- Home form: Sandnes Ulf have won two of their five home games so far in the 1. Division (D1, L2).
- Away form: Strommen have lost three of their five away games in the Norwegian second tier (D1, W1).
- Defensive record: Sandnes Ulf have conceded seven goals in five home league matches, while Strommen have conceded 14 in five away matches.
Sandnes set to outgun shaky visitors
Sandnes Ulf will feel they have enough to see off out-of-form Strommen IF when the two 1. Division sides clash at Oester Hus Arena on Sunday. Ulf are 12th in the early standings with 10 points from 10 games, but the Red and Whites have played well in recent home games.
A 2-0 home win over Sogndal was followed by a 5-1 away defeat to Ranheim last week, but they should be much more comfortable against 16th-placed Strommen, who have five points from as many games. Jens Wedeborg's side look to be in a downward spiral with no wins in their last five league matches (D1, L4), although they haven't been disgraced in their two most recent games – a 2-3 defeat at home to Sogndal and a 2-2 draw away to Ranheim.
High-scoring clash anticipated at Oester
Tactical approaches
Wedeborg plays an aggressive, high-tempo game with his full-backs often getting forward and his attackers pressing high up the pitch, which will undoubtedly lead to an open game against a Sandnes team that likes to sit back and stifle opponents.
Odds and predictions
- Arturo Max Cleveland's men are pragmatic in their outlook, happy to play a compact defensive block and then transition into a more structured shape when in possession, but they will be looking to use the experience of their wide men to create chances.
- Sandnes have been relatively tight in defence at Oester Hus Arena, conceding only seven goals in their five outings, so they can probably outgun Strommen, who have been leaky on the road with 14 goals conceded.
- The odds available for a Sandnes win of 1.82 don't appeal here because, although Ulf are in good form at home and much the more likely winner, Strommen will be committed to attacking and that should make this a high-scoring game.
- But both teams to score at 1.51 and over 2.5 goals at 1.52 are also available, and that looks a better option given the potential for an attacking, open clash between two contrasting styles.
