Two sides who could do well with a win square off in round 16 of the Norwegian Eliteserien as Odd play host to Stromsgodset at the Skagerak Arena on Sunday.
This will be the second meeting between the teams within the space of two months after Elias Melkersen and Faniel Tewelde scored for either side in a 1-1 draw at the Marienlyst Stadion in June's reverse fixture.
Match preview
© Imago
Having just crossed the 2024 Eliteserien midway point, Odd are one of the early relegation contenders and will need to turn their fortunes around in the second half of the season if they look to preserve their 15-year spell in the top flight.
Odd have picked up just three wins from 16 league matches while losing eight and claiming five draws to collect 14 points and sit bottom but one in the table, just one point above last-placed Sandefjord who have one game in hand.
While Kenneth Dokken's men have scored 16 goals so far, their underwhelming campaign has been owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, where they have conceded the highest number of goals in the division (30).
The Oddrane's defensive vulnerabilities were highlighted last Friday when they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bodo/Glimt, with August Mikkelsen, Fredrik Sjovold and Fredrik Andre Bjorkan hitting the target to hand the Glimt a comfortable victory.
Odd head into Sunday's game on a run of three consecutive defeats and have failed to win each of their last six matches across all competitions, losing four and claiming two draws since scraping a 2-1 victory over Lillestrom in May.
Like this weekend's hosts, Stromsgodset failed to find their feet last time out as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Tromso when the sides squared off at the Marienlyst Stadion.
Despite their dominance in the game, Jorgen Isnes's side were made to rue their wasteful display in front of goal as Lasse Selvag Nordas scored against the run of play in the second half to hand Tromso all three points.
Stromsgodset have now gone six consecutive games without a win across all competitions, losing three and claiming three draws since picking up back-to-back victories over Haugesund and Sarpsborg in May.
With 19 points from 15 matches, the Godset are currently seventh in the Eliteserien standings, level on points with eighth-placed Lillestrom who have one game in hand and nine points adrift of the European qualification places.
While Stromsgodset will be looking to stop the rot this weekend, they have managed just two wins in their last 15 visits to the Skagerak Arena in the league while losing 10 and claiming two draws since June 2009.
Team News
© Imago
Odd will have to cope without the services of 21-year-old defender Tony Miettinen, who is suspended for one game after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Bodo/Glimt last time out.
On the injury front, Dokken's men remain without the services of Swedish defender Leon Hien, who has been ruled out since coming off injured against KFUM Oslo on March 2.
Ghanaian forward Zakaria Mugeese continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a severe ankle injury in January and the 22-year-old will also sit out Sunday's game.
Stromsgodset will take to the pitch without 21-year-old forward Ole Enersen, who has been out of action since coming off with a severe injury against Lillestrom in February, while Norwegian defender Sondre Hassen picked up a back injury in April.
They are joined on the club's injury table by midfielder Kreshnik Krasniqi, who is set to sit out his fifth straight game since coming off injured against Odd in June's reverse fixture.
Odd possible starting lineup:
Hansen; Ivancevic, Owusu, Hagen; Ruud, Svendsen, Hussain, Jorgensen, Skjeldal; Ingebrigtsen, Erik
Stromsgodset possible starting lineup:
Bratveit; Sormo, Valsvik, Dahl; Vilsvik, Stengel, Danso, Tomasson, Andersen; Melkersen, Therkelsen
We say: Odd 2-1 Stromsgodset
Odd and Stromsgodset have struggled for results in recent weeks and will both head into Sunday's game in search of a pick-me-up. While we expect Isnes's men to put up a fight, we are backing Odd to secure all three points in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
