After the international break, Norway’s Eliteserien returns with a compelling set of fixtures. The matter of league champions and the relegation places are all still to play for and, despite the onset of winter, things are heating up across the footballing landscape.

With two games taking place on Saturday and the remainder of the league playing throughout Sunday, here are your five betting tips and predictions for a busy weekend of Eliteserien football.

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Viking v Haugesund

Viking and Haugesund contest Vestlandsderbyet (The Western Norway Derby) having been in starkly different form of late. After a slow beginning to the season which saw them lose half of their opening eight games, Viking have enjoyed a profitable run throughout the autumn. Since the start of September, they’ve won seven and lost two, scoring 23 times in the process.

On the other hand, despite winning the return fixture against Viking in May, Haugesund can boast but a single win against bottom of the table Mjøndalen in their last eight fixtures. Though not yet mathematically safe from the drop, they are comfortably ensconced in mid-table with precious else to play for.

They say form goes out the window during derbies, but with Viking chasing second spot after Molde’s recent stumbles, the incentive for the Stavanger-based side is evident. Expect to see Viking dispatch their indifferent neighbours.

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Vålerenga v Tromsø

Vålerenga have an ambitious side teeming with prodigious youngsters like Osame Sahouri, Odin Thiago Holm, Tobias Christensen and Seedy Jatta, but with the departure of star player Aron Dønnum in July, this season has proved just a step too far for the Oslo club in their designs to keep pace with those at the top of the league.

Tromsø, meanwhile, are enjoying life back in Eliteserien. Following an indifferent start to the season, any fears of relegation appear to have been allayed by a strong recent showing which has seen them collect 14 points from their last seven fixtures. However, with Vålerenga recording six of their nine wins at the Initility Arena, this week’s encounter will be a tough ask for a Tromsø side that have been indifferent on their travels.

The northern outfit can boast an exciting attacking starlet of their own in August Mikkelsen, who already has seven goals to his name this campaign, and appear to have rectified the defensive issues that plagued their opening fixtures. Ultimately, it hints at being an intriguing fixture between two sides that specialise in draws. Vålerenga have 11 to their name – more than anyone else in the league – while Tromsø are not far behind with nine. In all likelihood, the spoils will be shared on Sunday.

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Bodø Glimt v Lillestrøm

Bodø/Glimt are on course to secure a second, consecutive title, having comprehensively beaten their nearest challengers Molde at the end of October to propel them five points clear at the summit. Kjetil Knudsen’s men even made international headlines lately following their 6-1 rout of José Mourinho’s Roma, and you can expect them to be in similar, if not quite so imperious, form against Lillestrøm.

Newly promoted from OBOS-Ligaen, Lillestrøm have been this season’s surprise package, sitting in sixth with four games to go and boasting a league double over the famous Rosenborg. It is a solid base which is their greatest weapon, and they are in possession of the third best defensive record in the league.

Lillestrøm’s problem, however, is that Bodø/Glimt have been practically unassailable as the season has worn on. They haven’t lost since June and have scored in every league game, courtesy of a dynamic front three that tends to feature Amahl Pellegrino, Ola Solbakken and Erik Botheim. Even though the return fixture ended in a narrow 1-0 win for Glimt, expect them this time around to simply be too powerful for Lillestrøm.

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Kristiansund v Stabaek

Kristiansund have surprised many observers this season. The west-coast outfit rocketed to the top of the table in the early weeks and for much of the ensuing campaign managed to keep pace with the likes of Bodø/Glimt and Molde. Though a drop-off in form has seen them slide out of contention for the title, they still sit in fifth spot thanks to a strong defensive record.

In direct contrast, Stabæk have been dire straits almost since the season kicked off. They’ve recorded five wins all season and have shipped a league-high 56 goals, with a league low 30 in return. In the corresponding fixture earlier in the year, Kristiansund dismantled Stabaek to the tune of five goals to one.

A win would practically consign Stabæk to relegation if Sandefjord pick up points against fellow strugglers Brann and if Stabæk’s recent record is anything to go by, it is a formality. They’ve suffered back-to-back 3-0 losses to Molde and Lillestrøm before being handed a 4-1 thrashing by Sarpsborg. Meanwhile, Kristiansund may not be the finest goal-getters in the division, but 14% of their goals this season have come against their hosts on Sunday. Expect another comfortable win for a Kristiansund side continuing to exceed expectations.

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Molde v Rosenborg

Molde’s chances of capturing their fifth Eliteserien title since 2011 appear to have dwindled into almost nothing following their 2-0 loss to league leaders Bodø/Glimt which was then compounded by a wholly unexpected 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Strømgodset. Instead, they now peer cautiously over their shoulders as both Viking and this weekend’s visitors Rosenborg look to supplant them for the runners-up spot.

Traditionally, this fixture has been awash with goals, and there is no reason to believe this encounter will be any different. The last five Eliteserien meetings between these two titans of Norwegian football has produced 17 goals and four victories for Molde. Add to this the fact that both teams possess the first and second-best attacking records in the league, and there is a perfect recipe for a high-scoring game.

Neither club can afford to be cautious, either, what with Viking, who currently sit in between Molde and Rosenborg in third place, in ominous form as we head towards the season climax. Leading goalscorer Ohi Omoijuanfo will be looking to get back amongst the goals, having drawn a blank in his last three outings. Expect a high-scoring game between two attacking teams, although who will ultimately emerge victorious is a less predictable matter.

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Back my Eliteserien bets ⬇️

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