Sarpsborg 08 - Mjondalen

Sarpsborg 08 became the first team to stop Stabaek’s goal scorers on their turf as they got away with a goalless draw from the match in the last league round two weeks ago. As the weaker side of the match, they were no doubt content to get a point from a difficult away outing. However, the game also accentuates Sarpsborg 08 troubles up front this season. Mjondalen are similarly troubled up front, but have struggled far more in defence this season. After a decent start to the season, and a few strong results in spring, they have now not won since the middle of May, and lost five of the eight matches since then. Thus they are sitting second last in the table, with only Sandefjord behind them. These sides have a shared trajectory starting strongly but since then facing mounting troubles. Both sides have lost five in the last eight. However, Sarpsborg 08 are getting to be an experienced top level side, and I expect that experience – and perhaps a new goal scorer – to be enough to separate them form Mjondalen in this match.