Valerenga Vs Lillestrom
Valerenga Vs Lillestrom Sunday 11 July, 2021 – 14:30
Norwegian Eliteserien
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Betway
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 9 July 2021)
Preview: Sunday’s Oslo derby sends a newly-promoted Lillestrom side enjoying a strong campaign on their return to the top tier, to Valerenga, a team that finished third last season and are looking good to improve on this again in 2021.
Norwegian Eliteserian Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Valerenga – Scoring as well as conceding their hallmark?
It has been another highly promising start to the 2021 league season in Norway from Valerenga. Following on from their best season for a decade in 2020, when the club secured European football with a third place finish, Enga are once more in the thick of things towards the top of the table. They sit third at the time of writing, behind only the last two Eliteserien champions, Molde and Bodo/Glimt.
No team so far this season has lost fewer matches than Valerenga, whose record comprises a few too many draws. Five to be exact. That being the highest figure in Eliteserien. Three have come in their last five matches, in which time they have remained unbeaten (W2) since succumbing 4-1 away to Viking on 13 June. That one of only two defeats sustained since their season got up and running in May.
The other was against Kristiansund, a side currently fourth, meaning their only losses have been to teams in and around them (Viking are currently fifth). With Lillestrom not a million miles further back in eighth, nothing can be taken for granted – especially as Enga are known to trade goals. 10 out of 12 Eliteserien games this season saw them score and concede, including all six played at their Intility Arena.
Lillestrom – Unbeaten in five but room for improvement away?
In their first season back since promotion, Lillestrom can be reasonably satisfied with how quickly they have acclimatised to the increased level of competition found in Norway’s top division. Their exploits thus far are even more impressive against the backdrop of a sluggish start initially, responding incredibly well to losing three of their first four games by winning all but one of the following five.
As such, Kanarifugla (The Canaries) come into this difficult contest in buoyant mood and in competitive shape on the back of a five-match unbeaten stretch – enjoying a similar run, only better, than that of their upcoming opponents, Valerenga. There are caveats, of course, chief among them being a clear preference for playing at the residence in Oslo where they have picked up four of their five wins so far.
Tromso came up from the division below as champions and are the only host Lillestrom took maximum points from so far. That was a matter of weeks ago but it was perhaps telling that they were unable to pull off a similar result in their very next road outing, instead settling for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with bottom side Brann. A result that still leaves them well placed, only four points adrift of the top-three.
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Valerenga Vs Lillestrom Betting Advice
A competitive encounter is anticipated in the Norwegian capital for this all Oslo affair between high-flyers Valerenga (W5 D5 L2) and mid-table Lillestrom (W5 D1 L3), with a mere four points to separate the sides in third and eighth place respectively. Both arrive unbeaten in their last five in Eliteserien: the hosts posting two wins and three draws to the four wins and one draw of the visitors.
Valerenga Vs Lillestrom – Key Facts:
- Four points are all that separate these two teams in Norway’s Eliteserien. Valerenga (3rd) have only lost one of the last seven home meetings (W3 D3) with Lillestrom (8th), though that was the most recent (0-3 in May 2019).
- Valerenga (W2 D3) and Lillestrom (W4 D1) are both looking to preserve five-game unbeaten streaks ahead of this fixture.
- All six Valerenga home league games this season saw them score but also concede, while this also occurred in three of the four away matches involving Lillestrom.
The onus will be on the home side, particularly as they will want to better a mediocre return of two wins from six home at home (D3 L1). All six featured both teams among the scoring action, and that bet stands out as a viable option once more with three of four Lillestrom away fixtures also seeing this bet land. Meanwhile, the latter’s four away points have come against teams in 16th and 13th, and so they may find this latest outing tough going.
Best Betting Odds – Valerenga Vs Lillestrom
Valerenga – 4/7 (Boylesports)
Draw – 3/1 (Betway)
Lillestrom – 19/4 (Betway)
