Preview: Sarpsborg 08 vs HamKam – prediction, team news, schedule

Sarpsborg 08 welcome HamKam to Sarpsborg Stadion on Sunday at Eliteserien a clash between two teams tied on 18 points, with only goal difference separating them at the top.

The hosts are in seventh place after an impressive run, while the visitors dropped to eighth place following a setback that left them looking for their first win in four league games.

Game preview

Sarpsborg will meet on Sunday in a very good form, as they are unbeaten in the last four league games, winning three and drawing one.

Even Sel’s side finished the first half of the campaign with back-to-back 2-1 victories over Brann and Molde before going on to win the game, beating title-chasing Vikings 1-0 and getting another goal in a draw against Kristiansund.

Those results lifted Sarpsborg into the top half of the table after a difficult start to the season, where they managed just one win in their first seven league outings.

A major factor behind their recent improvement has been their defense – they failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 consecutive league games at the start of the campaign, have now recorded consecutive league shutouts and conceded just once in their last four.

Home form has also been encouraging, with Sarpsborg losing one of their six league games at Sarpsborg Stadion this season, winning three and drawing two, and they will be confident of extending their recent strong record against Sunday’s opponents.

Indeed, the hosts are unbeaten in their last six meetings with HamKam in all competitions, winning their last three league games, while keeping clean sheets in both of those victories.

HamKam, on the other hand, come to Sarpsborg having endured a difficult time after failing to win any of their last four league games.

Thomas Myhre’s side drew 2-2 with Aalesund before the World Cup break and repeated that point against Sandefjord after the restart, but heavy defeats to Tromso (4-1) and Bodo/Glimt (3-0) halted their progress.

That back-to-back loss means HamKam have picked up just two points from their four league games, scoring seven goals in their last two outings while conceding just once.

Their away record offers little encouragement, as HamKam is still looking for its first win of the league campaign, picking up just three points from six games on the road, with only two teams boasting the poorest returns.

Form of Sarpsborg 08 Norwegian Eliteserien:

Sarpsborg 08 form (all competitions):

HamKam Norwegian Eliteserien form:

HamKam form (all tournaments):

Team News

© Consport

Sarpsborg are still without Frederik Carstensen and Sigurd Rosted as they continue to recover from injury.

Daniel Karlsbakk, the team’s top scorer this season, is expected to once again lead the attack, while Victor Emanuel Halvorsen, the team’s second-highest scorer, should continue to provide expertise in midfield.

HamKam’s only injury is Swedish striker Noah Alexandersson, who has been sidelined since he was injured in March.

However, the visitors have also lost leading scorer Mame Alassane Niang following his move to Porto, leaving Henrik Udahl with the brunt of the attacking burden after scoring five league goals so far this season.

Sarpsborg 08 likely to start the program:

Oy; Niyukuri, Utvik, Odegaard, Hiim; Nebe, Halvorsen, Christiansen; Sorli, Karlsbakk, Williams

HamKam may start the program:

Sandberg; Nilsen, Sjolstad, Amundsen-Day; Metcalfe, Osnes-Ringen, Mares, Potur, Ekeroth; Gonstad, Udahl

We say: Sarpsborg 08 2-0 HamKam

Sarpsborg’s improved defence, good recent form and strong record in this game make them clear favorites going into Sunday’s contest.

HamKam have struggled away from home and lost a lot of attacking firepower following Niang’s departure, and we expect the hosts to take full advantage by extending their unbeaten run with another convincing win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.