Tromso IL host KFUM Oslo at the Alfheim Stadion on Sunday in the Norwegian Eliteserien, both looking to create distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
The hosts are 12th in the league and hold just a point lead over the drop zone, while the visitors are only a point better off and in 10th place.
Match preview
![Johannes Moesgaard, head coach of KFUM on June 24, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/johannes-moesgaard.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Johannes Moesgaard, head coach of KFUM on June 24, 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Reuters
Since being promoted back into the division as champions in 2020, Tromso had steadily climbed the Eliteserien table with 12th, seventh and third-placed finishes in the following seasons.
Gaute Helstrup, who was appointed ahead of the 2020 campaign and oversaw the promotion and rise up the Eliteserien rankings, left the club unexpectedly before this season to join Bodo/Glimt as an assistant manager, leaving Jorgen Vik to take over the managerial role.
Vik, who has no previous experience managing at the top level, has failed to replicate the success his predecessor enjoyed, instead guiding Tromso into a surprising relegation battle.
Six defeats and one win in their opening seven fixtures left them at the bottom of the table, but they have been able to improve in the following matches with three wins and two draws from seven games.
They have been at their best when playing at the Alfheim Stadion, where they have taken nine of their 14 points, and Vik will be relying on that record to help get them the victory on Sunday.
Their opponents, KFUM, will be pleased with how their inaugural season in the top flight of Norwegian football has unfolded so far, sitting in 10th place and just seven points behind fourth-placed Fredrikstad.
Johannes Moesgaard's men impressively lost just two of their first 11 matches this season, picking up notable points against teams such as Bodo/Glimt and SK Brann along the way, but they have since lost back-to-back matches.
Those defeats have extended KFUM's winless run to five games, and Moesgaard will be wary of the looming threat of relegation, as his team holds just a two-point lead over the drop zone.
KFUM have been at their best on the road so far this campaign, amassing 11 of their 15 points while away from home, and they will be looking to continue that form with a result here.
Team News
Miika Koskela and Vegard Erlien are expected to be the only forced absentees from the matchday squad due to injuries, with both anticipated to return in early August.
Despite Tromso being unable to score the decisive goal in their 0-0 draw with HamKam last time out, Vik may opt to field the same starting side due to their dominant performance in that match.
As for the visitors, they are also expected to be without up to two players due to injury issues, including Mathias Tonnessen, who is continuing his recovery from a knee injury he sustained in May.
Petter Dahl is also a concern after the forward was forced off in the 71st minute of KFUM's eventual 2-1 loss to Viking FK in their previous match, leaving Obilor Okeke as a potential replacement.
The absence of Dahl means that the visitors will be relying on joint-top scorer Johannes Nunez to score the goals in this potentially vital encounter in their survival efforts.
Tromso IL possible starting lineup:
Haugaard; Paintsil, Barry, Guddal, Skjaervik, Norheim; Hjerto-Dahl, Jenssen, Antonsen; Romsaas, Nordas
KFUM Oslo possible starting lineup:
Odegaard; Akinyemi, Njie, Aleesami; Nouri, Hestnes, Rasch, Gyedu; Haltvik, Okeke; Nunez
We say: Tromso IL 1-1 KFUM Oslo
These two teams appear very evenly matched heading into this game, with Tromso strong at home and KFUM formidable on the road, and we predict a continuation of their recent trend of ties in previous matchups with a 1-1 draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
