Stromsgodset vs Kristiansund BK Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

They may not be in the most flattering league position, though it’s fair to say that Stromsgodset have been doing all they can to try and rectify that of late. Monday’s hosts arrive at this juncture having won three of their last five, while they’re unbeaten during that time. Having secured a modest draw away at Lillestrom last time out, Bjorn Petter Ingebretsen’s men probably won’t be brimming with confidence ahead of this match, though they’ve done OK at home, so will likely fancy their chances, especially since they’ve won their last three home matches in all competitions.

While the hosts are unbeaten in five, the visitors are without a win in two. It’s not been an overly poor campaign for Kristiansund, who’re three points above Monday’s opponents, though it has been an up and down one. Christian Michelsen’s men have struggled to be consistent, while they’ve not often been at their best on the road – Monday’s visitors have taken just six points from seven away matches during the current campaign – but they will be able to draw on the positive experience of beating Stromsgodset 4-0 just over a month ago.

By going on recent form alone, it would be hard to side with the visitors, though if we dig a little deeper, it’s easy to feel that they’re a tad too big in the betting. They’ve not often been well beaten away from home, losing just one of their seven away matches by more than a goal, and while wins haven’t been the easiest to come by on their travels, Michelsen’s men have gained some positive results. They’ve drawn against both Tromso and Rosenborg on the road, two teams who’re both a good bit better than Kristiansund, while their recent thrashing of Monday’s opponents should still be fresh in the memory.

At the same time, Stromsgodset haven’t always been the most convincing; they did indeed beat Ranheim by three goals to nil in their last league match at home, but that’s their only win in three, the other two being 1-1 draws against both Lillestrom and Start, neither of which are inspiring results. What’s more, if the hosts defend anything like they did in the reverse fixture, then they’re in for another shock.

Having kept things tight and countered for fun in the reverse fixture, the visitors ought to be confident of carrying out similar tactics to good effect. It will be harder for Michelsen’s men away from home, though Stromsgodset are not the most prolific side, while they have looked open to the break, as the reverse fixture showed.

A repeat of their 4-0 win is unlikely to occur on the road, though it’s hard to believe that there’s anywhere near as big a disparity in quality as the prices suggest, so supporting the visitors is not at all hard to do. If they can dig in and defend before hitting Stromsgodset on the break as they did in the reverse fixture, then it’s easy to feel that Kristiansund have a better chance of avoiding defeat than the early prices would have people believe.