Norwegian Eliteserien Preview: KFUM Oslo Struggling, Molde Battles to Keep Title Hopes Alive

On the morning of September 24 at 1:00 AM, the 23rd round of the Norwegian Eliteserien will see KFUM Oslo host Molde at their home ground.

The Norwegian Eliteserien has entered its second half. Currently, KFUM Oslo sits 7th in the league, 11 points away from the top four (Europa League zone) and 7 points above the relegation zone. While there is no immediate pressure, they are not entirely without aspirations either.

KFUM Oslo has been in poor form recently, losing three out of their last four matches, failing to score in three of those games. Before the match, the team’s head coach (40-year-old Mosgaard) expressed his hope that the team would halt their decline and respond on the pitch. Clearly, he understands that this situation cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.

Molde currently has 40 points and temporarily ranks third in the league, 10 points behind the top spot with one fewer match played, and only 3 points ahead of fifth-placed Rosenborg. At this stage of the league season, the team is under great pressure. Only a win can keep their title hopes alive, and failing to do so would add risk to their goal of securing a Europa League qualification spot (top four).

Molde has been in good form recently. After going winless in three Norwegian Eliteserien matches in late July, they have won four out of five matches since August, scoring a total of 15 goals in these five matches, showcasing their offensive prowess. Moreover, Molde is a strong representative of away form in the Norwegian Eliteserien, with a 54.5% win rate in their 11 away matches this season, averaging 1.73 goals per game, both ranking second in the league. They also concede an average of only 0.82 goals per away match, the least among all 16 teams in the league.

In terms of head-to-head results, in the first meeting of the season, Molde suffered a surprising 2-3 defeat at home to Oslo. Prior to that, the two teams had not met for seven years, making previous encounters less relevant.

In terms of squad availability, KFUM Oslo’s central defender Tonessen (who made four starts in the Norwegian Eliteserien this season as a rotational player) is out with a meniscus injury, while left-back Alisami is suspended after receiving a red card (an absolute starter who has played 19 times this season, scoring once and providing one assist). Molde, on the other hand, will be without left-back Lovik (an absolute starter who has played 25 times this season with 4 goals and 5 assists), midfielder John Bakke (a rotational player who has made 10 appearances this season with 2 assists), forward Gurlaksen (a rotational player who has played 11 times this season with 2 goals and 2 assists), and forward Vetle Berisha (a substitute who has played 3 times this season and scored once).

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