Sandefjord (Home)
- Sandefjord opened the Eliteserien campaign in disappointing fashion when they lost 1-0 away to Vålerenga, but there were enough positive signs to stick with them on Sunday as they look to get their first three points on the board at home to Sarpsborg 08.
- Andreas Tegström has built a side with plenty of structure in width and a real ability to press in patches, which makes them especially dangerous at the Jotun Arena.
- Elias Hadaya anchors a defence that kept several clean sheets in 2025 and was still in fine form in the shot-stopping department during the preseason.
- Evangelos Patoulidis provides the creativity from deep for the boys from Vestfold, but has been equally useful in the box of late, having scored during 2025 and in recent friendlies.
Sarpsborg 08 (Away)
- Martin Foyston’s team had a productive pre-season, winning three friendlies, including a 3-1 victory over Moss, but they were beaten 2-1 by Fredrikstad in the NM Cup and there were still some doubts over their defensive solidity.
- It is a straight shootout type selection as the head-to-head record suggests an even contest, but Sarpsborg 08’s recent form makes it an interesting clash.
- Sarpsborg 08 will set up to play a high-paced game in which they press aggressively and try to force turnovers in the middle third.
Head-to-Head
- Sarpsborg 08 won 2-1 at Sandefjord in late 2025 and took the same result at home in August 2024.
- Sandefjord press in phases, exploit wide runners, and are always dangerous in transition and on set pieces.
Key Players
- Elias Hadaya anchors a defence that kept several clean sheets in 2025 and was still in fine form in the shot-stopping department during the preseason.
- Evangelos Patoulidis provides the creativity from deep for the boys from Vestfold, but has been equally useful in the box of late, having scored during 2025 and in recent friendlies.
- Daniel Seland Karlsbakk has been the club’s top scorer in recent seasons and provides a constant threat in the frontline, while midfield dynamo Aimar Sher has just received a call up to the Iraq national team after a brilliant start to the campaign.
Betting Insights
- Both teams to score is a very short price at 1.38, but it is a given in this fixture with Sarpsborg 08 looking much more like a team that will score goals on their day than Sandefjord.
- Sarpsborg 08 are available at a shade of underdog odds to get the win on Sunday, which would be a surprise but is certainly not out of the question given their style of play and the recent history of this fixture.
Prediction
So with these two in the team, Sarpsborg 08 should have enough quality to take something from this game if the odds hold.
