Monday 09/08/2014, 15:30, Norway Tippeligaen, Round 12, Sarpsborg vs Viking
Sarpsborg vs Viking Betting Preview
Viking is plummeting in the standings after failing to win a Tippeligaen match in the last month and they need to turn the ship around quickly. Traveling to Sarpsborg is hardly the best way to recuperate the points lost, given the fact that the hosts have an impressive track record. They are the only team in the second half of the standings that is yet to lose a game, and have scored 10 goals while allowing just three.
Sarpsborg vs Viking Betting Odds
Sarpsborg 2.50, Draw 3.50, Viking 2.50
Sarpsborg vs Viking Betting Tips
The visitors had a tough schedule in May and faced some of the best teams in the Norwegian first league, dropping points both at home and away. Nobody expected them to defeat Rosenborg or Stromsgodset but the fact that they allowed seven goals in two games is worrisome to say the least.
Coach Deane has a unique approach and the owners gave him total freedom in choosing the strategy he likes most and using the players he considers to be suitable. The problem is that so far, his unconventional 4-4-1-1 starting formation with Djedje and Olanare was only mildly successful.
The two strikers are above most of their counterparts playing in Tippeligaen but they still scored just 7 goals together. Under normal circumstances, this would be good enough, but Sarpsborg's defenses were not particularly effective in the first half of May. Much has changed in the last two weeks when Deane shifted to a squad featuring five defenders, and a single striker, with Djedje and Olanare being used alternatively.
The visitors have never been a great scoring team but so far they were hard to beat on the road, thanks to a stellar defense. They lost the first game to leading Molde when the hosts scored in the last minute of overtime, then suffered a lopsided defeat to Brann. Viking now sits in the eighth place and their top priority for this afternoon is to avoid another defeat and earn at least a point.
Key Facts
- An average of three goals have been scored in the four games between these two teams, with each of them winning once and drawing twice.
- Viking has one of the least effective offenses in Tippeligaen, with their regular strikers scoring a combined four goals this season.
Sarpsborg vs Viking Betting Prediction
Sarpsborg knows how to capitalize on home pitch advantage, but right now they are struggling in all sections and their offensive is not to be trusted. They will face a troubled opponent, more concerned of avoiding defeat than willing to give everything on the pitch to claim all three points. Instead of picking a winner at odds below even value, punters should bet on fewer than 2.5 goals to be scored at 2.00 with Winner Sports
Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 2.00 with Winner Sports
