Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
One of the matches of the 12th round of the Norwegian championship will see Sandefjord take on Rosenborg on July 6 at Komplett Arena in Sandefjord. Here’s my pick for the outcome of this clash, featuring a solid set of odds.
Match preview
Sandefjord have been sensational at home this season—five wins from five at Komplett Arena, conceding just three goals. Andreas Tegström’s side play an exciting brand of attacking football, prioritizing dominance on their own turf, where they’ve already notched 14 goals. The team is firmly in the top six, though a narrow 0-1 defeat to Brann last round slightly cooled their ambitions.
However, despite their home strength, Sandefjord often lose their balance between attack and defense when facing higher-caliber opponents. The absence of the suspended Sigurdsson and some shaky performances in central defense could play into the visitors’ hands. Still, with dynamic wingers like Kristoffer Cheng, there’s every hope they’ll fight until the final whistle.
Rosenborg are enduring a patchy spell, winless in three straight matches, but remain firmly among the leaders—third place, just three points from second. Alfred Johansson’s squad is the most decorated in Norway and clearly have no intention of letting Brann or Viking pull away. Their recent problems have been in finishing, not in organization: Rosenborg are stable but haven’t managed to push their advantage.
The defense has been a bright spot: only 12 goals conceded in 13 matches—one of the league’s best records. In attack, the focus will be on Islamović and the experienced midfield duo of Fossum and Selnes. Youngster Nypan, who’s attracting interest from Europe, may not feature, but even without him the squad has what it takes to set a high tempo and dictate terms away from home.
Probable lineups
- Sandefjord: Hadaya; Pedersen, Kristiansen, Smailovic, Cheng; Mørk, Ottosson, Jabic; Patulidis, Mettler, Danzby
- Rosenborg: Tangvik; Sletsøe, Seyde, Jenssen, Mortensen; Väänänen, Selnes, Fossum; Reitan-Sunde, Islamović, Seyde
Match facts and head-to-head
- Sandefjord have won all 5 home matches in this Eliteserien season.
- Rosenborg have lost just 2 of their 13 league games, conceding only 12 goals.
- The last three meetings between these sides have all seen over 2.5 total goals.
Prediction
This game promises goals: both teams love to attack, especially in their respective home/away settings. Rosenborg are objectively stronger in terms of squad and experience, and should be able to break their winless streak. But to win in Sandefjord, they’ll have to break down the league’s toughest home defense—which means goals at both ends and an action-packed contest. Our pick: Rosenborg to win with a (0) handicap at odds of 1.85.
