Viking Stavanger vs Stabaek
FreeWe’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to find out more about the ways you can help us (e.g. local input, watching games)!
There are 2 bankers and 7 value tips in the Members Section today plus our exclusive UEFA European Championship/Copa America coverage so feel free to sign up here to see them + team news!
Today’s free tip is in the Norwegian Eliteserien encounter between Viking Stavanger and Stabaek.
I watched Viking Stavanger’s trip to Sarpsborg 08 last time out and I was impressed by a few things. I mean, Sarpsborg 08 are good at keeping teams out and annoying them, which would normally rattle a mentally fragile Viking Stavanger, especially with Tripic out – but not this time. They did fall behind after comical defending from a throw-in led to a Kone header, but bounced back after the break through Kabran before nicking a winner at the death with a well-hit strike from outside the box by Tangen. The mental fortitude Viking Stavanger showed in that game against a team that works harder than they do was really quite something to witness. You have to appreciate that this is a team that is generally considered to be, ‘dark horses for the title’ each and every year by someone somewhere, and they never get close because of a lack of consistency and belief. This Viking Stavanger had a different feel to it though. Let’s see how long it lasts, shall we?
One thing that was very clear in Sarpsborg is that Viking Stavanger still can’t defend, and nor do they seem particularly interested in learning how to. I daresay they’ve been influenced too much by the lunatic attacking style of Bodo/Glimt, but it sure does make them more interesting to watch. With an attack like theirs though, I can understand why they’d want to play that way. It makes more sense, and that’s the way boss Aarsheim played when he was a central midfielder for them many moons ago so it’s nice to see things coming full circle.
Viking Stavanger invest far, far more money, time, and energy in their attack than they do in their defence so they’ve every right to want to play in a manner that makes teams fear what they can do. Fridjonsson and Tangen have scored some good goals this season, but some of their better players have barely featured yet. When he wants to be, Hoiland is a good striker, and de Lanlay is a very gifted creator – if he can ever get fit again. Even without them, Viking Stavanger continue to thrive in attack thanks to the brilliance of Tripic and Berisha though. This is a team that is on the cusp of becoming very good. Not good enough to compete for the title, but good enough to push Valerenga Oslo and Rosenborg BK for third.
Still, they’ve got to prove it more often. Winning in Sarpsborg is very impressive in my little world, but if you can’t follow that up by beating hapless Stabaek at home, then they’ve achieved the square root of fuck all, really. I actually feel quite sorry for Stabaek, and it amazes me how many times I find myself saying this, no matter what the year is. It’s because Stabaek generally play rather well but seldom actually get anything from matches. They’re certainly not bad enough to warrant five defeats on the spin, especially as they were the better team in Trondheim until they gave a silly goal away whilst 1-0 up. Still, they’re small fishes in a big pond, and they’ve chanced across four of the Eliteserien’s best teams over the past five games – five from six if you include Viking Stavanger tonight – so let’s have a touch of perspective about their form guide, shall we?
I think Stabaek defend quite well, and they sure do counter well. The sole problem I have with them is that they disintegrate after conceding. Until that goal goes in, they’re every inch the match for their opponents, whoever it is. Swedish boss Jonsson has been around for a while now; he knows what he’s doing. Stabaek just don’t quite have enough individual quality at either end to outscore teams or contain them for ninety minutes, but that’s it. Tactically, I’ve found them to be rather good this season. I would not be surprised if they had a good run after this game, or knowing my luck, probably starting in this game.
For now though, they’re out of their depth. Even against Viking Stavanger, they shouldn’t be able to get anything here. Part of me doesn’t doubt that they’ll score here, but the other part of me says that they’ll cave in against a far superior attack, as per usual. They’ve not left Stavanger without shipping at least three goals for their past three visits, and this one should not be an exception. I love Stabaek, but I think they’re in trouble here.
For me, backing Viking Stavanger to beat the -1 Asian Handicap is a risk worth taking at 6/5.
Verdict: Viking Stavanger to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Thursday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Brazilian Serie A:
Fortaleza vs Chapecoense
Internacional vs Palmeiras
Bahia vs America Mineiro
Fluminense vs Athletico Paranaense
Santos vs Sport Recife
Corinthians vs Sao Paulo
Juventude vs Gremio
Estonian Meistriliiga:
Nomme Kalju vs Tulevik
Flora Tallinn vs Flora Paide
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
Inter Turku vs FC Lahti
KuPS vs AC Oulu
SJK vs IFK Mariehamn
HIFK vs HJK
Haka Valkeakoski vs FC Honka Espoo
KTP vs Ilves
Finnish Ykkonen:
KPV vs RoPS
VPS vs Ekenas IF
Jippo Joensuu vs Gnistan
MP vs PK-35 Helsinki
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Molde FK vs Stromsgodset
Rosenborg BK vs Haugesund
Sandefjord vs Bodo/Glimt
Tromso vs Kristiansund
Viking Stavanger vs Stabaek
Brann Bergen vs Lillestrom
Enjoy your free betting tips!