Viking will look to extend their healthy advantage at the top of the Norwegian Eliteserien table on Saturday night as they travel to Trondheim to take on third-placed Rosenborg.
Viking’s impressive run of form continued last time out, as goals from Anders Baertelsen, Peter Christiansen, and Vetle Auklend gave them a 3-0 victory at home to seventh-placed Fredrikstad.
The dark blues have not lost since an opening day 3-1 defeat at reigning OBOS-ligaen champions Valerenga, winning 10 of their next 12 (W10-D2-L0), including each of their last six.
That result leaves them nine points clear of second-placed Brann and 13 ahead of Bodo/Glimt – albeit the reigning champions do have four games in hand.
Rosenborg, on the other hand, were thrashed 4-1 away at eighth-place Kristiansund last weekend in a game they saw themselves 3-0 after just 35 minutes thanks to some terrible defending.
Whilst that was their second heavy defeat in three away games, Alfred Johansson’s men remain unbeaten at home this term (W3-D3-L0), but suffered a disappointing 1-1 draw against third-bottom KFUM in their last league clash on home soil.
How the bookies view it: Tough one to call
Despite winning each of their last six and 10 of their past 12 Eliteserien matches, leaders Viking aren’t favourites here, with BoyleSports pricing them at 11/8.
Rosenborg are marginal favourites, with the same firm pricing them at 5/4, whilst the draw is 5/2.
Head to head: Home is where the heart is
Both meetings in the Eliteserien between these two sides were won by the home side, with Viking winning 4-2 in Stavanger, whilst Rosenborg won 2-1 at Lerkendal.
The Dark Blues have not won at Lerkendal since 2002, losing on each of their last nine visits.
Players to watch: Christiansen to continue his hot streak?
Peter Christiansen has fired in seven goals across his previous eight appearances for Viking, including the second against Fredrikstad last week and the late winner at Aalesund in the cup in midweek. The Dane is an appealing 13/5 to find the target at Unibet.
With Marius Broholm’s departure to Lille, Emil Kondradsen Ceide is now Rosenborg’s top scorer in the Eliteserien with three. The Norwegian winger pulled one back against Kristiansund last week and is 3/1 at Bet365 to get on the scoresheet.
Predicted line-ups:
Rosenborg will be without departed winger Marius Broholm, as well as injured duo Tomas Nemcik and Noah Sahsah.
Viking will travel to Trondheim without Gianni Stensness and Nick D’Agostino due to injury.
Rosenborg: Tangvik, Dahl Reitan, Ceide, Jenssen, Pereira, Zeidan, Selnaes, Fossum, Holm, Ceide, Islamovic
Viking: Klaesson, Heggheim, Baertelsen, Falchener, Auklend, Hansen, Bell, Askildsen, Tripic, Austbo, Christiansen
Anything else catch the eye?
As already touched on, Viking have an absolutely terrible record at Lerkendal, losing each of their last nine visits and not winning there since 2002, but you feel these are the games they need to win if they are to clinch their first Eliteserien title since 1991.
They probably haven’t travelled to Trondheim in better form, winning each of their last six and 10 of their past 12, and whilst Rosenborg are unbeaten at home this campaign (W3-D3-L0), none of those matches have arrived against any of the top six.
Viking are 11/8 to win the game, but given their terrible record here, I’d prefer to go for the safer option and back Viking Draw No Bet, which is 10/11 at BoyleSports.
Viking’s opening 13 Eliteserien contests this season have averaged 12.84 corners per game, with Over 10.5 corners landing in 10 (77%) of them, and a repeat here pays 5/6 at BoyleSports.
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