Two sides at opposite ends of the Eliteserien table will meet on Friday night when Sarpsborg 08 play host to high-flying Bodo/Glimt.
The hosts are currently second-bottom in the league standings with 10 points after 11 games, while the visitors sit atop the table with 27 points.
Match preview
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After finishing each of the last three league seasons in the top half of the table, Sarpsborg have struggled to get going this term and head into gameweek 12 below the dotted line, just one point ahead of basement club Sandefjord.
In 11 matches to date, Sarpsborg have managed just three wins, one draw and seven losses, with their most recent defeat being a 3-1 loss to Kristiansund just before the league break at the start of the month.
Against KFK, Stefan Billborn's side reached the half-time break with the match still goalless, but conceded three quick goals after the restart, while managing only a late consolation by Sondre Orjasaeter.
Sarpsborg have now conceded a whopping 19 goals in their last five league matches alone, and their total of 25 let in since the start of the campaign is the most of any side in the top flight, three more than Odd's 22.
Unfortunately for the hosts, their record against this opponent suggests they will struggle to improve their defensive numbers in this match, having lost home and away to the defending champions in each of the last two seasons while conceding 12 goals in that time.
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Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt have won three of the last four Eliteserien titles and are well on their way to another, currently level on 27 points with Brann at the top of the league standings, although they have a game in hand on their closest rival.
Superlaget have suffered only one defeat in 12 league games this season, which was against HamKam last month, but are currently on a three-match unbeaten run following a 1-0 win against Haugesund before the break.
Kjetil Knutsen's side are also the league's joint top-scorers with 25 goals and hold the out-and-out best defensive record in the top flight, having conceded just eight goals to date.
Additionally, the visitors currently possess the best away record in the division with five wins in six games on the road and have only conceded four goals on their travels, while they have found the net 15 times.
Team News
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Jeppe Andersen was shown his fourth yellow card of the season against Kristiansund in the final match before the league break and he will serve his one-match suspension this weekend.
Serge-Junior Ngouali and Jo Inge Berget are ruled out of this match due to a groin and muscle injury respectively, while Niklas Sandberg has been flagged as a doubt owing to a sprained ankle.
Bodo/Glimt, on the other hand, have a number of players currently sidelined through injury, including long-term absentees Omar Elabdellaoui and Syver Skeide, both of whom are out with cruciate ligament tears.
Sondre Sorli (ankle), Fredrik Bjorkan (thigh), Daniel Bassi (thigh), Sondre Brunstad Fet (knock), and Runar Espejord (hamstring) are all on the treatment table and will not feature in this match.
Sarpsborg 08 possible starting lineup:
Ilic; Reinhardsen, Oedegaard, Casas, Hiim; Halvorsen, Sher; Chrupalla, Johansen, Oerjasaeter; Andersen
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Sjoevold, Bjoertuft, Gundersen, Soerensen; Saltnes, Berg, Groenbaek; Evjen, Mikkelsen, Hauge
We say: Sarpsborg 08 0-2 Bodo/Glimt
Sarpsborg have been a mess at the back this season and now have to face the league's top scorers, who have smashed in 15 goals in just six matches on the road this term.
Bodo/Glimt have dominated this fixture in recent seasons and we feel they come away with a comfortable victory in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
