Preview: Norway vs Sweden – prediction, team news, team lineups
Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Nations League match between Norway and Sweden, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Scandinavian neighbors Norway and Sweden will lock horns at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo for its fourth League B Group 4 match in UEFA Nations League on Sunday night.
The Blue and Yellows will seek revenge against the Lions, after losing 2-1 at home in the reverse match last week.
Match preview
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Norway could not keep their 100% start in League B Group 4 because they played a draw at home against Slovenia on Thursday.
Miha Blazic received a straight red card shortly after the hour for a late challenge Erling Braut Haalandbut the Lions could not take advantage of the extra man and were eventually forced to share the booty.
Still, Obsolete Solbakken will have been pleased with his team’s start to their Nations League campaign, as they have picked up seven points from their first three matches and are one point ahead of Serbia at the summit.
Norway, who have only lost one of their last 12 international matches, will be confident ahead of Sunday’s match after defeating Sweden this month. After four draws against the Blue and Yellows, a position from Haaland helped to take all three points for the Lions, who only had 34% in possession in Stockholm.
Another victory for Norway would put them in a strong position to secure promotion to League A, which would be their second promotion in three campaigns since the competition began in 2018.
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After winning 2-0 against Slovenia in their opening Nations League match, Sweden has since suffered back-to-back against Norway and Serbia.
The blue and yellows were sentenced to a narrow 1-0 loss against the latter on Thursday, with a blow in the third minute of stoppage time in the first half from Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic enough for Serbia to take all three points away.
Janne AnderssonThe team, which was relegated from League A to the Nations League in the latest campaign, continues to fight for promotion but they are currently four points behind leader Norway and Sunday’s clash against their regional rivals could be crucial in deciding their fate.
Sweden has failed to win some of their last five meetings with Norway, with their latest victory from August 2013 when they won 4-2 at home in a friendly international.
The blue and yellows go to Oslo after only winning one of their last six away matches – the previously mentioned 2-0 victory over Slovenia earlier this month – so they must be on top if they want to take maximum points on Sunday and keep their hopes at life.
Norway Nations League form:
Norway form (all competitions):
Sweden Nations League form:
Sweden form (all competitions):
Team news
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Norway’s manager Solbakken may decide to make a couple of changes to refresh his team, given the rapid turnaround between the matches.
Both Haaland and Mohammed Elyounoussi are set to keep their places in attack, however Alexander Sorloth could come in for Joshua Kingwhile Morten Thorsby can replace Fredrik Aursnesjoin Martin Odegaard and Sander Berge in midfield.
A rear four off Marcus Pedersen, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Leo Ostigard and Birger Meling will remain intact on Sunday and protect the goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
As for Sweden, they will be without a midfield duo Mattias Svanberg and Kristoffer Olsson due to suspension, while center back Joakim Nilsson is doubtful after coming off in the first half against Serbia with an injury.
With such as Victor Lindelöf and Carl Starfelt not involved in the squad due to injury, head coach Andersson may need to call Hjalmar Ekdal and Sotirios Papagiannopoulos – who only has five internationals between him – to start as a center-back.
In a more positive way, Sweden will be able to welcome back Tottenham Hotspur’s exterior Dejan Kulusevski from suspension and he is expected to replace either Viktor Claesson or Anthony Elanga.
Emil Krafth is also available for election after serving a match suspension at the latest, and he can substitute Joel Andersson on the right hill.
Norway possible starting line-up:
Uusimaa; Pederson, Hanche-Olsen, Ostigard, Meling; Thorsby, Berge, Odegaard; Sorloth, Haaland, Elyounoussi
Sweden’s possible starting line-up:
Olsen; Krafth, Ekdal, Papagiannopoulos, Augustinsson; Forsberg, Cajuste, Svanberg; Kulusevski, Isak, Elanga
We say: Norway 3-1 Sweden
While Sweden has talented attacking options that can cause problems for Norway in the last third, we feel that Haaland and co will have a lot of joy against the guests’ weakened back line.
Andersson’s men can not really afford to lose on Sunday if they are to keep the advancement alive, but given the form and firepower Norway possesses, a home victory could be at stake.
For data analysis of the most likely results, result lines and more for this match, click here.
Top tips
Our expert tips partners at Sporita.com betting under 3.5 goals in this match. click here to find out what more they predict for this game and for more of their proven football tips.Under 3.5: data