Fresh from snapping a six-match winless run across all competitions, Rosenborg endeavour to build up a head of steam when Fredrikstad arrive at Lerkendal Stadion for Sunday's Eliteserien encounter.
While the hosts ran out 2-1 victors over Kristiansund in their most recent affair, their visitors coincidentally saw their golden streak come to an end in a 3-0 trouncing by Tromso.
Match preview
Champions of the land on 26 occasions, Rosenborg have fallen on some hard times since last lifting the Eliteserien trophy aloft in 2018, regressing to podium outsiders and now an unremarkable mid-table outfit over the past few seasons.
Swedish head coach Alfred Johansson - appointed for the 2024 season at just 33 years of age - has not been able to oversee a revival in Rosenborg fortunes, as Sunday's hosts endured a miserable sequence of five losses and a draw from six games between April 27 and May 20.
Another reverse was on the cards on May 26, when Kristiansund's Jesper Isaksen headed in the game's opening goal, but whatever Johansson said at half time went down a treat, as Rosenborg pulled themselves out of their rut courtesy of Jayden Nelson and Marius Broholm's efforts.
On account of their first top-flight success since April 21, Johansson's men lie smack-bang in the middle of the Eliteserien rankings in eighth place but remain much closer to the relegation line than the European spots mathematically; just three points separate them from second-from-bottom Sarpsborg 08.
Of course, few at the Lerkendal Stadion should be sweating over the embryonic table with just 10 games played, and Sunday's hosts return to home territory having scored in all of their Eliteserien matches in front of their own fans this season, last drawing a blank all the way back in June 2023.
Three days after Rosenborg's dampening winless sequence came to an end, upcoming visitors Fredrikstad lost for the first time in 13 matches in all competitions, as Tromso duo Lasse Nordas (two) and Jakob Napoleon Romsaas found a way past an unusually open backline.
That three-goal reverse came mere days after Fredrikstad were also held to a goalless stalemate by Tromso, leaving them scoreless in back-to-back matches before their trip to Rosenborg, but Mikkjal Thomassen's side have still exceeded expectations and then some in 2024.
Only earning promotion back to the top flight last year, the 2023 second-division champions have been this season's surprise package and sit third in the table with 21 points to their name - a standing good enough for the Europa Conference League qualifying rounds - while they are only three points below Brann and reigning champions Bodo/Glimt.
Key to the visitors' astounding start has been their unrivalled away form, as no other Eliteserien side have accrued as many as the 13 points that Fredrikstad have amassed on the road this term, even if Wednesday's setback was a harsh reality check for Thomassen's troops.
While there has not been a league encounter between Sunday's foes for 12 years, Rosenborg and Fredikstad crossed paths in the third round of this season's Norwegian Cup on May 1, where an injury-time strike from Oscar Aga got the job done for the newly-promoted team.
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Team News
With just 34 minutes played in last Sunday's win over Kristiansund, Rosenborg captain Markus Henriksen had to call it a day due to hamstring tightness, although he was optimistic about his chances of recovering in time to face Fredrikstad this weekend.
Should the ever-present skipper fail a late fitness test, Mikkel Konradsen Ceide will be the first port of call to plug the defensive gap, as fellow centre-back Tomas Nemcik is still facing a few weeks out with a thigh issue.
Ole Saeter, Emil Frederiksen and Jonathan Augustinsson are in the same boat, while highly-rated 17-year-old midfielder Sverre Nypan - believed to be on the radar of Manchester United and Real Madrid - is a doubt after missing the Kristiansund win through illness.
Meanwhile, Fredrikstad came out of their loss to Tromso unharmed on the physical front, but Mai Traore (thigh), Filip Stensland (heel), Jeppe Kjaer (knock) and Joannes Bjartalid (unspecified) make up a quartet of injury-related absentees.
Midfielder Erlend Segberg only lasted until half time in midweek, but that swap appeared to be tactical in nature from Thomassen, who could now place his faith in Morten Bjorlo from the opening whistle.
Rosenborg possible starting lineup:
Tangvik; Reitan, Henriksen, Jenssen, Pereira; Nypan, Selnaes, Vaananen; Reitan-Sunde, Broholm, Nelson
Fredrikstad possible starting lineup:
Fischer; Aukland, Woledzi, Kvile; Metcalfe, Bjorlo, Hendriksson, Magnusson, Begby; Sorlokk, Aga
We say: Rosenborg 2-2 Fredrikstad
Whether Fredrikstad's heavy loss to Tromso is simply a minor setback or indicative of a long-term regression remains to be seen, but the visitors can usually be backed to flaunt their attacking prowess on the road.
However, Rosenborg will undoubtedly boast the fresher legs and also have momentum on their side from last weekend's triumph, so Johansson's men are certainly good enough for a point against the high-flyers.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
