No sooner does Eliteserien return from the international break than a host of big name injuries and suspensions strike.

Rosenborg, Molde, Brann and Haugesund now know their opponents for European qualifiers in July.

The league leaders were the big casualties in the cup, which has thrown up three all-Eliteserien ties to be played on 26 June:

Fram vs. Bærum

Ranheim vs. Brann

Kristiansund vs. Odd

Rosenborg vs. Aalesund

Viking vs. Stabæk

KFUM vs. Tromsdalen

Kongsvinger vs. Mjøndalen

At least some of Norway’s youngsters returned from an unsuccessful U20 World Cup campaign – 12-0 win aside – and hit the ground running again.

Strømsgodset vs. Molde

Strømsgodset were dominated by Bodø/Glimt and are offering little in attack, scoring in just one of their last five games. Continuing fitness doubts over Mos and Marcus Pedersen aren’t helping their cause.

Molde won fairly comfortably against Ranheim as Magnus Wolff Eikrem ran the show again, although the star man was withdrawn at half time in the cup with Aalesund leading 2-0. Christoffer Remmer had no problems deputising for Kristoffer Haraldseid in the league, with an assist and 2 bonus points. Haraldseid’s owners may be concerned that he didn’t make the squad in the cup defeat – we should know more about his availability ahead of this Saturday fixture, as well as whether Ruben Gabrielsen will serve his suspension for a red card against Aalesund. Andreas Linde is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, making Alex Craninx first choice in goal for now.

Vålerenga vs. Sarpsborg 08

What better way to follow up a humiliating derby loss than another 3-0 defeat in the league and a cup exit at the hands of a third tier side? Vålerenga will hope the Intility Arena can return to being the fortress it was in their first four home games. Johan Lædre Bjørdal is suspended, so hopes will be even higher that Jonatan Tollås can be fit to boost a defence that has conceded 11 goals in its last 270 minutes in all competitions.

Sarpsborg broke out of a four match losing streak thanks to a brace from Jorgen Strand Larsen. They could do without any more defensive injuries; Anwar Elyounoussi – a fantasy midfielder – played at right back in the last game. Kristoffer Zachariassen set up Strand Larsen’s first goal in the last league game, but went off early in the cup with a head injury.

Kristiansund BK vs. Stabæk

Only three players have picked up more bonus points than midfield star Amidou Diop – no surprise that he is reportedly attracting interest from clubs in Russia and Israel. Liridon Kalludra had found some form in recent weeks but didn’t even make the bench against Mjøndalen or Levanger.

Stabæk controversially came out second best in a slugfest against Tromsø. Franck Boli won a slightly soft penalty, but Luc Kassi’s shot was adjudged to have not crossed the line. Kassi had already committed the foul which led to TIL’s winning penalty. The midfield quartet who featured at the U20 World Cup emerged unscathed. Even if Stabæk’s league form dents interest in their fantasy options ahead of consecutive double gameweeks (GW14-15), Boli needed just half an hour to score a cup brace.

Odd vs. FK Haugesund

2 goals and 8 bonus points have seen Steffen Hagen outscore even Espen Ruud, although the latter scored a trademark free kick en route to a win on penalties in the cup. Odd’s games in hand mean they could go top of the table, but they’ll need to do better than in their surprise defeat at Sarpsborg.

Alexander Stølås is expected to be out for the season with an achilles injury which also looks to have scuppered a potential move to Bundesliga side Union Berlin. Even if he couldn’t keep out the rebound, Helge Sandvik went top of the keeper standings with his penalty save against Brann. Ibrahima Wadji had been attracting interest from Rosenborg, but it was revealed on Friday that he tested positive for morphine and faces a ban.

Ranheim vs. Mjøndalen

Ranheim have been erratic, but whenever they’ve won this season Mads Reginiussen has been directly involved in at least one goal.

Sondre Solholm Johansen’s goalscoring exploits aren’t confined to the league, as he scored the only goal in Mjøndalen’s cup win against Grorud. Joachim Olsen Solberg returns from suspension. Sondre Liseth looks a favourite of the man in the stands, with 7 bonus points despite just a solitary goal. Find a map of Norway and you’ll see “here be keeper rotation” written over Mjøndalen.

Tromsø vs. Rosenborg

Two teams who look to have turned a corner after poor starts to the season. Tromsø followed up their shock win over Molde with victory in a relegation six-pointer at Nadderud. Robert Taylor scored for the second game running, this time from the penalty spot, and again featured in a central attacking role. Lasse Nilsen picked up his third assist of the season by winning the penalty. Simen Wangberg returned to help TIL to their first clean sheet of the season.

Rosenborg turned on the style against Vålerenga. David Akintola set up Samuel Adegbenro’s first goal of the season and the duo both scored in the cup too. Alexander Søderlund scored with a sharp finish and could’ve had more. Erik Horneland says Nicklas Bendtner has probably played his last game for Rosenborg. Anders Konradsen earned maximum bonus points for the second game in a row but is likely to face a suspension after a 125th minute cup headbutt.

Viking FK VS. Bodø/Glimt

Perhaps the two biggest surprise packages of the season meet in Stavanger, with a host of popular budget options on show. Midfielders Kristian Thorstvedt and Ylldren Ibrahimaj have excelled for the hosts. Tommy Høiland, who proved a controversial figure as Lillestrøm went down to ten men in Viking’s last win, already has as many attacking returns as in 2017’s relegation season. Viljar Vevatne added a goal to his 5 clean sheets for a side who, apart from two heavy defeats in which they shipped 10 of their 13 goals conceded, have been solid at the back.

Håkon Evjen outshone the more expensive Amor Layouni against Strømsgodset, but both have been exceptional value so far. Geir Herrem hasn’t lived up to an electric start to the season. Fredrik Andre Bjørkan’s attacking instincts have made him B/G’s standout defensive option. Could an early cup exit be beneficial while other teams worry about added midweek fixtures?

Brann vs. Lillestrøm

Brann have underwhelmed at the back, but Vito Wormgoor has at least lived up to his attacking reputation at the other end of the pitch, already matching last season’s tally of 4 goals. Veton Berisha may not have earned an assist against Haugesund as Wormgoor followed up his own saved penalty, but now has 9 bonus points. Gilbert Koomson isn’t in Lars Arne Nilsen’s good books after criticising the manager.

Thomas Lehne Olsen’s 6 goals are more than the rest of Lillestrøm’s squad combined, but their main man was stretchered from the pitch with an ankle injury against Viking. Can Moses Ebiye step up in his absence? Sheriff Sinyan will serve a suspension after a controversial red card for “bringing down” Høiland.

Looking ahead

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