Gameweek 30 Preview

It has been a bit of a mess working out when games are the last two weeks, but Tuesday sees the last round of Eliteserien 2020. 

It has been a thoroughly enjoyable season with Bodø/Glimt running away with the title in amazing fashion, the battle for Europe involving 5 or 6 teams, and still into the final week we don't know who will be joining Aalesund in relegation.

Glimt beat Viking on Saturday 3-0 to finish off their season, and Molde hammered Sarpsborg 5-0 as well to confirm a strong end to the season for the 2019 champions.

But Tuesday will have the final six games of the league season, before a playoff between third bottom of the league and either Sogndal or Ranheim, who will play off for a place to gain promotion with Lillestrøm and Tromsø.

Tuesday 22nd December

Kristiansund v Haugesund (Home Win)

Kristiansund can still officially catch Rosenborg for 4th place in the table after they drew 2-2 with Stabæk last time out. Two goals in the last 10 minutes, one from Faris Pemi and the other from Psyche means they are three points behind Rosenborg, but would jump them on goal difference with a win if Rosenborg lose at Sandefjord.

Haugesund lost 0-4 at home to Glimt the last time they played, and given they are mid table with absolutely nothing to play for, it wouldn't surprise me if they have lost some intensity this late into December.

I fancy Kristiansund to go out and win this one fairly convincingly. The pressure is off now in terms of European spots now that they are big outsiders for it, and they can enjoy their last home game. 

The big talking point will be Amahl Pellegrino chasing the top scorer title. Kasper Junker scored two at the weekend to take his tally to 27 for the season, and Pellegrino knows he will need a hattrick to beat him by one goal.

5 of the last 7 Kristiansund, and 5 of the last 6 Haugesund games have gone for 3 or more goals, so I am expecting goals here, and wouldn't be surprised if Pellegrino is among them.

I wouldn't be surprised if both teams scored either, with Haugesund scoring in 9 away games in a row now, and Kristiansund only having two clean sheets in their last 13 games.

Corners can be expected too, with Haugesund games having at least 9 in 12 of 14 games, and Kristiansund the same in 11 of 12 games. 

A game with little pressure, although both teams will attack and Kristiansund will be trying to win desperately just incase Rosenborg slip up, and also to help Pellegrino.

Bet Builder: Kristiansund 2+ goals, 9+ match corners and both teams to score (2.40)

Goalscorers: Pellegrino (1.40), Faris (2.00) or Therkildsen (4.33)

Mjøndalen v Aalesund (Home Win)

Mjøndalen find themselves in the relegation spot above Aalesund needing a win to give them any hope of survival. They lost 1-0 at Rosenborg last time, a very late goal deciding the game after they had defended deep and wasted time for the full game.

They currently sit three points behind Start with a 3 goal worse goal difference and fewer goals scored. So they need to win, and hope start lose. They also need a 4 goal swing, so they will be looking for at least a 3 goal win here.

Aalesund can take down Mjøndalen with them with any sort of result, but they appear to have completely given up of late. They lost 1-4 at home to Strømsgodset and although they did start the game brightly, looked to completely stop playing after going two behind.

This game is all about what Mjøndalen can do to get ahead of Start and into the playoff spot. They need a good win, and I expect they will get it. They could not have asked for a better fixture, now they need to take advantage of it. 

Unfortunately for the home side, they have only managed to score more than one goal in a game, four times this season. Astonishingly bad record, it almost deserves relegation, but they can survive just.

They beat Aalesund 1-3 earlier in the year, and would take something similar here. They need to attack, and given Aalesund have nothing to lose, they will likely look to hit on the break.

It might be a nervy game, but there has to be goals, there is no chance this can end goalless, it would make no sense.

They have won 3 of their last 5 home games, so they need to make it 4 of 6, and a solid win by two or three goals would likely see them jump Start.

Aalesund have the motivation of being able to take Mjøndalen down with them, it could play a part here.

Bet Builder: Mjøndalen to win the 2nd half, over 2.5 goals, Both teams to score (3.10)

Goalscorers: Brustad (2.37), Brochmann (2.37) or Nakkim (7.00)

Sandefjord v Rosenborg (Away Win)

Sandefjord can enjoy their winter knowing they have another year in Eliteserien. Last time out they drew 1-1 with Odd, Marc Vales scoring a late equaliser., and this game will be the last game for manager Marti Cifuentes. He has done an incredible job and will be looking for a big send off from the players.

Rosenborg need at least a point to guarantee 4th place, but a win could see them move into 3rd if Vålerenga slip up at home to Start. Zachariassen scored the 95th minute winner against Mjøndalen, his 12th goal of a successful season personally.

Rosenborg knowing they need a win to have any chance of third place should be able to beat Sandefjord. But the home side will make it tough as they always do, and keeper Storevik in particular has been in excellent form. He has saved all of the last 5 penalties he has faced, incredible stuff.

I think Rosenborg will get a win here though, even if Sandefjord will want to get a result for departing manager. With Reginiussen suspended, missing his last chance to play for RBK, they might have a defensive issue, so I can see both teams scoring here.

Rosenborg's form had dropped off a cliff, but they have won two in a row, and if they can finish they season with three, it will give them some momentum.

As usual in their games, I think corners will be in play here, only two RBK away games have had fewer than 10 corners this season, 9 at Start and 6 at Brann.

I don't think it will be a goal fest, but Rosenborg nearly always score, and they will keep attacking until they do.

Bet Builder:10+ match corners, over 2.5 match goals (2.33)

Goalscorers: Zachariassen (3.40), Gussiås (3.00) or Islamovic (2.60)

Brann v Odd (Home Win)

Brann haven't had a good season but now safe they can concentrate on next year. They drew 1-1 at Start in their last game, although Bamba missed a late penalty to continue his poor conversion rate of chances this season.

Odd have completely blown their chance of a good finish and now sit in 7th place after being in the top 3 for most of the season. Just two wins in 11 games, and losing 5 out of the last 6, they are in shocking form.

At the weekend they lost 3-1 at home to Strømsgodset, a team who were fighting for safety. Rashani got their goal, but it was not a good display and now they need a win to jump Viking and finish the season in 6th place.

I fancy the home side to get a win here, just so they can try and have some momentum going into next season. The home record isn't great, so they will want a win to give the fans something to cheer before the winter break.

Odd have completely lost their edge and are conceding goals, 16 in the last 6 games, only managing to hold Sandefjord to fewer than two goals.

Brann have scored in every home game but one this season, and have also the same record for conceding. Just the first home game of the season they kept a clean sheet against Viking.

Only twice this year have Brann home games had fewer than 9 corners, and given both teams have nothing to gain from sitting in and playing out a boring game, I think this one will have plenty.

So a final day game that means little, but I expect goals from both teams, and I can see Brann winning against Odd who have completely gone off the rails.

It will be the last game for Brann for club legend Fredrik Haugen. 247 games over 10 seasons, he has 26 goals, I wouldn't be surprised if he hit a penalty or grabbed a goal in this one.

Bet Builder: Brann to win either half, Brann to score 2+ goals, 9+ match corners (2.60)

Goalscorers: Bamba (2.10), Ruud (4.00) or Haugen (3.75)

Strømsgodset v Stabæk (Draw)

No wins in 12 games, and five defeats on the bounce, Strømsgodset looked doomed for relegation. But they stopped the rot with a draw against Haugesund, hammered Aalesund away, and then on Saturday went to Odd and won again to guarantee safety.

Lars Jørgen Salvesen got one at Aalesund then followed it up with a hattrick at Odd to save his side from relegation, and possibly keep his manager in a job.

Stabæk have been safe for a while now and drew with Kristiansund last week, which makes it just one win in eight. They were two up thanks to goals from Edvardsen and Øveraas, but lost two late goals meaning they only took a point.

This game means nothing in terms of survival or European spots, so it will likely not quite have the same intensity as some other games. The relief for the home side was huge on Saturday, now they can relax and this game is between two teams with their minds on the winter break.

Hard to predict as a result of that, but I think given the teams we will most likely see goals for each team, and probably a few goals too.

I don't see either of these teams defending deep so it should be an end to end game, and corners as a result could very much be in play.

Bet Builder: over 3.5 match goals, both teams to score (2.05)

Goalscorers: Salvesen (2.20), Maatsen (3.75) or Hove (2.87)

Vålerenga v Start (Home Win)

Vålerenga are still unbeaten at home this season and still have a hold on 3rd place after a 2-2 draw at Viking in their previous game. Dønnum had given them a two goal lead with a double, but they lost that with two late goals conceded.

Start have a shocking away record with only 6 points and one win all season. They need a draw here to keep them in the relegation playoff spot ahead of Mjøndalen. They could still sneak it with a narrow defeat, but that would be lucky given who Mjøndalen are playing.

I fully expect Vålerenga to keep their home record in tact, and go and win this game to guarantee third place. They are unbeaten in 10 total, but have drawn five of them, so they will be keen to turn that into a win this week.

Start need something to happen, and even some momentum would give them confidence going in to what will be a tough playoff with Sogndal or Ranheim.

Vålerenga have scored in every home game, and Start have conceded in every away game, so don't expect Start to keep a clean sheet, so they will need to score to get a result.

For me they play better football than Mjøndalen, so it would be nice to keep them in the division, but this game will be hard for them.

One ear will be on the other game in Drammen, but Start need to look after themselves, and will probably look to keep it tight in the first half, and access the situation at the break.

Bet Builder: Vålerenga to win either half, 2+ Vålerenga goals and 9+ match corners (2.10)

Goalscorers: Dønnum (2.60), Nasberg (10.00) or Ramsland (3.00)

Bets of the Week

Kristiansund HT/FT v Haugesund (2.30)

Brann to score in Both Halves v Odd (2.50)

over 2.5 goals and BTTS in Sogndal v Ranheim (2.00)