- Head-to-head: Fredrikstad have had the better of their Eliteserien encounters with Sarpsborg, winning two and drawing two of the last four.
- Odds: Odds for this cup clash are very even with Fredrikstad the narrow favorites at 2.16, Sarpsborg 3.07 and draw 3.6.
- Pre-season: Fredrikstad are unbeaten in pre-season, while Sarpsborg scored many goals but conceded twice in a recent defeat to Viking.
Cup tie with derby fever
The Eliteserien rivals meet in the Round of 16 of NM Cup 2026 on Sunday with cup knockout stakes and derby pride to ensure a fierce matchup.
Andreas Hagen’s Fredrikstad FK have the edge over Sarpsborg 08 in recent meetings, but there isn’t much to choose between the two sides in any competition.
Hagen is a continuity coach, giving many youngsters a chance, but always has Fredrikstad set up in a way that suits the personnel that he has available and they are unbeaten in the last five warm-up matches, including wins over Elfsborg and Jerv and draws with Lillestrøm and KFUM.
Fredrikstad have a typical back three formation, but they play with two wing-backs that are more attacking than defensive, a compact central midfield and a traditional number nine. They use transitions well and are deadly from set pieces, so expect Henrik Skogvold to be the focal point on Sunday.
Stale Even Sel has a free-flowing Sarpsborg
Attacking intent
Even Sel has brought more attacking intent to Sarpsborg than we saw last season with more forward rotations and structure to the play. Sarpsborg have scored plenty of goals in a trio of friendly wins in pre-season, but the 0-2 defeat to a good Viking side showed that there is still a little more to do with defensive cohesion.
Key players and matchups
Rocco Shein and Sondre Sørløkk are the twin poles around which Fredrikstad operate, with Sondre Sørli offering width and creativity as he makes runs and plays one-twos to stretch defenses and make chances. Mamour Ndiaye needs to be sharp against a Fredrikstad side that thrive on set-piece situations and a target man in the box.
Sarpsborg’s best chance of scoring a goal on Sunday will come from Daniel Karlsbakk, who can score from anywhere and has found the net several times already in the warm-up games. He is the trigger for many Sarpsborg attacks in transitions.
A classic derby with local bragging rights at stake
This game is usually close and I cannot see anything other than a few goals, but the odds reflect that the bookmakers expect plenty of attacking action.
Oskar Øhlenschlæger has been a star in the pre-season for Fredrikstad, driving the team forward and creating chances, but he will also need to be wary of the pace and trickery of Sørli.
Look for a set-piece or a moment of brilliance to decide this game, but both sides have plenty of goal threat, so we should be treated to a goalfest with plenty of drama.
- Both teams to score is 1.5 and over 2.5 is 1.61, which seems too short to me as a classic cup clash is unlikely to go over three goals.
- I would rather play the draw in the 1X2 market at 3.6 because Sarpsborg’s free-flowing attack against Fredrikstad’s structure and transition game should produce an engaging midfield contest and probably a draw.
- Fredrikstad are the home side and unbeaten, so I will take them to edge the game by the odd goal if necessary, but the absence of both Kvile and Nysveen may be a factor.
- An early March game with a cool breeze at Fredrikstad Stadion should favour the more physical and set-piece proficient Fredrikstad, but the local bragging rights are at stake and Sarpsborg will not be easily defeated.
