Odd will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome league leaders Bodo/Glimt to the Skagerak Arena in Skien in the Eliteserien on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts are back on home soil after a disappointing away loss last time out, while Bodo/Glimt will be aiming to build on a pair of home matches which produced four points.

Match preview

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Odd were unable to make it three straights wins in the Eliteserien last Sunday, falling to a 2-1 defeat at Haugesund Sparebank Arena to FK Haugesund, although the visitors on that day started brightly.

Sondre Johansen put Odd ahead in the 27th minute to give them a real hope of winning a league outing for the first time since the 1-0 victory at Tromso on May 7, but strikes either side of the half from Bilal Njie and Martin Samuelsen secured a maximum for Jostein Grindhaug's side.

With five of their last six matches across the Eliteserien and the Norwegian Cup being away from the Skagerak Arena, Pal Arne Johansen will be happy to manage his team in front of a passionate home support this Sunday against the league leaders.

The Oddrane are currently ninth in the Eliteserien standings having collected 16 points from their opening 13 matches, meaning the club are quite a distance off a spell in the early 2010s in which they placed in the top four in three consecutive campaigns.

Johansen's charges have struggled to make the net ripple this term having scored just 10 times in 13 fixtures - midfielder Filip Jorgensen leads the club's scoring charts with only two goals.

Since finishing second in the 2019 Eliteserien behind Molde, Bodo/Glimt have become a regular player at the head of Norway's top flight, and the club look set to challenge for the title once again this term.

Bodo welcomed visitors from the aforementioned Town of Roses last time out, with a four-goal thriller ending in a share of the spoils against Erling Moe's men at Aspmyra Stadion.

A brace from Molde's Ola Brynhildsen threatened to hand the hosts only their second defeat of the league campaign, but a spirited second-half comeback from Bodo culminated in substitute Ulrik Saltnes bagging an injury-time equaliser.

The attacking firepower which has epitomised Kjetil Knutsen's men over the past few campaigns has been on display once again this term, with the current league leaders scoring 34 goals in 13 matches - six more than any other side in the division.

The major departures in recent years of Kasper Junker and Philip Zinckernagel have allowed 33-year-old Amahl Pellegrino to take the title of Bodo's chief talisman, with the winger netting 12 goals and providing five assists in 13 games so far in the Eliteserien.

Team News

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Despite last weekend's loss at Haugesund, Odd are expected to make few changes to the XI which started at Haugesund Sparebank Stadion, with midfielder Leonard Oswuwu the only experienced option to call upon off the bench.

Youngster Dennis Gjengaar burst onto the Eliteserien scene in 2022 by scoring five times in 10 appearances, but the 19-year-old has failed to make the net ripple in 2023 despite starting 12 matches.

Bodo have their own star who has struggled in 2023 after impressing last term, with Runar Espejord currently sidelined due to a groin injury, meaning he has only featured in two league matches this year.

Faris Moumbagna is relishing the opportunity to start alongside Pellegrino and Slovenian Nino Zugelj in the visitors' attack as a result of Espejord's absence - the Cameroonian has netted nine goals this season, four more than his tally for the entirety of 2022.

Odd possible starting lineup:
Wahlstedt; Hagen, Johansen, Tomas; Rudd, Owusu, Wallem, Baccay; Gjengaar, Midtskogen, Jorgensen

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Sjovold, Moe, Lode, Sorensen; Fet, Berg, Gronbaek; Zugelj, Pellegrino; Moumbagna

We say: Odd 1-3 Bodo/Glimt

Odd have been inconsistent in terms of their results of late but have continually struggled to pose defensive problems for their opposition this season, meaning they often need to keep a clean sheet in order to win.

Bodo are once again the most troublesome attack in the Eliteserien, and they should be able to extend their lead at the top of the division with three points at Skagerak Arena on Sunday.


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Written by
Carter White

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