- Kristiansund form: Kristiansund's most recent 5 matches have been won 1, drawn 1 and lost 3.
- Start form: IK Start have won just 1 of their last 5 matches, losing the other 4.
- Away record: Start have won 0 of their 8 away matches in Eliteserien 2026 (D1, L7).
Relegation rivals to tussle at Nordmore Stadion
Standings and form
This looks like a relegation fight in Eliteserien 2026 after the first 13 rounds for the hosts and 14 for the visitors with hosts Kristiansund BK sitting 15th on 12 points and IK Start Kristiansand 16th on 7 points. Start are in the worst run of form with 1 win and 4 defeats from their last 5, while Kristiansund are not exactly on fire with 1 win, 1 draw and 3 defeats in the same number of matches.
Recent matches and pressure
Kristiansund's last three matches include a 1-2 friendly win at Brann, a 3-0 league loss at Rosenborg and a 0-0 home draw with Sarpsborg 08, and they have won none of their last two home games, so the pressure will be on Amund Skiri's side to get the three points on Saturday.
The most recent of those games was a 1-2 friendly win at Brann, which followed a 3-0 league defeat at Rosenborg and a 0-0 draw at home to Sarpsborg 08.
Tactics
Skiri's team plays a high-press 4-3-3 system that puts the game on the front foot and gives his side a chance to win the ball in dangerous areas, but Start are not the sort of team to get sucked into that. Azar Karadas has built his side around structure and discipline, deploying a compact 5-3-2/3-5-2 system to clog the middle, sit deep and catch the home side on the counter with his wingbacks leading the charge when they win possession.
Start have goal power to be a problem
This is a chess match then, with Kristiansund trying to create chaos in the middle of the park while Start look to control the game without the ball.
Kristiansund have not won their last home match against Start, so the visitors know how to make this a difficult fixture for the hosts.
It is a tough game to call but Kristiansund will edge it or, more likely, the two clubs will end in a tie, which looks a pretty good play at 3.66 in the draw odds considering the closeness of the matchup. Start are priced at 3.05 with the hosts 2.24, which seems a little strange given the visitors' away record and the fact that Kristiansund are the favourites in the betting.
A decent alternative to the match result is under 2.5 goals, which looks well placed considering the shaky finishing of both sides and the stakes.
- The head-to-head record is tight with Start winning the last two meetings 1-0 and a 1-1 draw making up the record.
- Leander Alvheim is Kristiansund's standout player.
- The forward has 2 of his team's 3 goals in the last 5 games, so they will look to him to finish off the best opportunities when they come.
- Start have managed to hit 8 goals in their 8 away games, which should be enough to give them a puncher's chance on the break.
