Stromsgodset are set to host Sandefjord at Marienlyst Stadion in Norway's Eliteserien on Monday, and the result could affect both the relegation battle and the race for European football.
The home side are sixth in the table with 18 points and are four from fourth-placed Fredrikstad, who occupy the division's final Europa Conference League playoff spot, while the visitors are last in 16th place with nine points and are four from guaranteed safety.
Match preview
After 12 games, the hosts will be pleased with their season so far considering they are averaging 1.5 points per game, slightly more than the 1.4 they averaged last term.
In fact, this is their highest average since the 2017 campaign, in which they finished fourth with 50 points.
It should also be mentioned that while Stromsgodset are only four points from fourth-placed Fredrikstad, they do have one game in hand on third-placed Molde, who have 24 points and occupy one of the division's two Europa Conference League playoff spots.
To add to this, they also have two games in hand on second-placed Brann, who have 28 points and occupy one of the league's two Champions League playoff spots.
Manager Jorgen Isnes has been in charge since December 2022, and under his leadership Stromsgodset have scored 14 goals and conceded 15 in the Eliteserien this season, the league's 14th and joint fourth best records respectively.
Isnes's side come into Monday's fixture in mixed form having drawn two and won two of their last four matches, although they did avoid defeat against title challengers Brann last time out on June 28, when they drew 0-0.
Stromsgodset's home form specifically is similarly mixed considering that in their last four games at Marienlyst Stadion they have won once, drawn twice and lost once.
Meanwhile, the visitors come into the game in outright poor form having lost five of their last seven, while also failing to win any matches in this period.
Sandefjord's form on the road is also poor considering they are winless in their last eight away league games, losing five times.
In fact, the visitors have won just two top-flight away games in their last 29 attempts and have lost 22 of these fixtures.
Sandefjord's joint managers Andreas Tegstrom and Hans Erik Odegaard, who is the father of Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, have been in charge since December 2020.
The pair will be extremely concerned that after 13 matches their side are averaging just 0.69 points per game.
Extrapolated over the course of the season, this would see them accumulate roughly 21 points, a figure lower than what the Boys achieved in 2018 when they were relegated to Norway's second division after finishing last.
Interestingly, Tegstrom and Odegaard's team do have the league's joint seventh-best offensive record with 17 goals scored, but they also have the Eliteserien's joint second-worst defensive record having conceded 23 times.
Perhaps the pair will find some relief in the fact that there are still 17 games left to play, and their side are only four points from safety as well as four from 14th-placed Tromso, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot.
Team News
The hosts come into the game without centre-back Sondre Fosnaess Hanssen, who is out as a result of a back injury and is not likely to return until August.
Midfielder Kreshnik Krasniqi is expected to be out until early August, while attacking midfielder Eirik Ulland Andersen has not featured since May 26 due to a thigh injury and is a doubt for Monday's game.
Striker Ole Kristian Enersen is not ruled out of the game, but he is a doubt due to a knock.
Lars Christopher Vilsvik was forced off with an injury last time out against Brann on June 28 and is also a doubt for Monday's game.
As for the visitors, they will be without midfielder Aleksander Nilsson and striker Darrell Tibell due to knocks, but both could return sometime later this month.
Despite losing 2-1 last time out against Tromso on July 3, top scorer Eman Markovic was heavily involved in the final third and managed to score from the left flank, so expect him to make another appearance in the forward line.
Stromsgodset possible starting lineup:
Bratveit; Taaje, Valsvik, Dahl; Gaye, Farji, Stengel, Therkelsen, Tomasson; Mehnert, Melkersen
Sandefjord possible starting lineup:
Keto; Egeli, Bergile, Kristiansen, Cheng; Mork, Ottosson, Amin; Dunsby, Tveter, Markovic
We say: Stromsgodset 2-1 Sandefjord
Although Sandefjord's offensive record is fairly good considering their position in the table, it is difficult to ignore their overall poor form.
Additionally, Stromsgodset come into Monday's clash following a positive result against title challenging Brann and should be confident of victory against their upcoming opponents, who are last-placed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
