Preview: Sarpsborg 08 vs. Viking FK - prediction, team news, lineups

Norwegian sides Sarpsborg 08 and Viking FK will lock horns on Friday evening, hoping to claim all three points and climb the Eliteserien table.

The hosts have kept three clean sheets in their last four matches, while the visitors have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their opening eight games.

Match preview

Sarpsborg pulled off a surprise result last weekend when they beat 26-time league champions Rosenborg 1-0 away from home.

Joachim Thomasson scored the only goal of the game when he raced into the penalty area and placed a powerful strike into the bottom right corner just after the hour-mark.

That result has seen Lars Bohinen's side move up to eighth in the Eliteserien table, three points clear of Sanderfjord, who currently occupy the relegation playoff position.

Sarpsborg have failed to win any of their last six meetings with Viking, losing both encounters last season, but a victory on Friday could see them leapfrog their opponents into sixth place on goal difference.

As for Viking, they were unable to build on their impressive 4-1 win against Valerenga two weeks ago as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 away at Sanderfjord last Sunday.

Goals from Vioar Jonsson, Kristoffer Normann Hansen and Sivert Gussias helped the hosts secure all three points, after a dominant display in which they had 27 shots on goal and 62% possession.

The Dark Blues sit sixth in the Eliteserien table, eight points behind league leaders Bodo/Glimt, who they will face in just over a weeks' time.

Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim's men have had a polarising start to their 2021 league campaign, with four wins and four losses from their first eight matches.

Viking will need to be back on top of their game if they are to claim anything on Friday, with a victory potentially moving them up to third place.

Team News

After winning against Rosenburg last weekend, Bohinen may decide to name the same starting lineup on Friday.

A 3-4-3 formation is set to be used, which could see Thomasson and Eirik Wichne start as the wing-backs, while young Malian forward Ibrahima Kone will likely be joined in attack by Anton Salestros and Joachim Soltvedt.

As for Viking, a back four of Sebastian Sebulonsen, Henrik Heggheim, Runar Hove and Viljar Vevatne is set to be retained.

Striker Veton Berisha, who has scored five goals so far this campaign, is expected to lead the line once again with support likely to be provided by Harald Nilsen Tangen and Kevin Kabran on the flanks.

Sarpsborg 08 possible starting lineup:
Kristiansen; Odegaard, Utvik, Dyrestam; Wichne, Naess, Palsson, Thomasson; Saletros, Kone, Soltvedt

Viking FK possible starting lineup:
Austbo; Sebulonsen, Heggheim, Hove, Vevatne; Torsteinbo, Bell, Friojonsson; Tangen, Berisha, Kabran

We say: Sarpsborg 08 1-1 Viking FK

Thirty-one goals have been scored in the first eight league matches involving Viking this season, while the net has only been found 11 times in Sarpsborg's matches during the same period.

Goals are to be expected in Friday's encounter, but with little to separate the two teams, a score draw could be on the cards at the Sarpsborg Stadion.