Two sides at opposite ends of the Eliteserien table will clash this week when second-placed Viking FK play host to bottom club Aalesund at SR-Bank Arena on Monday night.
The hosts are the current number-one contenders and trail Bodo/Glimt at the top of the standings by nine points, while the visitors are at risk of being cut adrift, already six points from safety at the halfway point of the season.
Match preview
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Viking dominated their match against Stabaek last week, but despite hogging 70% of possession and firing 13 shots at goal, they needed a 90th-minute winner from Birkir Bjarnason to secure the points.
With that win, Morten Jensen's side kept the gap to the leaders in single digits with a game in hand on them while extending their winning run in the league to five matches, scoring 11 and conceding just three in that time.
Barring an entertaining 4-3 loss to Molde at the start of the month, Viking have been very good at home this season, taking 16 of the 21 points on offer, which currently ranks third in terms of home records this term.
While Jensen will still have ambitions of reeling in the leaders by the end of the season, he will likely be fairly pleased with his side's performance over the first half of the campaign after finishing 11th in the league standings last year.
Viking have won the last two matches against this opposition on home soil and will need to keep that record intact, or they could find themselves surrendering second place to Tromso or Brann if either gets a win this weekend.
After finishing above Viking last season, the first half of the campaign has been an absolute disaster for Aalesund, who currently sit at the foot of the table with just seven points recorded after 15 matches.
Adding to their grim outlook, the visitors were hammered 5-1 by Lillestrom in midweek, which means that they come into this match on a three-match losing streak, conceding 10 while only scoring just two in that time.
That result also means that Aalesund are still the only side in the league that are yet to take a single point on the road this season, with seven straight losses in seven games.
The visitors have been finding it difficult at both ends of the pitch, currently possessing the league's worst scoring record of 10 while also holding the worst defensive record of 33 goals conceded.
Christian Johnsen's first month in charge has been a rollercoaster of emotions, going from a win in his first match in charge to three consecutive defeats, and unless he can stop the rot, he will likely come under pressure sooner than expected.
Team News
Markus Solbakken will have to serve a one-match suspension here after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Stabaek last time out, which could mean that Bjarnason may start after scoring the winner in that match.
Gianni Stensness has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, while Jost Urbancic is set for a spell on the sidelines with a broken bone in his foot.
Amidou Diop was shown red against Lillestrom and will serve his one-match ban in this game, which should see Alexander Juel Andersen step into defence in his absence.
The visitors will also be without Alexander Ammitzboll, who scored nine goals for them last season, as the striker continues his recovery from an ACL injury and is only expected back next month.
Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Gunnarsson; Bjorshol, Diop, Brekalo, Pattynama; De Lanlay, Bjarnason, Yazbek; Tripic, Salvesen, D'Agostino
Aalesund possible starting lineup:
Grytebust; Munksgaard, Hopland, Fallman, Kitolano; Barmen, Segberg, Karlsbakk; Atanga, Kristensen, Odemarksbakken
We say: Viking FK 3-1 Aalesund
With seven consecutive away losses and the worst defensive record by some distance, it is difficult to make much of a case for the visitors in this one. Viking have been full of goals at home this season, and we expect them to beat this opposition fairly comfortably.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
