The Norwegian Eliteserien resumes this weekend and the first match to take place on Saturday the 22nd of August is between Molde FK and Odd BK. The game will be played at the Aker Stadion with the hosts beginning the weekend in 2nd place on 31 points and the visitors just once place below them on 28 points.
It is also worth remembering that Odd BK have played one match fewer than their opponents, so this is a big game.
Molde FK come into the match having comprehensively defeated KuPS of Finland 5-0 at home in the Champions League qualifiers. The result was never in doubt as soon as the Norwegians took the lead in the 26th minute and it was an important victory for Molde FK who went into the match on the back of 2 defeats.
Both of the defeats came in the Eliteserien, one at Sarpsborg 08 and the other at home against Brann. The matches each finished with a 2-1 scoreline and those results mean Molde FK have lost 3 and won only 1 of their last 4 league games.
However, the loss at home against Brann was their first in 26 league matches and Molde FK had previously been on a run of 12 straight victories. Trends show Molde FK have managed to score 2 or more goals in 24 of their last 31 matches in the Eliteserien and there have been over 2.5 goals scored in 25 of their 28 most recent league games.
Odd BK have been in great form ahead of this match having won each of their last 5 matches in the Eliteserien. There have been victories at home over Aalesund, Rosenborg, and Kristiansund plus wins at Mjøndalen and Stabæk. Odd BK have scored 2 or more goals in 4 of those 5 games.
Away form shows Odd BK have been picking up plenty of victories on the road. They have won 4 of the last 5 away league games and have scored 2 or more goals in 3 of those 5 matches. It has been a remarkable turnaround in away form for Odd BK and prior to the 5-0 win over Start on the 27th of June, they had won only one of their previous 12 away Eliteserien games.
Team news and Molde FK will be without the suspended Etzaz Hussain plus the injured trio of Kristoffer Haraldseid, Martin Bjørnbakk, and Stian Gregersen.
Odd BK travel without Tobias Lauritsen who is not expected back in action until October due to a leg injury. He is the only player unavailable for the visitors.
This match should be the highlight of the weekend in Norway and we expect to see plenty of goals. Over 3.5 goals and both teams to score is a possibility and Molde FK could be the team who come out on top to take maximum points.