons.
If they are to defy the odds and escape relegation again, Tegstrom's men must improve on their current form that has seen them go eight league matches without victory, losing five in that time.
Sandefjord may find solace from the fact they were much improved in the second half of last season, where they gathered 18 of their 31 points in the final 15 matches, while they have also already taken a vital point against Bodo/Glimt earlier in this campaign.
As for the visitors, they have established themselves as a dominant force in Norwegian football in recent years, achieving their inaugural top-flight league title in 2020 before adding to their success by lifting the trophy again in 2021 and 2023.
Kjetil Knutsen has played a pivotal role in Bodo/Glimt's remarkable rise to the peak of the Eliteserien, having taken charge of the club prior to their return to the top flight in 2018 following their relegation in 2016.
Knutsen's side now look on course to secure their fourth title in five years, holding a five-point lead over second-placed SK Brann, who they humiliated 5-1 last time out, despite also playing a game less.
The Yellow Horde have only lost once all season, a shock 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened HamKam, and boast both the best offensive and defensive records across the entire division.
A worrying stretch of three league games without a victory in late May, their joint-longest winless run since September 2022, briefly disrupted Bodo/Glimt's title pursuit as they slipped to second place, however, consecutive wins in the following three matches has seen their momentum restored.
Team News
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The hosts will be unable to call upon the services of both Aleksander Nilsson and Darrell Tibell due to knocks, but both the midfielder and striker could return to the squad later this month.
Tegstrom will be unable to coach his side from the touchline after being sent off for two yellow cards in the 1-1 draw with Stromsgodset, leaving joint-manager Hans Erik Odegaard in charge of the team.
Bodo/Glimt are expected to remain without Kasper Hogh, Sondre Sorli and Syver Skeide due to injuries, while Runar Espejord is a doubt having failed to feature since September 2023.
Brede Moe was also forced off with an injury in the 5-1 win against second-placed SK Brann last weekend and is expected to be replaced by Odin Bjortuft.
Goals from midfield have been a major part of Bodo/Glimt's success this season with Alex Gronbaek leading the way for goals with eight, while both Patrick Berg and Ulrik Saltnes hit the net in the last outing.
Sandefjord possible starting lineup:
Keto; Egeli, Berglie, Kristiansen, Cheng; Mettler, Ottosson, Mork; Dunsby, Tveter, Markovic
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Wembangomo, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Sorensen; Saltnes, Berg, Gronbaek; Sjovold, Evjen, Mikkelsen
We say: Sandefjord 1-3 Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt have seemed virtually unstoppable this season, losing just one out of 14 matches while scoring a huge 32 times and conceding only 10, while the hosts have failed to win in any of their last eight.
The visitors have also enjoyed their trips to the Komplett Arena in recent years, winning in three of their last four visits, and we expect them to take all three points once again here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
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