Eliteserien is back this weekend after the international break, with seven fixtures taking place over the weekend. Molde and Start have a free weekend as everyone else plays the fixture they have in hand over those two.
Molde travel to Qarabag in Azerbaijan during the week for a Champions League qualifier, so this gives Glimt a chance to extend their lead at the top to 13 points.
With transfer windows open throughout Europe still, Eliteserien has been getting picked apart a little with some top young players leaving for clubs all over the continent. Will mention that in the individual game previews.
With Glimt still unbeaten after 16 games and looking like nailed on title winners, can they not only win their first ever title, but do it without losing a single game?
Saturday 12th September
Kristiansund v Viking (Home Win)
Kristiansund picked up an excellent 2-0 win on the road against Sandefjord in the last game week. Absolutely no prizes for guessing the goalscorer, as Amahl Pellegrino picked up another two goals, taking him on to 15 goals in the 15 games he has played this season, four clear of the Glimt attacking trio now.
There was also news of a professional contract for Noah Solskjær, son of Ole Gunnar, who signed a one year deal with KBK just this week.
In gameweek 16 the surprise of the week came in Stavanger as Viking beat Molde 3-2. In a really entertaining encounter Viking were clinical with their chances, goals from Berisha, Ibrahimaj and Torsteinbø giving them a much needed win as they moved up to 10th in the table.
Unfortunately this week it looks like they will be without left back Adrian Pereira, who looks set to sign for PAOK in Greece. I wrote about Viking in a piece on here and mentioned how important Pereira and Bytyqi linking up has been to Viking tactically, but the 21 year old looks set to move on for 12 million NOK.
This game though should be a really open and good game for the neutral. There is 57 goals scored between them so far in the 16 games, so we should definitely be expecting a game with plenty goals. When they met in Stavanger on the 2nd of August it was 1-2 to the away side, and Kristiansund will be hoping they can continue what has been a really impressive run of form.
The home side have won 5 out of their last 6 games, only losing once in 8 games, a 2-1 reverse against Odd, as they have jumped up to 5th in the table, hot on the heels of Rosenborg and Odd.
I personally think Kristiansund could get the win at home, they have only lost once at home this season, and Viking have only won twice on the road. I'm definitely not expecting either side to be keeping a clean sheet. Both teams have only three this season, so both teams to score very likely here, as well as plenty goals.
Pellegrino has scored 7 in the last 6 games, and scored for four games running too, so no doubt he will be looking to continue that run against a team that has conceded 30 goals this season. Viking themselves have scored 10 in their last four games, so they are in very good goalscoring form.
I won't be surprised by a win either way in this one, but if there isn't goals in it, it would be a real shock. Also in matches involving both teams, there is an average of over 11 corners, with at least 9 coming in all of the previous 10 Viking fixtures.
Bet Builder: Both teams to score, over 2.5 goals, 9+ match corners (2.20)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Pellegrino (2.05), Berisha (2.62), Bytyqi (4.00)
Stabæk v Haugesund (Draw)
Stabæk come into this one having not won in 7 games, and after dropping into the bottom half of the table. They did manage a respectable 2-2 draw at Rosenborg last time out, coming from behind twice to salvage a point.
Goals from one of my favourites, Hugo Vetlesen, and a late equaliser from Oliver Edvardsen will hopefully spark this young team on to winning a game. They had switched to a 4-4-2 for this game, and the goal threat of Vetlesen and Edvardsen was helped by the two strikers, Kinoshita and Botheim, occupying defenders.
There was also news on the international front, as defender and captain Andreas Hanche-Olsen was called up to the national team for the first time, although didn't manage to get on against Northern Ireland.
Haugesund played one of their best games of the season last time out beating Vålerenga at home 2-1. Another of my favourites, Kristoffer Velde, curled in a beautiful effort to give them the lead, and Ibrahima Wadji scored in his second consecutive game, heading in a Mikkel Dessler cross.
This game is really tough to pick a winner, and it could be a low scoring affair too. Stabæk have scored a measly 7 goals at home in 8 games, and Haugesund have only managed 5 away from home. It doesn't make for a high scoring affair.
The reverse fixture finished 3-1 in Haugesund, so maybe when they play against each other it is slightly different, but I won't be betting on goals.
Haugesund have failed to score in 4 of 7 away fixtures, while Stabæk have failed in 4 of 8 home fixtures. Unfortunately for Haugesund, Velde is suspended for this one after a fourth booking last time out, and they will miss his energy, aggression and goals threat from the left hand side.
Haugesund have won two in a row to lift them just above Stabæk, but this game I can't pick a winner, so I won't. Stabæk have 7 draws, the most in the league so far, and I would almost be tempted to back to draw at a good price.
Bet Builder: Under 3.5 goals, 9+ corners (2.00)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Wadji (2.75), Vetlesen (5.00), Edvardsen (2.87)
Sunday 13th September
Aalesund v Sarpsborg (Home Win)
Aalesund under new manager Lars Arne Nielsen lost out narrowly 1-0 to Start in his first game in charge, and he will be desperate to get a first win to try and breathe some life into the bottom of the table club.
Sarpsborg have had a terrible two weeks, first losing 3-0 at home to Bodø/Glimt, then losing probably their two best young players this week. Jørgen Strand Larsen, off the back of a hattrick for the under 21 side, has signed for Groningen in the Netherlands.
Possibly even worse news for the team is Ismaila Coulibaly leaving to join Belgian club K Beerschot VA. Coulibaly has been a revelation this season, the teenager has broken onto the scene and looked a really classy player, controlling games from midfield. He will be hard to replace, as will the hold up play and general striking ability of Strand Larsen.
Admittedly the money for both players will help the club, but they will be missed on the pitch.
It is for this reason I fancy Aalesund to get a win this week, as striker Holmbert Fridjonsson, fresh off a goal against Belgium for Iceland in the week, is still at the club to do the business for them, although there is still plenty interest, particularly from Italy.
One win all season for Aalesund which came against Start, but Sarpsborg have lost their last two games by 3 goals, and now with holes in their team, Aalesund have to go and try and win this game.
The new manager will certainly tighten up the defense, but they need to remain a threat at the other end, they have scored in every home game this season and should be doing so again here.
Sarpsborg have lost 5 of 7 on the road, with only one win, so they are poor away from home, and it is a long trip to Aalesund for them. It is difficult to look at goals in this game with the new manager at Aalesund, and with two goal threats for Sarpsborg away, so despite the history of Aalesund this season, I will avoid that.
Bet Builder: Aalesund win/draw double chance, 11 or fewer corners in the match (2.04)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Fridjonsson (2.20), Castro (2.50) or Mos Abdellaoue (2.37)
Bodø/Glimt v Odd (Home Win)
A 13 point lead for beating Odd is the prize for the Glimt machine as they look to remain perfect at home. Last time out they beat Sarpsborg 3-0, two goals from Philip Zinckernagel, and a penalty goal for Hauge giving them an easy win in the end.
That is 11 goals a piece for the wingers as they join Junker on that number. 33 goals between 3 players, impressive stuff.
Odd were in scintillating form themselves, carving open Mjøndalen time and time again, scoring six in a 6-1 victory. Defender Espen Ruud bagged himself a couple, as did Mushaga Bakenga, all in the first half. In the second half their goals were added to by Elbasan Rashani, and finally by Birk Risa as Mjøndalen collapsed.
Odd have won 6 of their last 7 games, defeat coming at Molde two games ago, as they look to nail down third place in the league.
It should be a very interesting game this one, both teams scoring goals and creating plenty chances, two exciting teams. Kasper Junker may well return for Glimt up top, although Boniface has done well as his replacement recently.
I can't see past Glimt in this one again, although I can definitely see Odd getting a goal and making the game interesting. The away side generally keep it tight on the road, just six conceded in seven games so far.
The reverse fixture however saw Glimt win 0-4, Espen Ruud was sent off in the 15th minute though, so not a fair reflection of the teams.
I think we can back goals here, probably for both sides, and as I did last time, I will be backing Glimt to score in both halves, as they did again in Sarpsborg. 29 out of 32 halves of football they have scored, so it looks like a good bet to me.
Odd corners might be worth backing, they have hit 5 or more in every away game except one in a bad display at Sarpsborg.
Bet Builder: Glimt to score in Both Halves, Both teams to score (2.60)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Zinckernagel (2.00), Saltnes (3.50), Bakenga (3.25)
Mjøndalen v Sandefjord (Draw)
Mjøndalen come into this off the back of that horrendous display at Odd, and find themselves 15th in the table now behind Start. Those two 1-0 wins they had in August now look a little bit of an outlier, as they have lost 9 games in their last 11.
Sandefjord sit 13th after their defeat at home to Kristiansund, it was the first time they have failed to score in a game since the 5th of July, so they will be hoping it is a one off,
This game is unlikely to produce many goals, I think Mjøndalen could play far more defensively after the way Odd ripped them to pieces and given they are the lowest scoring side in the league with only 13 goals, there won't be many at the other end.
Mjøndalen are in big trouble this season, they are hardly scoring, and early season defensive strength is gone, no doubt the pressure of having to keep clean sheets has caught up with them.
The reverse fixture ended 1-0 to Sandefjord, and I can see this game being another one with either no goals or one goal. It is hard to pick a winner with both sides having plenty weaknesses, although Sandefjord have looked likely to score goals, which will worry Mjøndalen.
Deyver Vega has signed for Sandefjord from Vålerenga. The Costa Rican didn't get going in Oslo, but maybe a new home can help the winger find his best form.
It is hard to find betting angles in this one, although I can see Sandefjord grabbing at least 1 goals, given they had scored in 9 games in a row before last week.
Bet Builder: Sandefjord to score 1+ goals, Under 3.5 goals in the match (2.10)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Gussiås (3.40), Brochmann (3.40) or Celorrio (3.75)
Strømsgodset v Rosenborg (Draw)
Godset drew 1-1 away at Brann last time out, 20 year old midfielder Johan Hove grabbing the goal after they had fallen behind in the first half. Officially the youngest team in the league so far this season averaging under 25 years of age, Godset have had issues defensively in particular this season, conceding 2 goals a game on average.
Rosenborg will be playing their first game under new manager Åge Hareide this week, looking to jump Odd in the league and move into 3rd place. Last time out RBK were disappointed to draw with Stabæk, Tagseth and then a Børven penalty had twice given them the lead, but they couldn't hold on.
I think this game should produce plenty goals, RBK won the reverse fixture 3-0, and this fixture in November last season produced a 3-3 classic. I think more of the same will happen, with both teams scoring and a nice open high pressing game.
Godset have conceded 32 goals this season, scoring 23, and RBK have scored 12 goals in their previous 4 games combined, so if there is a clean sheet here I'd be surprised.
RBK have tried to sort their left back issues out with the signing of Pa Konate from Jonkopings in Sweden, the 26 year old Swedish born, Guinean international(and Swedish before that) will be a natural option for them in that position.
Helland looks likely to miss out in this game, and I think that helps as Carlo Holse will play on the right wing where he has looked his most dangerous recently.
If I had to pick a winner I would probably go for the away side, but they have only 3 wins on the road and so could well be more likely a scoring draw.
Also will be looking for at least 8 corners. That has happened in all but one Godset game, and all but two Rosenborg games.
Another thing to note is Børven is now on RBK penalties, so worth having him on to score in this one as RBK spend plenty time in the opposition box.
Bet Builder: over 2.5 goals, Both teams to score and 8+ match corners (2.10)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Børven (2.00), Mawa (3.20) or Holse (3.75)
Vålerenga v Brann (Home Win)
Vålerenga were really poor last time out against Haugesund, and they have gone into the transfer market to try and fix that.
First in the door was Vidar Örn Kjartansson, the striker who scored 7 in 15 for Hammarby in Allsvenskan last year, joins from Rostov in Russia. He scored 25 in 29 games back in 2014 for Vålerenga, so the 30 year old will be looking for more of that form on his return.
He has been a regular scorer in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv, as well as at Malmö in Sweden, so he looks like a really good signing.
Also coming in is Henrik Bjørdal from Zulte Waregem in Belgium. The former Aalesund midfielder, and Norwegian U21 international is coming back to Norway, and at 23 years old has plenty experience from abroad already as he looks to show what he can do in Vålerenga.
Unfortunately it looks like Aron Dønnum could be on his way out the door, with Lecce looking the most likely destination. His replacement could well be former Odd star, Rafik Zekhnini, but that has not been settled yet.
Brann meanwhile haven't improved the squad and it will be up to new man Kåre Ingebritsen to move them up the table.
Brann have a much better away record than home record, taking 13 of their 22 points on the road. But Vålerenga are unbeaten at home this season, including a recent draw with Bodø/Glimt.
I like the business Vålerenga have done in the window, they needed a goalscorer and it looks like they have him. They were also short of a quality midfielder, so that should be fixed too.
I fancy them to beat Brann, like they did in Bergen on the 1st of August, 1-2. I think it will be a close game, but Vålerenga have that bit of extra quality.
Vålerenga have scored in every home game this season and at least 2 in all but 1 of them, and Brann have scored in 6 of 8 away games, so I fancy both teams to get a goal But a 2-1 or 3-1 for the home side looks the most likely to me.
Away from home, Brann have had a tendency to defend their box, and concede plenty corners, so I will probably be looking at Vålerenga corners too.
Bet Builder: Vålerenga 2+ goals, Vålerenga to win either half (2.10)
Goalscorers to add to Bet Builder: Finne (2.40), Kjartansson (2.10) or Taylor (3.75)
Bets for Eliteserien this Weekend
Glimt to score in both Halves 1.90 NAP
Aalesund to win (draw no Bet) 2.10
Vålerenga to win/draw double chance and BTTS v Brann 1.95
Amahl Pellegrino to score against Viking (2.00)
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