IK Start Kristiansand (home)
- IK Start Kristiansand are 15th on just four points from the same number of fixtures.
- IK Start are winless in their last five games (D1, L4).
- Azar Karadas has tried to make the best of a bad job since he took charge in February 2024 and has attempted to keep his team compact, which does allow them to open up the game when the wing-backs get forward and they are always a threat from set pieces.
- Start are yet to win on home turf this term after three games (D3, L0) and this fixture will be a real test of how Valerenga’s new tactical identity matches up against a side who will be desperate to keep their top-flight status.
Valerenga IF Oslo (away)
- Valerenga IF Oslo are currently sitting 11th in the Eliteserien 2026 on eight points from eight games.
- Valerenga are W1, D1, L3 during that same spell.
- Valerenga have made positive strides since the appointment of Petter Myhre as head coach back in May 2026 and there has been an obvious change in their identity and approach to games.
- The away side’s last game was a 3-2 home win over Sarpsborg 08 and there has been an improvement in their attacking outputs under their new coach.
Head-to-Head
Valerenga are yet to be beaten by Start in the last two head-to-heads (W1, D1).
Betting Insights
- Start’s last two games have been a 1-4 home defeat to Bodoe/Glimt and a 6-3 loss away to Viking, so it is clear that there is an expectation for goals when these teams play.
- Valerenga have scored 4 goals in 4 away matches, but Start are averaging 1.00 goals per game at home in the 2026 campaign, so the bet on more than 2.5 goals looks promising.
Prediction
We’re backing Valerenga to win and for both teams to score as neither side is entirely trustworthy in defence or has been able to shut out their opponents regularly.
