Eliteserien Fantasy Gameweek 29 Preview

Molde are champions for the first time since 2014, but there’s still all to play for elsewhere in Eliteserien and its fantasy counterpart. Bodø/Glimt, Odd and Rosenborg face a three-way battle for the two remaining European spots. Haugesund, Stabæk and Vålerenga secured their safety before international break, leaving six teams facing the possibility of relegation. Ranheim and Strømsgodset are currently in the drop zone, with Mjøndalen occupying the playoff place while Sarpsborg, Lillestrøm and Tromsø look over their shoulders.

It’s worth noting that all matches in the final two gameweeks kick off at the same time.

Bodø/Glimt vs. Kristiansund BK

In a thriller at Lerkendal, Jens Petter Hauge won and scored a penalty and Philip Zinckernagel’s great work on the right set up Hauge to head his side in front against Rosenborg. While Glimt were just seconds away from a big point, European qualification is still in their own hands and this week’s opponents Kristiansund don’t have a great away record.

Jesper Isaksen opened the scoring for Kristiansund in an emphatic win against Sarpsborg. Amahl Pellegrino fired the ball towards the near post and forced an own goal. Pellegrino set up Christoffer Aasbak whose speculative effort was helped in by deflection and Flamur Kastrati set up Sondre Sørli to make it 4-0. Pellegrino has been a revelation for his new club but a wrist injury is expected to sideline him for the remaining games.

Odd vs. Tromsø

Torgeir Børven barely had a sniff of goal against Brann, but with 20 goals he’s already bettered the tallies of the last two golden boot winners. Along with newly crowned champions Molde, Odd are one game away from an unbeaten season at home.

Jacob Karlstrøm started a fifth game in a row in goal and made some important saves in the stalemate with Vålerenga. Tromsø’s best chance from open play fell to the wrong player, as defender Jostein Gundersen scooped the ball over the bar. Morten Gamst Pedersen came close with a free kick but it was a chance missed to pick up crucial points. Anders Jensen is suspended.

Ranheim vs. Lillestrøm

Vegard Østraat Erlien’s first time finish from Mateo Lopez’s pass gave Ranheim the advantage in their battle against fellow strugglers Mjøndalen, but the team in brown came back to win. Fullbacks Jørgen Olsen Øveraas and Torbjørn Heggem had chances but Ranheim weren’t convincing enough in attack and their fate could be sealed this Sunday.

Despite Marko Maric’s penalty save, Lillestrøm were well beaten by Stabæk. Thomas Lehne Olsen looped a header off the bar, but by the time the striker forced a save for Aleksander Melgalvis to tap in from close range, it was too late. Without a win in nine, Lillestrøm face two sides hoping to leapfrog them in the table in their final two fixtures.

Sarpsborg 08 vs. FK Haugesund

The heavy margin of Sarpsborg’s defeat to Kristiansund last week left their goal difference at -10; still the best of the teams in the relegation battle, but that could yet change. S08’s strength this season has been keeping games close and avoiding defeat at home – they’ve only lost twice on their own turf.

Haugesund beat Viking in a dress rehearsal for December’s cup final. Mikkel Desler narrowly avoided a spectacular own goal, as his shanked clearance ricocheted off the bar and the post. Niklas Sandberg was the matchwinner from the spot after Bruno Leite’s shot was blocked by a hand.

Stabæk vs. Mjøndalen

Stabæk are becoming masters of avoiding relegation and they dispatched Lillestrøm with confidence. Ola Brynhildsen ran on to Kristoffer Askildsen’s pass and slid a shot underneath the onrushing keeper. Andreas Hanche-Olsen set up young striker Oliver Valaker Edvardsen to score his first Eliteserien goal. Brynhildsen won a penalty, but Emil Bohinen’s low effort was saved. Kasper Junker sealed the game, following up another saved effort from Brynhildsen’s saved effort. A late consolation goal brought denied Stabæk a sixth consecutive clean sheet.

Mjøndalen’s huge win against Ranheim leaves them in the relegation playoff place, with their fate in their own hands. Stian Semb Aasmundsen was pushed in the penalty area and Tonny Brochmann made no mistake with the penalty. Julian Faye Lund made a crucial save on the goalline to keep his side level, before Fredrik Brustad headed the ball down to Christian Gauseth who gave his side the lead from close range. No Mjøndalen performance is complete without a headed goal and bonus points from Sondre Solholm Johansen who scored from Pontus Silfwer’s delivery.

Strømsgodset vs. Brann

Strømsgodset only made up the numbers as Molde were determined to wrap up the league, but few expected the side with the worst away record in the league to pick up points against the strongest home team. Prior to the 4-0 loss, Godset had scored in nine games in a row; an early goal could bode well as they face a Brann side with just three goals in their last eight games.

Brann created all of the big chances against Odd, but had to settle for a 1-0 win. Håkon Opdal wasn’t tested and the keeper could have claimed an assist if Gilbert Koomson’s shot had found the target. Daouda Bamba scored a typical poacher’s goal, set up by Kristoffer Barmen. Brann ended a seven game winless run but their defence has been a steady source of fantasy points, with four clean sheets in the last seven games. However, Vito Wormgoor is suspended for this visit to relegation battlers Godset.

Vålerenga vs. Molde

Vålerenga had two big chances in quick succession against Tromsø; Deyver Vega’s shot was saved and Matthias Vilhjalmsson couldn’t direct the rebound on target. That lack of a cutting edge sums up why both sides have had seasons to forget, but at least Vålerenga are officially safe.

Molde turned on the style to secure the title with a 4-0 win over Godset, with Magnus Wolff Eikrem getting his first attacking returns since GW16. Ohi turned and finished after Eikrem’s flick. Eikrem hit the post from the edge of the box, but soon got on the scoresheet after being teed up by Eirik Hestad. Leke James was quickest to react and made it 3-0 after Etzaz Hussain hit the post, and James scored a simple header late on from Kristoffer Haugen’s cross; however, the left back picked up a one-match suspension.

Viking FK vs. Rosenborg

Amund Wichne stepped in at half-time against Haugesund after Iven Austbø picked up a knock challenging for a high ball, and the substitute goalkeeper could do nothing after Sondre Flem Bjørshol’s handball gifted the hosts a penalty. Tommy Høiland has only featured once in the last seven games due to a nagging injury and seems unlikely to be risked ahead of cup final.

Tore Reginiussen met Gjermund Åsen’s corner, and the big defender could have had a hat-trick on the day. Reginiussen was guilty of giving away the penalty which gave Glimt momentum. Pål Andre Helland won and scored a penalty of his own for the hosts. Deep into second half injury time, Helland found Marius Lundemo who scored the winner from the edge of the box to give Rosenborg’s hopes of a podium finish a huge boost. Helland has quietly enjoyed a fantasy renaissance with two goals and three assists in his last five appearances, but is suspended for Rosenborg’s penultimate match of the Eliteserien season.