1. Aalesund (4)
v Molde (13)
Close race between local rivals
TEAM
NEWS
Aalesund welcome back defender Daniel Arnefjord
from suspension.
Important defenders Jonathan Parr and skipper Amund Skiri did not make the Tromso match last Sunday and are considered doubtful ahead
of this match.
Molde have important midfielder Magne
Hoseth back from suspension, but will have to manage
without Baye Djiby Fall
this match. The club’s leading scorer with 8 goals in 14 appearances has
received three yellow cards and will miss out suspended.
Pate Diouf was back in
contention for Molde last match, but did not impress.
Aalesund
Suspended: None
Doubtful: Parr (thigh), Skiri (rib injury)
Injured/unavailable: None
Molde
Suspended: Johansson (1 match), Fall (1 match)
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: None
MATCH
PREVIEW
Aalesund are back on track fighting for a surprisingly
strong place among the top three. Even though coach Kjetil Rekdal is considered as
the main reason for Aalesund’s impressing campaign,
he still got in a big fight with the club chairman Torill Hole Standal
recently.
Rekdal is complaining he is
not given the resources to keep fighting for trophies, while the chairman hit
back saying Rekdal should stop being so harsh with
his surroundings and spread optimism instead.
Neither Molde boss Kjell Jonevret was a happy man
after last round. He blamed the referee for not getting anything out of the
match away to Stabaek, where his team lost by three
goals to four.
Molde actually do look stronger than today’s opponent
player by player. But they lack the mentality and luck necessary to deal with Aalesund away, and will certainly miss
Djiby Fall’s goal scoring ability.
They are
3D-5L in the 8 rounds on the road, as one of the four sides which have
been winless away.
Aalesund will be favorites in a match hard to
predict.
HEAD
TO HEAD
Since Aalesund entered
the top flight and won their first match with Molde
in 2003, the stats show 4 draws and 4 Molde victories (including the 2-1 earlier this
season). But Aalesund
did beat Molde in last year’s final in the Norwegian cup through penalty shoot out, after 2-2 after extra time.