It’s week 19 of the Norwegian Eliteserien and things are really starting to take shape at the top and bottom of the table. Rosenborg continue to dominate at the top having picked up a 2-1 win at third place Molde this weekend. However, it is further down the league where Monday night’s action takes place as Valerenga welcome Tromso to the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo.
Valerenga come into this match sitting 11th in the Eliteserien but despite being just 5 points clear of the relegation playoff place can still climb as high as sixth with a good win.
Things are looking even worse for Tromso who make the trip to Oslo sitting bottom of the league. They have 14 points from their 17 games played and are currently 6 points adrift of safety. Tromso need to start winning games and fast.
Valerenga Form
Valerenga picked up a win in the fourth round of the NM Cup in midweek against Elverum and this was their first victory in 4 competitive games.
Prior to that match Valerenga lost at Stromgodset and picked up a point at Brann and Kristiansund. There was also a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in a friendly match sandwiched between those games.
In the Eliteserien, the defeat to Stromgodset was Valerenga’s first in 7 games having gone on a run of 2 wins and 4 draws in the league. One of those wins was in the reverse fixture at Tromso which Valerenga won 4-2.
At home Valerenga have lost just 1 of their 8 league games and are undefeated in their last 6, picking up 4 wins.
Tromso Form
Tromso were eliminated from the NM Cup in midweek, losing 1-0 at Lillestrom and this result only adds to a poor run of form this season.
That defeat means it is now 7 games without a win all competitions and you must go back to the NM Cup win over Floya at the end of May to find the last time Tromso won a football match.
In the Eliteserien it is now 8 games without a win and Tromso have won only 1 of their last 14 league games, which surprisingly came at the home of the league leaders. Away from home Tromso have lost their last 4 games, conceding 12 goals and scoring 1 themselves.
Team News
Valerenga are pleased to welcome back the injured trio of Mohammed Abdellaoue, Daniel Fredheim Holm and Herman Stengel, who are all fit to start the match.
Tromso will be without injured striker Runar Espejord but midfielder Ulrik Jenssen is back from suspension and will likely partner Morten Gamst Pedersen in midfield.
Top Betting Tips
Given the record of both teams, especially the recent home record of Valerenga and away form of Tromso, there appears only one winner of this match. Valerenga are 4/6 with Ladbrokes to win the game.
Valerenga have conceded an average of 0.66 goals per game across their last 6 at home whereas Tromso have scored just 1 goal in their previous 4 away league games. Valerenga to win the match to nil is 11/5 with Ladbrokes.
Tromso are in poor form and 5 of their 6 defeats this season have been by 2 goals or more. Valerenga to win the match by 2 goals or more is 17/11 with Ladbrokes.