With games being spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday in the Eliteserien this weekend, Valerenga will know what they need to do to move above the teams higher than them in the table.
Starting the weekend in seventh place, Valerenga are 5 points off third place, which is the final European qualifying place for next season. A win on Monday night could move them as high as fifth in the table but a defeat could easily see Valerenga drop to ninth in the Eliteserien, so there is all to play for in their match at Kristiansund.
Kristiansund begin the weekend in the bottom three and will be desperate to move away from the two automatic relegation places currently occupied by Viking and Tromso. Kristiansund have 17 points from sixteen games played, with Viking on 10 points and Tromso on 14 but with a game in hand.
Trends show Kristiansund have won only one of their last six Eliteserien matches, which is why they are struggling at the bottom end of the table. In their previous match they lost 4-2 at Stromgodset, a result which saw them drop below them in the league.
However, Kristiansund are unbeaten in five of their last seven games, the problem has been turning draws into wins. This is highlighted further when looking at their home form and Kristiansund are unbeaten in their last seven home games but have won just one of the last five. There have been three consecutive draws at the Kristiansund Stadion.
Kristiansund have had no problem scoring goals at home and have scored at least one goal in each of their last seven. Keeping goals out has proved more difficult and Kristiansund have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five home Eliteserien matches.
Valerenga started the season slowly, losing four of their first six Eliteserien games but have turned this form around of late, to edge up the league table.
Trends show Valerenga are undefeated in eight of their last nine league games, with their last defeat coming back on the 21st May at Sarpsborg. Since that result, Valerenga have won two and drawn three of their five Eliteserien games.
Away from home, Valerenga have been inconsistent, winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five league games. They have tasted one defeat in their last three away games, winning and drawing the last two.
The only injury problem for Kristiansund ahead of this match is Erlend Sivertsen, who is out with a long-term injury. Valerenga have doubts over the fitness of Simen Juklerod, Mohamed Keita and Henrik Kjelsrud Johansen but if all three are available, will have a full-strength squad from which to select their starting XI.
Kristiansund, who did well against Stabaek and Rosenborg endured a terrible first half last week, conceding 4 goals in 35 minutes. They will be determined to get back to winning ways but Valerenga have proved difficult to beat so don’t be surprised to see this one finish level, with both teams scoring.