Eliteserien Fantasy Gameweek 18 Preview

Two more impressive wins in their double gameweek saw Bodø/Glimt move to the summit of the Eliteserien table. Vålerenga failed to win either of their games against teams battling relegation, Kristiansund couldn’t overcome two title chasing opponents at home but Viking ended their winless run.

Rosenborg reached the Champions League playoff round thanks to a 6-2 aggregate win over Maribor. Molde needed extra time to see of Aris in the Europa League, while Haugesund gave a good account of themselves but ultimately fell short against PSV. Rosenborg and Molde will have to balance their league schedule over the next two weeks with playoffs against Dinamo Zagreb and Partizan Belgrade respectively.

Odd vs. Rosenborg

Odd failed to close the gap at the top of the table as they drew at Kristiansund. Torgeir Børven tapped in after Moussa Njie forced a save with a fairly tame shot. Birk Risa somehow missed a chance to restore the lead from inside the six-yard box. Odd couldn’t have a much tougher short-term schedule; after this visit from the champions, for which Espen Ruud is suspended and Fredrik Oldrup Jensen is a doubt, they travel to Molde and host table toppers Bodø/Glimt. Will the Børvenshow continue?

Rosenborg’s decision to rest some big names against Tromsø was vindicated on multiple fronts. Erik Botheim scored a poacher’s hat-trick, and fellow youngster Emil Konradsen Ceide exhibited good wing play to deliver two assists. Gustav Valsvik and Gjermund Åsen also scored, while a penalty save made Andre Hansen a good fantasy pick despite the absence of a clean sheet. After conceding the opener in the second leg against Maribor, Alexander Søderlund and a brace from Anders Konradsen secured another 3-1 win, with two assists from David Akintola and one from Vegar Eggen Hedenstad. New signing Edvard Tagseth (5.5m) joins from Liverpool, although he faces a big task to earn a place in this midfield.

Stabæk vs. Kristiansund BK

Stabæk have added another name to the mix as they look to find a new striker: Kasper Junker (6m) made his debut against Vålerenga. Andreas Hanche-Olsen is doing his bit from defence, scoring for the second game running.

After some stunning saves against Vålerenga, Sean McDermott recorded just one stop in DGW17 and even that lead to an Odd goal. Christophe Psyche was again an aerial threat, scoring a glancing header from a Torgil Gjertsen corner. Christoffer Aasbak was a good outlet as KBK took the fight to Bodø/Glimt; his cross found Bendik Bye rifled a shot into the corner of the net.

Mjøndalen vs. Brann

Lillestrøm emerged victorious but couldn’t handle Olivier Occean, who could’ve been awarded an early penalty but soon scored an excellent header from Vetle Dragsnes’ cross. When Mjøndalen found themselves 3-1 down through a Joachim Olsen Solberg own goal, Occean hit post and scored another header, set up by Quint Jansen.

Brann should be well rested after 3-0 win at Ranheim in which Daouda Bamba and Veton Berisha impressed, Vito Wormgoor scored a penalty and Gilbert Koomson put the icing on the cake with a goal on the counter attack. Mjøndalen frustrated them in a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture.

Ranheim vs. Molde

Despite having just a single away fixture, Even Barli was the only goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in DGW17 as Ranheim won at Haugesund. Magnus Blakstad laid the ball off to Erik Valla Dønnem to curl in the only goal, but the matchwinner picked up a booking and will be suspended for this game.

Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Leke James were the usual suspects in Molde’s last league game, a 2-0 win at Viking, but Mathis Bolly was the unlikely hero against Aris as he ran clear from Martin Ellingsen’s pass and chipped the keeper in extra time. The stakes are high ahead of a busy schedule for Molde, who have bolstered their midfield with Start’s Tobias Christensen (6.5m) and Seattle Sounders’ Henry Wingo (5.5m).

Tromsø vs. Lillestrøm

Gudmund Kongshavn’s error trying to pass out from the back set the tone at Lerkendal. TIL at least carved out some openings in attack. Onni Valakari earned a penalty but not a fantasy assist as Robert Taylor needed two attempts to convert. Morten Gamst Pedersen scored a rocket of a free kick from distance. With Mikael Norø Ingebrigtsen out for the season, Aidan Barlow (5.5m) has been signed on loan from Manchester United.

While Tobias Salquist was lucky not to give away a penalty against Mjøndalen, Thomas Lehne Olsen won one for Lillestrøm for similar incident. Arnor Smarason converted, and set up Simen Kind Mikalsen to score a header. Simen Rafn forced the own goal which won the game. LSK beat their opponents 4-0 in June but won’t expect such an easy task at Alfheim.

Vålerenga vs. FK Haugesund

Matthias Vilhjalmsson and Bård Finne disappointed fantasy managers, with the latter barely managing 90 minutes over two games. Aron Dønnum fared better and his price may see him prove more popular than his premium teammates in the coming weeks. Dønnum collected Felix Horn Myhre’s pass and showed nifty footwork to find room for a shot. Johan Lædre Bjørdal headed in Dønnum’s corner but VIF fell to defeat at Strømsgodset. Mayron George made his debut in the second DGW17 fixture, hitting the bar with a header and scoring after Herolind Shala’s initial effort hit the post. Dønnum picked up bonus points for a fourth consecutive game. Efrain Juarez was injured early in the draw with Stabæk, but new defensive options include Pierre Kanstrup (5.5m) and Amin Nouri (5.5m), back from a loan spell in Belgium.

Haugesund were wasteful as they fell to Ranheim. Mikkel Desler fired over early on, but at least earned a bonus point. Bruno Leite was the width of the post away from forcing extra time against PSV as the tie finished 1-0 on aggregate.

Viking FK vs. Strømsgodset

Captain Zlatko Tripic came to the fore, scoring in both of Viking’s DGW17 matches and winning a penalty in the second. Tommy Høiland set up both of Tripic’s goals and converted the spot kick which ended a run of six league games without a win. Kristoffer Løkberg joined from Brann and slotted straight into the team, earning 3 bonus points against Sarpsborg, giving fantasy managers holding Viking’s midfield options food for thought.

Mos moved to Sarpsborg on Friday, with Lars-Jørgen Salvesen joining Godset in return. Lars-Christopher Vilsvik’s low shot opened the scoring against Vålerenga and was the defender’s third attacking return in a row. Muhamed Keita enjoyed a hugely impressive second half cameo, utilising his pace to score two goals. Mikkel Maigaard set up the first with a long ball, before Moses Mawa headed into Keita’s path to secure the win. Martin Hansen didn’t have the most convincing debut in goal.

Sarpsborg 08 vs. Bodø/Glimt

With Steffen Skålevik suspended and Alexander Ruud Tveter injured, Sarpsborg will hope Mos is able to make his debut. Amin Askar is also suspended after talking himself into a second yellow against Viking. Two defenders combined for S08’s goal, with Magnaar Ødegaard assisting Bart Straalman. Straalman then gave away the penalty which restored Viking’s lead.

Somewhat surprisingly, new league leaders Bodø/Glimt allowed Geir Herrem to depart for Sweden’s Kalmar after their first game of the DGW. Amor Layouni was the star of Glimt’s win over Viking; his parried shot set up Philip Zinckernagel, playing up front, for a tap-in, before he used his pace to set up simple finish for Håkon Evjen. Evjen also opened scoring at Kristiansund, where Odd had dropped points three days earlier. Ole Amund Sveen set up first goal but was sent off in the second half, before Fredrik Andre Bjørkan found Jens Hauge to seal another win. Also suspended this week is Erlend Dahl Reitan.