- Team form: In Eliteserien 2026, Viking Stavanger (Viking) are 2nd with 37 points from 15 games, while Rosenborg BK (Rosenborg) are 10th with 18 points from 15 games.
- Defensive stat: Viking have conceded just seven goals away in Eliteserien 2026, an average of 0.78 per game.
- Home record: Rosenborg's home record in Eliteserien 2026 reads won 4, tied 2, lost 2 from eight games.
Tough test for Rosenborg
Recent meetings:
Rosenborg and Viking Stavanger have played each other three times in the past three months with Viking winning two and tying one, so the away team will take some stopping at Lerkendal Stadion on Friday evening.
Coach and form:
Freyr Alexandersson has been in charge of Rosenborg since 17th June 2026 and has yet to instill the same identity to his side as predecessor Age Hareide, although they are in much better shape now than in the early part of the season when results were all over the place.
Rosenborg have won three and lost two of their last five matches in a patchy sequence which is not exactly ideal preparation for a tough home match against Viking. The home crowd will still fancy their team's chances, however, after a pair of wins and a defeat in their last three home games.
Viking’s verticality and versatility
Viking's record of six wins, one tie and two defeats on the road in Eliteserien 2026 is the return of a top team and it is obvious which one is going to arrive at Lerkendal as the clear favorites at 2.0. Morten Jensen has been in charge of Viking since 1st January 2021, a long time in the game for a Norwegian coach, but he has his team playing with the same tactical groove and structure.
Viking will attack vertically with numbers when they can, but they are just as happy to patiently pass the ball around in their own half to ensure they have the ball in the correct areas to overload and create. Their mid-block is disciplined and they do a good job of occupying the half-spaces in a way that makes it very difficult for opponents to build attacks. They also have a good work ethic and can counter-attack quickly, which is useful given Rosenborg's uneven counter-pressing.
Viking the value bet in tight match
Viking's last five games have seen them win three, tie one and lose one – a terrific run which has kept their championship challenge on track.
Rosenborg have avoided defeat in the last two visits of Viking to Trondheim, so the hosts can flip this fixture on occasion, but it is the away side that hold the clear advantage here. Backing the visitors to squeeze through at 2.0 seems the value pick given the oddsmakers have made the draw a mere 3.82.
Rosenborg are a reactive team this season with a slow build-up and an inconsistent press that can leave them open to the counter-attack. It looks like a close game, but with Viking's form, position in the league and odds all in the right place, a narrow away win makes the most sense.
- Rosenborg beat Fredrikstad FK 4-0 at home before losing 3-2 away to SK Brann Bergen in their two most recent Eliteserien 2026 games while Viking, who are now 2.0 favorites for this contest, drew 1-1 away to Aalesund before beating Start 3-0 on the same trip a few days later.
- Amin Chiakha has been Rosenborg's main spark in recent weeks with four goals in his last five appearances, but Peter Christiansen has been Viking's danger man with three in his side's last five.
- The home side average 2.00 goals per game scored and 1.12 conceded in Norway's top flight, so we are likely to see a swingy scoreline when these two meet.
