Norwegian Tippeliga 05.04.10

Sandefjord – Odd Grenland:

Out, Sandefjord: Malick Mane (Att, foot injury), Alexander Gabrielsen (Def, dubtful with flue), Martin Jensen (Def, injury), Oliver Pipe (Mid, foot injury).

Out, Odd Grenland: Arni Gautur Arason (Goalie, dubtful will be tested before game start) John Anders Bjørkøy (Mid, long term injury), Dag Ole Thomasen (Goalie, injury)

Sandefjord has very varied results so far this year, both in Tippeligaen and in the pre-season games. They are a typical home team, and takes most of their points at Komplett.no arena. Previous match, did they play against Brann away and it looked for a while as they were able to get some points with them home from Bergen, but in overtime appeared Diego Guastavino up and sent the home team into the lead 3-2, which also was the final result. Sandefjord scored on the few chances they had, but was not able to win. The match was otherwise characterized by an extremely poor grass mat at Brann Stadium, which led to a very messy battle.

Sandefjord is missing M. Mane who is an important striker for them, even if borrowed Rune Ertsås has scored 2 goals in the first 3 games. A. Gabrielsen and Martin Jensen has played respectively 1 and 2 matches each so far, but both where injured and not included in the squad for the Brann match, and will not play against Odd either. The Midfielder O. Pipe is still long term injured.

Odd have played entertaining and created many chances so far. Offensive football with focus on wing play, where the wide players come around on the edges and put the ball into the 5-yard box into the head of the big strong striker Kovacs, who has been recurring for them so far. Odd was very good in the second half against Haugesund, and they had not a chance against Odd who won 4-1. First goalkeeper Arni Arason Gautur is uncertainty if he can play or not, he has struggled with back and finger pain, but it reported that they expect he will be fit for the match against Sandefjord. The other players on the injury list are either reserves or have been long-term injured players. Odd can field the same team as last match, and are also boosted by the news that Fredrik Gulsvik (att) og Snorre Krogsgård (att) bot are back in the squad again and available against Sandefjord.

It is also worth mentioning that both teams have artificial grass at their home grounds. Which would indicate opportunities to play good football here, as most of the other stadiums have looked like a potato field, because of the cold weather in Norway this time of the year. The match at Komplett.no arena is a showdown between two local clubs, who have not played a draw against each other here in 6 games. Both teams stand with 3 wins here against each other.

Odd won the corresponding game last year, and should have good opportunities to do so it this year also. They've played the best football so far of these teams, scoring 2 goals or more in each match. Sandefjord has been unstable in their performances, and they do not deserve trust based on what I've seen of them so far. Also Odd can also field their best players, and are a best team on the paper. These games often contain many goals, and the average between them here is impressive 4.33 pr match, and i cant see no reason for a low scoring game her today. Sandefjord want to attack home, and the Odd coach are going for the 3 points here, no doubt.

Odd are favourites here, and gets my support.

Fair: Odd 0, 1.85 @Sbo 4/10

Fair: Over 2,75 goals, 1.95 @Sbo 1,5/10

Stabæk - Tromsø

Out, Stabæk: Veiga Páll Gunnarsson (Att, long term injury), Tommy Stensvoll (Mid,injury)

Out, Tromsø: Kevin Larsen (Def/Mid, long term injury)

Stabæk had a tough match against Aalesund previous match day and that was an exciting game in the snow at Color Line Stadion. Aalesund was on their way to get all the 3 points, because of their excellent goalkeeper, but thanks to an equalization of Pontus Farnerud in overtime, got Stabæk 1 deserved point with them. It could and should perhaps have been 3 points for Stabæk, if the referee had done his job. He had a goal wrongly canceled for offside and aslo missed an obvious penalty, both against Stabæk. And in addition, did they get a injury to their important playmaker Gunnarson who was brought in this season to strengthen the team. Because of his injury, Bernt Hulsker (Att) has been taken on loan fram Start to cover him. Stabæk had 11 shots on goal, against Aalesunds 4 shots.

Tromsø impressed no one in the last home match against Kongsvinger. It have to be mentioned that Kongsvinger did not create any dangerous against them in 90 min. Tromsø won 1-0, but created few good chances, but with an advantage playing purposes, the best team won and deserved the 3 points at Alfheim. Tromsø's debutant Kara Mbodj(Mid) was very good when he got his debut against Kongsvinger, and it may well be he will start against Stabæk.

After three rounds is Stabæk still undefeated, with one win and two draws. But they are not completely satisfied with the points grabbed so far, and Stabæk coach Jan Jönsson admits that his team is very determined to take all the points with them when Tromso comes to visit them. Tromsø's victories has come against two promoted teams (Hønefoss 2-0 and 1-0 both home at Kongsvinger Alfheim) and with respect to these 2 teams, that is not very impressive, after what this two teams have done so far with 0 points each.

Stabæk got as mentioned their playmaker Gunnarson out for a while, and that will be a loss for them, but the team has a lot of good players, and on a normal day for Stabæk should they win comfortably against Tromsø. Tromsø has created too few clear goal chances so far, and is too addicted to their 37 years old striker Sigurd Rushfeldt who need to have a good day. I think they will struggle against Stabæk, who have a very aggressive midfield and will cause problems for Tromsø.

Fair: Stabæk -1, 2.05 @Sbo 4/10

Start - Vålerenga
Out, Start: Espen Børufsen (Mid, sickness), Petter Bruer Hanssen (Mid, dubtful), Jesper Mathisen (Att, dubtful).


Out, Vålerenga: Bojan Zajic (Mid,hofteskade) og Lars Iver Strand (Mid, kneskade)

Start has had a respectable start to the season. They have 4 points in 3 games, against Rosenborg Molde and Sandefjord. But they have varied in their performances. Against Rosenborg, they played a great game, created a lot of chances and got a deserved point, while against Molde home were they lucky to get one point in that match. They miss Espen Børufsen in their midfield to this one and have to make changes there since he has started every game so far for them.

Vålerenga has met 3 very strong teams so far. Rosenborg, Viking and Stabæk, and are left with 5 points (1 win, 2 draws). Vålerenga miss Bojan Zajic (1 match so far) and Lars Iver Strand (0 matches) to this match, but they are not critical loss for them in my eyes. Vålerenga can travel with its best team against them. However, in the home match against Rosenborg did they not impress, in a game who was a terribly boring game with almost none shots on goal for both teams. But the grass mat on Ullevåll looked like a rugby ground and it had a lot of the blame for the boring match.

Start won both settlements against Vålerenga in the league games last season and are favorites because they have home support in this one. But Vålerenga can field a strong lineup, and with Børufsen out for Start, has Vålerenga a stronger midtfield on the paper. Vålerenga coach Martin Andresen says they have great faith in grabbing some points and will og for all 3 points. I basically see this as a open match, but Vålerenga should have opportunities to get at least a point.

Fair: Vålerenga +0,25. 2.0 @Sbo 3/10

Viking – Lillestrøm:

Out, Viking: Birkir Bjarnason (Mid, injury) og Martin Fill (Mid, Injury), Tomasz Sokolowski (Mid, injury), Jørgen Horn (Mid, Dubtful).

Out, Lillestrøm: Erling Knudtzon (Mid, dubtful).

Viking has struggled with injuries all season. They have a number of key midfielders out. Sokolowski's midfield anchor, and Bjarnason is a major wing player for them together with Frillo is a blow for them. With these 3 out is Viking's midfield weakened considerably. But they have, however, brought in on loan from Brøndby Stefan Gislason (Mid Central), which will be a gain for them.

Viking started with a 0-2-loss away against Vålerenga, then followed with a 4-0 victory at home against Brann, before loosing 2-1 away to Strømsgodset.

Lillestrøm coach Henning Berg can chose the same starting lineup as he has done in every game so far this year. The only question mark is if Erling Knudtzon which has been struggling with thigh the past week would be fit. According to the local news would he be tested before match start.

Viking's with two consecutive wins and has not lost in nine home games in the league. They Also have kept a clean sheet in the team's last three Tippeliga matches on their own grass. Lillestrøm has two away loss in a row and have not won on the last four games away from home in Tippeligaen.
Lillestrøm has been very effective infront of goal so far, Vikings defense have not impressed lately,and when Sokolowski are out, is that a big blow for them. Lillestrøm is filled with confidence before this match, and with an injury-free squad should have they have a chance to get something from the reduced Viking team.

Fair: Lillestrøm +0,25, 2.0 @Sbo 3/10

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