Romania and Norway face off at the National Arena in Bucharest on Sunday with contrasting aims in their penultimate UEFA Nations League fixture.
The visitors are locked on points with Austria in the battle to earn promotion from League B Group 1, while Romania are battling with Northern Ireland to avoid relegation.
Match preview
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Norway may have missed out on a place in the rescheduled Euro 2020 finals, going down 2-1 to Serbia in last month's playoff semi-final, but they are looking good in their Nations League group.
Lars Lagerback's men bounced back from that extra-time disappointment against Serbia with back-to-back home wins over Romania and Northern Ireland.
Erling Braut Haaland scored a hat-trick in the 4-0 victory against Romania and a second-half own goal from Stuart Dallas proved the difference against the Irish.
Austria also won their two October fixtures, however, and are above Norway thanks to a superior goal difference.
With the two sides set to meet in the final round of fixtures next week, Lagerback will know that victory against Romania will likely set up a straight shootout for top spot.
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Romania are no longer able to earn promotion to League A, meanwhile, as they followed up that aforementioned heavy loss in Oslo with a 1-0 defeat at home to Austria.
That made it three defeats in a row overall, having also lost 2-1 to Iceland in their Euro 2020 playoff semi-final tie.
Whereas Norway have had a few days on the training ground following the cancelation of their friendly with Israel, Romania were in action on Wednesday as they saw off Belarus 5-3.
That result will hardly repair the damage of last month, but Mirel Radoi's charges do at least have a platform to build on as they look ahead to the next campaign.
Romania Nations League form: DWLL
Romania form (all competitions): DWLLLW
Norway Nations League form: LWWW
Norway form (all competitions): WLWLWW
Team News
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The decision to cancel Norway's home friendly with Israel was taken hour before kickoff due to coronavirus fears, but Lagerback's squad is not believed to have been hit.
Haaland, undoubtedly Norway's star man with six goals in seven internationals, is expected to be partnered in attack by Joshua King.
As for the hosts, they named a stronger-than-expected XI for their friendly with Belarus, but some changes are still likely for this second of three games in a week.
Ionut Nedelcearu impressed and is in contention to start at the back, while Denis Alibec is favourite to lead the line.
Romania possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Balasa, Nedelcearu, Tosca, Bancu; Maxim, Marin, Stanciu; Deac, Alibec, Mitrita
Norway possible starting lineup:
Hansen; Elabdellaoui, Strandberg, Ajer, Meling; Odegaard, Berge, Normann, Elyounoussi; King, Haaland
We say: Romania 0-1 Norway
Romania are without a win in four competitive home matches, while Norway are unbeaten in four on their travels, most recently thrashing Northern Ireland 5-1.
Lagerback's men have a lot more to play for than their opponents and we can see them coming away from Sunday's clash in Bucharest with all three points.
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Daniel Lewis
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