FK Haugesund vs Viking Stavanger Best odds and tips

This Sunday’s early-season Eliteserien clash between bottom-placed FK Haugesund and second-placed Viking Stavanger could have a huge say in how the rest of the 2025 campaign plays out for both clubs. Sancheev Manoharan took charge on the 10th of May, 2024 and has had little time to get his new team up and running, but he has seen them pick up just 1 point from their first 6 games. The hosts are in woeful form, winless after 5 games (D1, L4) and losing their last two games, 5-1 at the hands of Viking and 2-1 at Molde. They have looked disorganised at the back and unable to control the tempo of the game at home and away, and they could be in for another tough time on Sunday. Viking have averaged 1.0 goal per game across the last 7 head-to-head meetings, and they have already put 5 goals past Haugesund in the last 7 days. They are unbeaten in 5 games (W3, D2) and have been dominant in their home games, playing an aggressive, pressing style of football that has seen them dominate the territorial play.

Viking are a much-improved side under Bjarte Lunde Aarsheim, who has been their head coach since January 2021. They have been excellent in the early stages of the 2025 Eliteserien, picking up 14 points from their opening 7 games to sit second in the table. The odds are heavily skewed in Viking’s favour for this clash, with the visitors at 1.45 and the hosts at 7.45, and there is simply no value in the outright market. However, both teams have conceded 5 goals in their last 2 respective home and away Eliteserien games, so there could be some defensive errors on display on Sunday. We’re backing Viking to win and over 2.5 goals to be scored, as the hosts will be forced to chase the game and the visitors will dominate possession.