Molde play host to Lillestrom on Sunday looking for the win that will keep them within touching distance of the top two in the Eliteserien standings.
Meanwhile, the visitors make the trip to the Aker Stadion among several teams scrapping for position in mid-table, currently sitting in seventh spot.
Match preview
© Reuters
After the disappointment of only finishing in fifth position last season, there is a determination about Molde to achieve a top-two spot this time around.
However, since the opening three games, which were all won, there has been an inconsistency about Erling Moe's side, who have not recorded back-to-back victories since.
Rather incredibly, their three defeats have all come against teams currently sitting in the bottom six of the table, undermining their efforts in the other fixtures.
On a positive note, Molde are on a three-match unbeaten run either side of the break for Euro 2024, away successes coming at Brann and Tromso during that time.
Moe's team have also scored in each of their 13 league encounters during 2024, something which will not be lost on Lillestrom ahead of this contest.
The visitors secured sixth spot last season and look on course for a similar position this time around, yet they have lost more games than they have won.
Just five victories and 15 goals have been recorded in their 12 fixtures thus far, it taking successive victories at opposite ends of June to get back on track.
After a 2-1 triumph away at Tromso, Andreas Georgson witnessed his players prevail by the same scoreline at home to fellow mid-table side KFUM Oslo.
Furthermore, Lillestrom have also won three of their most recent five encounters on their travels, and will fancy their chances of earning something from what is one of their toughest matches on paper.
Team News
Valdemar Lund is in line to come into the Molde starting lineup after Anders Hagelskjaer was forced off injured within six minutes against Tromso.
Barring any fitness issues, the remainder of the team could stay the same, Moe only making two further substitutions despite the near-month gap between matches.
Forward Kristian Eriksen got on the scoresheet last time out for his seventh league strike of the campaign.
Erling Knudtzon lasted just five minutes after being introduced as a Lillestrom substitute against KFUM and is unlikely to be involved here.
Sander Moen Foss came from the bench to net the winner in that contest, but the defender may not come into the team for his first league start of the season.
Molde possible starting lineup:
Posiadata; Amundsen, Lund, Oyvann; Linnes, Breivik, Daehli, Kaasa, Lovik; Eikrem, Eriksen
Lillestrom possible starting lineup:
Hedenstad; Larsson, Garnas, Gabrielsen, Tonnessen; Asen, Lundemo, Hoff; Ibrahimaj, Olsen, Va
We say: Molde 2-0 Lillestrom
While Lillestrom have shown enough this campaign to suggest that they can challenge most teams, that may not be the case on Sunday. Molde can afford few slip-ups if they wish to keep the leaders within their sights and we feel that a professional performance and clean sheet will be delivered here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
