Molde vs Start
5 August 1800hrs
Football – Norway – Eliteserien
Pick Molde -1
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 3/4 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 4 August
Molde dropped six points behind top spot with defeat last time out and will be looking to bounce back against a Start team who are finally off the mark for the campaign at the 12th time of asking.
Table of Contents
Molde Preview – Are Molde set to bounce back after defeat last time out to keep pressure on leaders?
Molde won their first Norwegian title in five years when victorious in 2019 with a dominant 14-point success. Due to how far ahead they were of their rivals, a repeat was expected this season but they are not having it their own way. Two defeats in their last three matches – most recently against Sandefjord – mean the champions are now six points behind leaders Bodo/Glimt who, incidentally, were are the only other team to beat them so far.
It means they will have to put together a run which preceded that first defeat where Molde were unbeaten in their first nine games, winning eight of them.
Both losses thus far have come on their travels which means head coach Erling Moe will be expecting his team to bounce back as they return home tomorrow. Molde’s home record is without blemish so far this season with five straight wins. It’s a record built on a strong defence having conceded only three goals. They have also scored four or more goals on three occasions.
Leke James continues to bang in the goals for Molde with seven to his name already. He finished second top scorer in the title-winning season with 17 goals.
Start Preview – Can Start put together a run of results after their first win of the campaign?
Whilst Wednesday’s opponents were winning the top-flight title in 2019, Start were plotting their return to Eliteserien at the first time of asking. Relegated in 2018, they were victorious in the promotion playoff and find themselves at the top table once again. If there was ever any doubt about how difficult it was going to be for Johannes Hardarson taking charge of a team at this level for the first time, he’s soon found out.
Start went without a win in their first 11 games this season, eventually prevailing in their last game which ended in a resounding 3-0 win over Mjondalen who they subsequently went above in the table as a result of that win.
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There was no doubt that success this season for Start means staying in the league and the hope is that now they have gotten that first victory they can begin to pick up more points and move away not just from the automatic relegation spots, but also the playoff position which they currently reside in.
Performances and results on the road in the Eliteserien have been a longstanding issue for Start. Since June 2015 they have played 44 away games in this league and won only two of them. It’s no surprise to see them suffer two relegations in that time.
Molde vs Start Betting Advice
The first meeting between these teams this season was a cracking encounter full of goals. Molde eventually took the points but only after scoring the winner with virtually the final kick of the ball. You sense that the home team really have to replicate that win here otherwise they will be in danger of dropping too far behind the leaders even at this early stage.
Anything that Start can get here would ultimately be a bonus and if they are to break their away duck it would be very special.
Key Facts – Molde vs Start Betting Tip
- Molde have won all five of their home games this season, conceding just three goals
- Start have taken just two points from a possible 15 on their travels so far this season
- It was a 3-2 win for Molde when the sides met earlier in the campaign
Molde have been dominant at home and although they have lost two of their last three and face a stubborn Start team, their quality is expected to shine through to win a fourth home game by at least two goals of a margin.
