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Aron Wright - July 6, 2018
Sarpsborg 08 vs Ranheim
Norwegian Eliteserien
Date: Sunday, 8 July 2018
Kick-Off at 17:00 UK / 18:00 CET
Venue: Sarpsborg Stadion, Sarpsborg.
Both Sarpsborg and Ranheim got off to thrilling starts in the top flight of the Norwegian football. Whilst Ranheim have managed to keep up in the same rhythm all up until this 16th round, Sarpsborg’s form appears to have run into a stumbling block in recent weeks.
The hosts took only a single point from last three games and they dropped down to seventh as a result. The main problems for Geir Bakke and his squad pop up at the back as the defensive line allowed six goals in the process, including as many as three in the previous home fixture against Tromso.
This will be the music to the ears of Mads Reginiussen and Michael Karlsen who have combined the total of 12 goals so far in the season for Ranheim. This duo keeps the visitors at the sky-high third place ahead of the Matchday No 16 clash with Sarpsborg. Karlsen was on target in the 2-0 victory over Start seven days ago.
The hosts are favourites on paper, but they need to justify the tag on the pitch which will be anything but an easy task for Bakke and his men. The good news for Sarpsborg is the fact Ranheim have been dreadful travellers for a while now.
Svein Maalen’s men lost three on the bounce away from home in all competitions without scoring a single time in the process. They have a devastating 9-0 goal difference which is why backing Sarpsborg to score two or more goals looks to be the best of the betting options here, set at the odds of 1.61. It truly looks to be a banker if we know that the host notched two or more goals in each of last four games in their own backyard.
