Fresh off the back of storming to their first win of the 2024 Eliteserien, HamKam play host to Bodo/Glimt at the Briskeby Stadion on Monday.
The visitors, who have flown out of the blocks this season, will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign and open up a five-point lead at the top of the table.
Match preview
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HamKam picked up their first win of the Norwegian Eliteserien campaign in style as they crushed Sarpsborg 7-1 when the sides met at the Sarpsborg Stadion on Thursday.
Goals from John Olav Norheim, Vidar Ari Jonsson, Gard Simenstad, Henrik Udahl, Alexander Kirkevold and a brace from Kristian Onsrud saw the visitors triumph in an eight-goal extravaganza to hand Sarpsborg their fifth defeat of the season.
Prior to that, HamKam had failed to taste victory in any of their previous 10 league matches, losing five and claiming five draws since November's 1-0 win at Stromsgodset.
Jakob Michelsen will hope that Thursday's result can serve as a springboard for a solid run of form as his side look to pick up their first home win of the year and pull clear of the danger zone.
With seven points from nine matches, HamKam are currently 13th in the Eliteserien standings, level on points with Sandefjord and Sarpsborg inside the bottom three.
While victory on Monday could see the Kamma move level on points with seventh-placed Lillestrom, they have failed to get better of Bodo/Glimt in any of their previous 13 meetings, losing seven and claiming six draws since March 2008.
On the other hand, Bodo/Glimt's title defence has got off to a brilliant start as they hold a two-point lead at the top of the table, having picked up seven wins and one draw in their opening eight games.
Their impressive start to the league campaign has been owing to the outstanding job done at the attacking end of the pitch, where they are the division's most ruthless side with 21 goals scored already.
Kjetil Knutsen's men have also been rock-solid at the opposite end of the pitch as they have conceded just four goals while keeping five clean sheets as they look to quickly pull clear at the top of the pile.
It is still early days in the season, but the signs look promising for Bodo/Glimt to successfully retain the title that they won last season as they look to get their hands on the trophy for a fourth time in the space of five seasons.
It has been a remarkable rise to the summit of Norwegian football, having only been promoted to the top flight in 2018 before continually defying expectations to finish in at the leats top two every year since 2019.
The now three-time Norwegian champions head into Monday's game off the back of a dominant 4-0 victory against Tromso courtesy of goals from Kasper Hogh, Jens Petter Hauge and a first-half brace from Albert Gronbaek.
That was a fourth successive league win for the defending champions, and a second game in a row in which they scored four goals having also swept aside Kristiansund away from home earlier this month.
Stretching back to last season, Bodo/Glimt have now gone nine consecutive Eliteserien games without defeat, picking up eight wins and one draw since suffering a 4-2 loss at the hands of Brann on November 26.
Team News
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HamKam remain without the services of 21-year-old defender Halvor Opsahl, who continues his spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in April.
Snorre Strand Nilsen has missed the last three matches after coming off with a groin injury against Kristiansund on May 5 and the Norwegian defender will play no part in Monday's game.
They are joined on the club's injury table by 25-year-old midfielder Tore Soras, who is set to sit out his third game on the bounce after picking up an injury against Valerenga on May 8.
The Glimt, on the other hand, will have to cope without the services of Fredrik Bjorkan and teenage striker Daniel Bassi, who are currently recuperating from thigh injuries.
Sondre Fet continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after coming off injured in February's game against Ajax and the 27-year-old midfielder is out of contention for the visitors.
Experienced forward Runar Espejord has also been out of action since February through a severe muscle injury and the Norwegian will also play no part in Monday's game.
HamKam possible starting lineup:
Sandberg; Mares, Sjolstad, Norheim; Jonsson, Simenstad, Kurtovic, Onsrud, Kongsro; Udahl, Odegard
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Khaikin; Sjovold, Moe, Gundersen, Sorensen; Gronbaek, Berg, Saltnes; Evjen, Hogh, Zugelj
We say: HamKam 0-2 Bodo/Glimt
While HamKam will be looking to pick up where they left off against Sarpsborg, they are in for a tough 90 minutes against a Bodo/Glimt side who are currently firing on all cylinders. Given the gulf in quality and experience between the two sides, we are backing the visitors to come away with a comfortable victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
