Both on a mission to grab one of two Champions League spots in the division, Viking FK and Molde will clash at SR-Bank Arena in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday night.
The Dark Blues suffered their first defeat since the summer break last weekend, whilst the Blue Rascals have been busy on the domestic and European scene over the past seven days.
Match preview
![Viking forward Lars-Jorgen Salvesen in action on April 14, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/lars-jorgen-salvesen.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Viking forward Lars-Jorgen Salvesen in action on April 14, 2024 [IMAGO]")
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Following a remarkable six-game unbeaten run in the Norwegian Eliteserien - which included five wins - Viking suffered defeat last Sunday afternoon, when a trip to Haugesund Sparebank Arena to face FK Haugesund ended in a narrow one-goal loss for Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim's troops.
For the first time since the 1-0 defeat at league-leading Bodo/Glimt on April 6, the Dark Blues failed to make the opposition's net ripple, with a strike early in the second period from Tunisian winger Sebastian Tounekti enough to seal maximum points for the hosts.
After losing on their travels a week ago, Viking moved further behind second-placed Brann in contention for a place in UEFA's elite club competition, with Sunday's hosts at SR-Bank Arena currently sitting in fourth place, two points behind the lowest of the Champions League spots.
Leading his side's Golden Boot race and creativity chart, Norwegian maverick Zlatko Tripic is the main man for the Dark Blues in attack, netting six goals and providing six assists from only 14 Eliteserien contests, with the 31-year-old aiming to better his tally of 23 top-flight goal contributions from 2023.
Viking would be serious contenders for their first Norwegian crown since the turn of the century if the division was decided purely on home form, with Aarsheim's side collecting 17 points from eight league fixtures at SR-Bank Arena, a tally only first-placed Bodo/Glimt (18) can better at their respective base.
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Due to their sixth Norwegian Cup triumph last year, Molde are competing in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League this summer and commenced their quest for continental glory with a convincing victory over fellow Scandinavians at Aker Stadion on Thursday night.
Danish outfit Silkeborg were the visitors to Norway, and they were soon blown away by the offensive power of the Blue Rascals, with strikes from Markus Andre Kaasa, Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Kristian Eriksen sealing a three-goal success for the five-time Eliteserien winners.
With progression into the third round of Europa League qualifying likely following a positive first-leg result, Molde can turn their full attentions to getting back to winning ways domestically this weekend, with Sunday's visitors losing 3-2 at home to mid-table dwellers KFUM Oslo last Saturday.
The Blue Rascals have been a tough nut to crack on their Eliteserien travels in 2024, losing just once and conceding only five goals in the process across seven contests, meaning that they possess the best away defensive record in the division.
Taking charge of Molde during December 2018, Erling Moe is the second longest-serving manager in the Norwegian top flight after Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, with the 54-year-old set to coach the former Champions League club for the 250th time on Sunday evening.
Team News
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Suffering a knee injury in the 2-0 win over Kristiansund BK earlier in the month, Viking's Lars-Jorgen Salvesen is expected to be sidelined until August.
The Dark Blues' options at the top end of the pitch are further limited by the absence of Nicholas D'Agostino, who is recovering from a leg issue.
Fellow Australian Franco Lino was hoping for his breakthrough term in the Eliteserien this year, but the 18-year-old's ambitions have been shattered by a serious thigh injury.
Since finding the net in the reverse fixture on June 2, Molde striker Fredrik Gulbrandsen has been out of action due to a knock, with the 31-year-old not fit enough to inflict more damage to Viking this weekend.
Veton Berisha has not featured for the Blue Rascals since the Europa Conference League defeat to Club Brugge in March, with the striker expected back from injury next month.
Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Ostbo; Bjorshol, Stensness, Langas, Urbancic; Yazbek, Bell, Kvia-Egeskog; Christiansen, Svendsen, Tripic
Molde possible starting lineup:
Karlstrom; Oyvann, Hagelskjaer, Lund; Linnes, Kaasa, Daehli, Breivik, Lovik; Olanare, Eriksen
We say: Viking FK 1-1 Molde
With the two sides level on points in the Eliteserien standings, it is hard to select a clear favourite for Sunday's clash at SR-Bank Arena.
Viking could be fresher after being afforded a full week to prepare for this match, but we still feel that Molde will bring enough energy to collect a point.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
