Monday 09/08/2014, 18:30, Norway Tippeligaen, Round 12, Stabaek vs Start
Stabaek vs Start Betting Preview
Stabaek surged through the standings in May but lost away from home to Lillestrom after the hosts scored an early goal. The fact that they played with a man down for almost 90 minutes didn't help their cause, but they can now return to the winning ways. Scoring on the road has never been their strong suit, but Start is the kind of team that can succumb to pressure and they are not in great form either.
Stabaek vs Start Betting Odds
Stabaek 2.50, Draw 3.50, Start 2.50
Stabaek vs Start Betting Tips
The hosts will use the same starting formation that helped them improve their position in the Tippeligaen last month. They only have two strikers, which pretty much narrows the manager's options down so once again Brustad and Boli will pair up.
The two strikers are making a name for themselves and are immensely popular with the fans, after scoring a combined 10 goals this season. Stabaek is not a world-class team and their offensive is quite often hitting brick walls, but in 2014 they scored a total of 18 goals in 11 rounds, which exceeds expectations.
Start is slipping through the standings and with just two points above the last placed team, they need to end the slide right away. Under different circumstances, travelling to Stabaek would've been a decently good opportunity to aim for all three points, but this won't be the case tonight.
For six weeks straight they haven't won a game in the Norwegian first flight and were unable to score against opponents that took the initiative early on. The only bright spot in their rotation is the dynamic duo of Asante and Tripic who are showing some signs of improvement, despite scoring just 5 goals combined. In the recent cup game, coach Mjelde took a leap of faith and used three strikers, a strategy that paid off because his team won by 4-0.
Key Facts
- Stabaek won the Cup match last week and scored three goals, but all of them came in overtime against a team playing in the lower leagues.
- The two teams met 9 times with Start as visitors and they only won a game while losing 5
Stabaek vs Start Betting Prediction
The odds for a home win are spectacular, if we consider the fact that Stabaek won 4 of the last 5 games played in the domestic championship. Bold punters should definitely side with the home team, but those who want to minimize the risks would be wise to take the cover of a 0:0 Asian Handicap. If the match ends undecided, the stakes are returned and the odds offered by Pinnacle Sports are 1.80 at the moment.
Bet: Stabaek Draw no Bet @ 1.80 with Pinnacle Sports
