Serginho - Viborg FF’s main creative player
Serginho (or Sérgio Andrade) is a 23-year-old Portuguese winger who plays for Viborg FF in the 3F Superliga (Danish top tier). This is his second season at the club and in Denmark. The 24/25 season is still in the beginning but, so far, Serginho has been performing at high level for his club (3 goals and 7 assists in 10 official matches).
The Portuguese winger preferably uses his right foot, and he can play in both wings despite seeming to be more efficient on the right. At Viborg, he has been playing exclusively as right winger since this season’s 3rd round and since then, his performance has increased substantially.
Serginho is a creative player with a very good technique for the 3F Superliga. He has good dribbling skills, ball control, acceleration, speed and agility that allow him to unbalance the opposition’s defence, create spaces and make him one of the best dribblers in the Danish top tier (6,98 dribbles per match and 56,9% success rate).
The Portuguese winger possesses a good first touch, vision, passing skills and awareness that are reflected in his importance to the playmaking and attacking momentum of Viborg (6 assists in 9 league matches; 76,9% pass accuracy; 84,2% accuracy in passes to the final third and 64,9% accuracy in passes to the penalty box).
Serginho is a decent decision maker, has decent positioning and has a good acceleration with ball which he uses to push the team forward (4,06 progressive runs per match). He also is a decent set piece taker.
The winger lacks commitment when defending and seems soft on approaching duels. He is weak in the air. As his stamina starts running low, he takes too long to go back in defence. The winger would benefit greatly from improving his stamina, determination and work rate. Despite having good creative and technical skills, Serginho sometimes overcomplicates or takes too long to release the ball.
In sum, Serginho is a technical and creative player who is more efficient on the right side of the attack. He is tactically disciplined and more suited for attacking tasks although he’s up to make high pressing often. Viborg’s right winger is a fast player with good dribbling skills, who enjoys having the ball. He has passing and crossing skills to assist or deliver well to his teammates. He’s a decent set piece taker (especially corners).
Serginho has developed very well since he moved to Denmark and, with 23 years of age, he still has room to develop. He has shown potential to play at a higher level.
Oskar Spiten-Nysæter – Stabæk`s Rising Star
Oskar Spiten-Nysæter is a 16-year-old Norwegian forward who plays for Stabæk in the OBOS Ligaen (Norwegian 2nd Tier). The experienced manager Bob Bradley promoted Oskar to the first team in the end of last season. The teenager is capped for Norway U17 and, despite being a player in development, has been crucial for the team’s performance this season (8 goals in 11 matches).
The young Norwegian forward uses preferably his right foot although he has a decent weaker foot (left) which he uses when needed and without compromising. He’s a good finisher with both feet, inside and just outside the penalty box.
Playing as centre forward in Bob Bradley’s 1-3-5-2/1-3-4-1-2, Nysæter has shown to have a good acceleration, pace and technique, which make him a fast player and allow him to change direction quickly. He has a decent first touch, good ball control and dribbling skills that allow him to keep the ball possession and unbalance the opposition’s defence. The 16-year-old has good vision and passing skills that can allow him to deliver well. He shows confidence and determination, asking the ball frequently and facing the opposition in 1v1 plays.
As a player under development there are aspects that must be worked on to raise his game. Spiten-Nysæter can be temperamental and sometimes seems to temporarily lose motivation and feel frustrated. He is still inconsistent and sometimes “disappears” from the match for periods of time. His teamwork is below average, and his work rate is decent, thus he’d greatly benefit from improving them. By raising his teamwork, he would be more involved in the match.
Furthermore, Oskar can improve his decision-making, which experience can bring in time. Consequently, he tends to overuse the dribble, thereby overcomplicating and taking too long to release the ball, sometimes leading to loss of possession. Additionally, his movements off the ball require improvement, alongside developing better timing of these movements and micro-decisions during the game that are compromising his effectiveness rate and presence in the field.
Oskar Spiten-Nysæter is a very young and talented player. Naturally, he still has a lot of room for improvement. He has a very good potential, and he can become a high-level footballer if he develops well. He’s versatile (can play LW, RW, CF), can play with both feet and has lots of quality for a 16-year-old. Stabæk’s young centre forward in one of the most exciting young prospects playing in Norway at the moment.
Edmund Baidoo - Sogndal’s young prospect
Edmund Baidoo is an 18-year-old Ghanaian player. He plays for Sogndal IL in the OBOS Ligaen (Norwegian 2nd tier). He arrived at the club in March 2024 and immediately won a spot in the starting 11 where he plays as right midfielder/winger. His performances in 2024 caught the attention of bigger clubs (Bodø, Molde, Malmö, Genk, and others) according to the Norwegian media.
Baidoo has a low centre of gravity (1,74m), decent dribbling skills and a good acceleration that helps him change direction quicky and be effective in his dribbles (66% success rate). He has good first touch and a decent technique that help him to have control of the ball. He possesses good vision and good passing skills (78% passes completed) which help him connect with his teammates.
The Ghanaian has good decision making and combines with his colleagues. He has movement off the ball and appears in finishing areas often which, together with other characteristics, makes him an unpredictable player.
Tactically, the midfielder is disciplined and shows to have a decent positioning that allows him to contribute when the team doesn’t have ball possession (2,3 interceptions per match and 5,9 recoveries per match). He asks for the ball and shows to have decent levels of confidence.
Edmund Baidoo is very young thus he’s still developing as a football player. He’s still quite inconsistent in his performances and needs space on his wing to be effective. He’s not very committed when defending which may put extra pressure on his teammates. Often, he doesn’t recover, has poor marking and tends to avoid duels.
The right midfielder is not physically strong and is weak in the air (avoids duels). He would benefit from having more aggressiveness and explosiveness to be more preponderant among the team’s game.
Being so young Baidoo has lots of room and time to develop. He’s still adapting to the OBOS Ligaen and it would be interesting to see how will he evolve throughout the season. Edmund Baidoo seems to have potential to play in a higher level than what he is currently at.
Sondre Ørjasæter: Sarpsborg 08’s promising winger
Sondre Ørjasæter is a 20-year-old Norwegian left winger. After a superb season in OBOS Ligaen (Norwegian 2nd tier) last season, he moved from Sogndal IL to Sarpsborg 08. In his debut season in the Eliteserien (Norwegian top tier) he has been performing at a good level so far.
Ørjasæter is a technical player, capped for Norway U21, and with a very good potential.
With his team playing in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation, he occupies the left wing with an inverted winger role, i.e., he stays very open near the sideline and moves to the centre when in ball possession to use his best foot (right) either to pass, cross or shoot.
The young winger has a set of tools that make him one of the most promising players in the Eliteserien. He has a good technique, spatial awareness, first touch and ball control, hence he keeps the ball playable most of the times. Ørjasæter can change directions quickly and has a good acceleration when with the ball, making him effective when dribbling (2,7 successful dribbles per match; 62% success rate).
The Sarpsborg 08 player has good passing skills and a very good vision that allow him to often choose the best option (1,3 key passes per match; 5 big chances created; 80% success rate in passing in oppositions half). He is a creative player thus unpredictable to the opposition. These qualities allow him to be quite efficient passing the ball.
He is not a selfish player. He is always looking to play with his teammates. Sondre Ørjasæter is tactically disciplined and has a good positioning (especially when defending). He has a decent work rate, teamwork, and a decent stamina, therefore it is normal to see him in his defensive third helping the team defending (53% duels won; 3,8 possession recoveries per match). On the pitch, he shows consistency and maturity above his age.
The left winger is still a player in development. He doesn’t have much strength and aggressiveness. Once he develops those qualities, he’ll become a more intense player. He practically doesn’t use his weaker foot (left). If he manages to work on developing it and use it a bit more regularly, it would be a massive asset and it would give him more options thus becoming more unpredictable than he already is.
Sondre Ørjasæter has the potential to become a very good player and would benefit, at his own time, of playing in a more competitive league.
*stats from 2024 season
Oslo Derby Lyn vs Vålerenga - What “The Battle of Oslo” can tell us about the teams
A few days have passed since Lyn and Vålerenga, two rival football clubs of Oslo, played in a match counting for the OBOS Ligaen or 1st Division (Norwegian 2nd tier). The excitement for the Derby led a total of 25000 fans from both teams to Ullevaal Stadium.
These teams hadn’t been in the same tier since 2009. Lyn won the promotion to OBOS Ligaen last season after the playoff, while Vålerenga was relegated from Eliteserien (Norwegian top tier) after 22 seasons.
The match itself had passion but lacked quality. For what each team did on the pitch, the draw is an acceptable result.
Lyn, playing at home, prepared the team to be more cautious and avoid risks. They started playing with a more direct playstyle resourcing to long balls to put the ball in the front.
Vålerenga chose to play the ball around and occasionally use through passes to break the opposition lines.
After the balanced first 15 minutes, Vålerenga started to dominate the match. Attacking more through the left wing, they were able to control the ball possession and create opportunities to score. They got in the lead (1-0) at 33’. They had the upper hand until Mees Rijks was sent off (37’).
With 10 players on the pitch and with a narrow advantage, Vålerenga adopted a defensive mentality and the attacking moments ceased to exist. Lyn grew and gained confidence. They took the initiative and drawn (1-1) near half time.
In the second half, Lyn controlled the possession and tried to score but without success, whilst Vålerenga defended deep until the end.
From what the teams showed us, what can we expect this season
Lyn
· The team plays in a 1-4-3-3 formation with a balanced/cautious mentality, and they are well aware of their limitations.
· The more direct football suits the characteristics of the team.
· The team has a decent tactical organization.
· Most of Lyn’s reinforcements came from the 2nd Division (3rd tier), thus many of the players lack OBOS Ligaen experience.
· They are stronger in the centre where Sell (CB), Bydal (DMC/MC), Kristiansen (MC) and Hellum (ST) can bring some quality.
· They are a committed team with a decent work rate which makes them difficult to play against.
· They lack some technical quality and communication on the field.
· The levels of concentration aren’t high, and they are prone to make errors.
· The team may struggle against teams that are strong in duels.
· It is likely that Lyn will struggle against tactically organised teams.
· Negative results will be a test to their mental strength.
Vålerenga
· The team plays in a 1-4-2-3-1 formation with attacking mentality and privileging ball possession.
· One of the teams with better technical quality in the OBOS Ligaen.
· Team and some players with experience at a higher level
· Top of the league quality in passing, crossing and creativity
· Strong and creative midfield where Bjørdal (MC), Håkans (RW), Hagen (DMC/MC) and Riisnæs (AMC/MC) are top quality in this tier.
· The team lacks efficiency despite producing a lot in attack (leading in shots, accurate passes, accurate crosses, and ball possession).
· Squad doesn’t have depth and seems unbalanced. Outside the starting 11 there are very few alternatives with similar quality.
· Team’s mental strength is being tested and may be crucial for the success/failure in the end of the season.
· Vålerenga may struggle against teams good in quick transitions and counterattacks.
*(MC- Midfield Centre; RW- Right Winger; DMC/MC- Defensive Midfielder Centre; AMC/MC- Attacking Midfielder Centre)
For Lyn, already eliminated from NM Cup and with only the 1st Division to focus on, every point will count to avoid relegation. The cohesion of the team will be a key factor during the season. They play with Ranheim at home for the OBOS Ligaen on Sunday.
For Vålerenga, as the main favourite to win the 2nd Tier, every point will be crucial. A strong reaction is needed after the bad start in the 1st Division. Vålerenga will receive Bryne on Sunday for the OBOS Ligaen.
The underlooked qualities of Herman Stengel, Strømsgodset’s main playmaker
Herman Stengel is a 28-year-old Norwegian centre midfielder. He moved to Strømsgodset IF in 2018 and this is his 7th season for the club. In the last three seasons he has been one of the most consistent players in Eliteserien and among the best playing in Norway.
Stengel is a discreet player. He doesn’t have extraordinary physical attributes or a superb technique. Actually, he has a low work rate, he rarely dribbles, shoots or is involved in many duels. You are probably wondering why he is one of the best midfielders in Eliteserien.
Herman has attributes that allow him to compensate for what he lacks. He has very good positioning and spatial awareness. He often looks at his surroundings to correct his position. That allows him to recover the ball possession (5,5 recoveries per match in 2023) and to intercept opposition passes (1,3 interceptions per match in 2023). He communicates a lot with his colleagues to correct their positioning, to tell them where to pass or to ask for the ball. His presence in the field helps the midfield to keep its tactical discipline.
Stengel is a team player thus he doesn’t tend to keep the ball too much time. As a playmaker, he prefers to play simple and deliver quickly to create unbalances in the opposition. He has good movement off the ball and usually uses this skill to provide passing lines to his teammates. Furthermore, Stengel has good passing skills, vision and good decision making, ending up choosing the best option more often than normal. Last year he did 5 assists, created 6 big chances, and made 2,4 key passes per match.
Adding to these qualities, Herman Stengel possesses good levels of concentration which help him to make less mistakes than the average. The consistency of his performance is something to behold as it seems as he doesn’t have “bad days”.
For him and his team follows the match against HamKam tomorrow.
Eliteserien 2024 : Matchday 3 – The Østfold derby
The week 3 of Eliteserien finished yesterday (April 16) and the two derbies were the most interesting matches to watch. The Østfold derby between Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg, and the “Best I Vest” derby (best in the west) between Viking and Brann. It has been 12 seasons of Eliteserien since the first last Østfold derby happened. Here`s a short review:
Fredrikstad FK – Sarpsborg 08
Fredrikstad FK and Sarpsborg 08 hadn’t met in the Norwegian top tier since 2011. The rivalry between the two cities (Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg) exists since 1567 and, naturally, it extends to football. Fredrikstad FK received Sarpsborg 08 on Saturday with a full stadium. Tactically there weren’t big surprises as the home side displayed the team in its usual 1-3-5-2 formation, playing the ball around with short passing and looking for the control of the ball possession. The visitors used their regular 1-4-2-3-1 formation with a cautious mentality, using long and through passes to make the most of the opposition’s mistakes.
Sarpsborg started better. Their strategy to look for early crosses (7/11 total crosses) to the back of the third opposition’s defender were fruitful and at 5’ they scored through Berget’s header (1-0). Until the end of the first half, Fredrikstad dominated but was unable to pass the opposition’s defence. Sarpsborg defended deep, with compact and organised lines, not giving much space for the opposition to create danger, despite some proneness to errors in the back.
The second half started as the first ended – with the home team searching for the equaliser. They managed to quickly do that. At 50’ a cross from the left to Traore who brilliantly assisted Kvile in the middle for the 1-1.
The match became more open and balanced with both teams creating opportunities. With both teams looking to score, Sarpsborg started opening spaces in the back which allowed Fredrikstad to successfully make combinations in the wings. In the 74th minute Sarpsborg put themselves in the lead. Stefan Johansen took a corner on the left of the attack and Uchenna, without marking on the centre, scored with a header (1-2).
The home team made some changes and started playing in a 1-4-3-3 formation. They started to be more dangerous in the front and finally scored at 92’, after a play of persistence finished by Henrik Johansen (2-2).
It was an emotional derby, where some aggressiveness was noticeable. Fredrikstad lacked experience to be more effective. Sarpsborg still hasn’t recovered for the exit of the main attacking players in the Winter. Both teams showed to lack concentration when defending and thus need to improve this aspect.
Although none of the individual performances excelled, Henrik Johansen changed Fredrikstad’s game. Subbed in late in the match (minute 80), he had time to score the equaliser, to make 2 key passes and to create 2 big chances.
NM Cup 2024 : Round 1 - Recap
The First Round of NM Cup (or Norwegian Cup) has finished. Although most teams confirmed their favourite “status” there were a couple of surprises and unexpected heroes:
Torvastad IL – from the 4th Division (5th Tier) defeated Haugesund that play in Eliteserien (1st tier). Torvastad’s team hid their limitations by showing high levels of solidarity and teamwork, as they closed well most of the roads to their goal. Jørgen Kaldheim Grønningen was always focused, well positioned and was the hero of the match by defending 4 out of 4 Penalty kicks. Impressive!!! They will receive Viking (Eliteserien) in the 2nd round.
Fløy (Flekkerøy) IL – this 2nd Division (3rd Tier) team received and eliminated Eliteserien’s Sandefjord. Throughout the match they were able to resist the opposition’s attacks. The team was very focused on defence. The goalkeeper Knezovic performed at a high level and Osestad made the most of a marking mistake and made the final score (1-0). They will receive Egersund (OBOS Ligaen – 2nd Tier) in the next round.
FK Mandalskameratene – this 3rd Division’s (4th Tier) team received the Start (2nd Tier). It was a well disputed match where the home team showed a good work rate and performed at a good level. They won the match in the penalty shoot-out by 1-1(6-5p). They will receive Bryne from OBOS Ligaen in the 2nd round.
Lastly, the performance of Tobias Helstad ought to be mentioned. In a match between two Arctic Circle’s teams (Kirkenes-Alta), the Alta’s player absolutely destroyed the home team. After conceding the first goal at the end of the first minute, Kirkenes never showed arguments to discuss the match. Helstad seemed to be in a level above all others, moving and positioning himself well. He ended up scoring 7 goals.
Eliteserien 2024 : Bodø/Glimt 1 – 0 Viking ( Review )
A sunny afternoon in the Aspmyra Stadion set the stage for the biggest match of the Matchday 2 of Eliteserien.
Bodø/Glimt received Viking in a match between the 1st and 4th of last season, respectively. Indeed, it was an important match for both teams.
Tactical approach
Bodø/Glimt – playing at home, used a 1-4-3-3 formation, maintaining the same shape while in defence. In attack, they were patient with the ball, looked to circulate the ball around in the ground. The wing backs often searched to overlap with the wingers.
Viking – played with a cautious 1-4-3-3 formation focused to launch counterattacks and to attack with quick transitions. They looked mostly to pass over to Salvensen or through for both wings. When in their defensive half, they defended very deep with a compact shape between 1-4-5-1 and 1-5-4-1.
Summary
The match started well disputed with Viking exerting a high and intense pressure when Bodø/Glimt was trying to play from the back. When in the back, Viking defended both very compactly and deeply, with a 1-4-5-1/1-5-4-1 in which Joe Bell would drop to the line of defenders. As a result, indeed, the home team had difficultys to make plays from the back. When in its attacking half, Bodø/Glimt seemed more organised and patient, circulating the ball around to try to find spaces.
After the first 10 minutes, Viking dropped the high pressure. They started betting on the counterattacks and quick attacks. Consequently, Bodø/Glimt started having more ball but were unable to create clear goal chances. In accordance, despite Bodø’s higher ball possession, the best chance in the first half belonged to Viking.
By the half time, it seemed like both teams were more worried in not conceding a goal rather than scoring. Bodø/Glimt’s positioning in the field didn’t change, and Viking brought down both wingers closer to the midfield line and advanced Tangen in order to both support Salvensen and help in the pressing moments.
The second half started a bit more open. Bodø/Glimt arrived nearer to the opposition’s area, but the lack of ideas was notorious. On the other hand, Viking defended in a less compact manner, either in a 1-4-1-4-1 where Bell would supress the space between lines, or in a 1-4-4-2 where Tangen would help Salvensen in pressing the ball carrier.
Around minute 60, the visiting team looked a bit more dangerous and attacking, thus started to open more spaces in the defence.
The match changed with the arrival of Sondre Sørli (subbed in at 76’). The right winger brought clarity to the home team and made good use of the space conceded to assist in the only goal of the match (1-0).
Viking tried to draw, with more heart than brains, until the very end, but was unable score.
It was an even match that ended in 1-0 to the home side. Tactically, both teams nullified each other and seemed more worried in not conceding rather than scoring. It was a dull match where the lack of creativity and big goal chances was predominant. Bodø/Glimt’s team looks to have different characteristics this season. Viking seems more cautious on its tactical approach.
Key players
Sondre Sørli – He unblocked the match for Bodø/Glimt. Came from the bench with less than 20 minutes to play. He brought speed, vision, and creativity. The stats show how important he was:
2 Crosses completed (Bodø had 4 crosses completed when the match finished)
2 Key passes
2 Big chances created (the only 2 big chances Bodø had)
1 Assist
Viljar Vevatne – Viking’s best player in this match. He was always focused while defending and tried to help in the attack. Unbeatable in the duels he had, the stats are impressive:
6 Tackles
6/6 Ground duels won
3/3 Aerial duels won
2 Key passes
1 Big chance created
Reference database: Sofascore and Fotmob
Animations made in Tactical Board
Eliteserien 2024 : Tromsø 2 – 4 Brann ( Review )
Match of the week
Tromsø 2 – 4 Brann
The Eliteserien has begun, and we’ve been presented with a quality performance from both Tromsø and Brann. The teams were faithful to their principles and those who watched the match must have been pleased.
Tromsø – played in a 1-3-5-2 formation based on quick attacks and counterattacks. Soon was understood that the team isn’t so organised while defending (yet) as last year. They conceded too many spaces which shows that there is still tactical work to do. The team only showed capacity to hold the ball in the attack and caused danger after Nordås was subbed in.
Brann – played in an attacking 1-4-3-3 formation supported by a high work rate, an aggressive high block and zonal high pressure that limited the construction phase of the opposition. After recovering possession, the transitions were quick. In attack, the fluidity and the short passing and quick tempo helped to open spaces and to create goal situations.
The Romssa Arena (formerly Alfheim Stadium) in Tromsø was the stage for the first match of both teams in this Eliteserien s season.
The first half, particularly the first 30 minutes, was clearly dominated by Brann, the high pressure limited the home team in the construction phase and its exits to attack. Without a player with capacity to receive and hold the ball in the front, Tromsø’s defence crumbled, and the visitors took the opportunity to gain the lead and increase it.
In the 37th minute, Tromsø subbed out Hjertø-Dahl, brought Nordås into the front and draw back Romsaas to the midfield. Nordås in the front, a strong and tall striker, gave Tromsø the ability to retain the ball in the attack, to combine in the front and cause danger. The match became more balanced.
The second half started with Brann’s dominion as they reached the 0-3. Tromsø subbed Vådebu out and brought in Paintsil to give speed and freshness to the right side. The effect was almost instantaneous, as the home team started to create goal opportunities and gaining confidence. They scored two times (65’ and 73’) reducing to 2-3. The morale was high, Tromsø was growing, and Brann’s fatigue didn’t allow them to play with the same intensity. It seemed like we would get 20 epic minutes of match until the end as both teams were tactically broken and were having goal chances. However, Anders Jensen`s heated reaction to a foul caused to stop a Tromsø’s counterattack, resulted in his second yellow card and thus the red. With one less player, Tromsø’s hopes seemed to have vanished, and Brann ended the match when they made the 2-4.
Brann won the match fairly. They were more organised, better prepared and created more than enough chances to justify the result.
Player of the Week
Joachim Soltvedt – The left back had a solid exhibition and a key performance to Brann’s side. He was often involved in the attacking momentums and helped to balance the defence. His stats reflect a balanced and effective performance with massive impact on the match.
· 2 Goals scored (in 3 shots)
· 1 Big chance created
· 1 Key pass
· 2 Tackles
· 2 Interceptions
· 75% of duels won
He got subbed at the 68th minute due to injury.
Mentions
Kristiansund BK – The first big surprise of the season was the Lillestrøm 2 – 3 Kristiansund. Playing away against a much stronger team, Kristiansund’s bet on defending well and counterattacks was fruitful. The team showed to be very compact without ball and effectively made the most of the few opportunities to score.
Marcus Sandberg – Superb performance from HamKam’s goalkeeper. With 8 saves, 4 high claims, 17 possession recoveries and 40% long pass accuracy, he was a pivotal player for HamKam. He started the play that resulted in his team’s goal and delayed KFUM’s goal to the maximum, helping the team to guarantee a precious point.
Lasse Nordås – Despite the loss, he changed the match for Tromsø. He entered on the37th minute and connected the attack. Nordås scored 2 goals, created 1 big chance, made 2 key passes, and made his team believe. Super Sub!!
Matchday 2 starts on April 6th with the important Bodø/Glimt – Viking match.
Eliteserien 2024 - Preview
The Eliteserien (Norwegian top tier) 2024 will start tomorrow (on March 31st). A new season awaits and there will be space for new players to show their talents in the highest level of Norwegian football. The transfer window is open until April 3rd thus the teams can still make some adjustments until then.
A few influential players and good young prospects left Norway in search of more competitive football and new opportunities for their careers. At the same time, many young footballers returned from loan, and new players have arrived looking to showcase their talent or to relaunch their careers.
Most of the transfers in this transfer window were domestic (60%). From abroad, most of the players were playing in Europe, particularly on the Nordic countries.
Whilst acknowledging that any team can win a league (example of Leicester 2015/16), the differences in quality and financial conditions between the football clubs are noticeable. Yet, surprises can happen and teams can either underperform or overperform. Additionally, the unpredictable factors, such as morale/injuries/summer transfer window, in play during the season cannot be taken in account when pertaining an overview of the what may or may not happen from now until December.
*All stats presented below refer to the 2023 season and the database used was Sofascore.
The title contenders
Bodø/Glimt – the Norwegian champions are one of the favourites to win the Eliteserien. The departures of Pellegrino (24 goals and 14 assists)*, Moumbagna (15 goals and 5 assists)* and Gulliksen (one of the most promising players in Norway) opened a void in the attack. To replace them Evjen, Mikkelsen, Gundersen, Kjetil Haug (loan), Jens Peter Hauge (loan) and Høgh were brought in to balance an already established team. The level of success greatly depends on how effectively the manager is able to pass his ideas to the new players, and in turn, how well the players can assimilate them. Most likely the attacking 1-4-3-3 will be kept, although compared to last year, the characteristics of the players in the front are different, particularly less powerful yet with more mobility.
Key players – Patrick Berg and Albert Grønbæk. While Berg is the pilar of the midfield and dictates the rhythms of the game, Grønbæk is the creative force (9 goals, 7 assists, 12 big chances created)* on the interior left side of the midfield. Both are top players in the Eliteserien.
Molde – After the title in 2022, Molde finished 5th, its worst classification of the last 7 seasons. In 2023, Molde’s bad start and ending of season showed that the team lacked depth and arguments to fight for the Eliteserien while playing the Europa League. They were by far the biggest spenders of the Norwegian top tier as they try to find more solutions. Amongst the players that came to Molde this season the highlights are Møller Dæhli and Senevik. Dæhli has justreturned to the club after 10 years abroad to substantially contribute to the team’s playmaking and increase the passing quality. Stenevik can bring speed and unpredictability to the wings. The conservative 1-3-5-2 formation is the probable tactic base of the team with some variations according to the strength of the opposition.
Key players – Gullbrandsen, Møller Dæhli and Breivik. Gullbrandsen provides quality and mobility to the front and has lots of experience at a higher level. Dæhli has much experience and will bring quality to the midfield. Breivik is a complete centre midfielder (7 goals, 6 assists, 5 ball recoveries per game)* who is almost recovered from an injury, is likely anessential asset for the team as soon as he finds his form again.
Brann – In my opinion, this is the best managed team in Eliteserien andamong those with better technical attributes. Erik Horneland did a superb job in the last two seasons. Without the same resources as Bodø/Glimt and Molde, Brann managed to win the Norwegian cup of 2022 (the final was in the beginning of 2023) and finished 2nd in the league last season after being promoted. The team is very cohesive and usually plays in a 1-4-3-3 formation that privileges an attacking playstyle with high pressure and high ball possession. Without losing any of the key elements of the team in this transfer window, Brann secured the strategic signings of Kornvig, a complete centre midfielder with conditions to fight immediately for a spot in the starting 11, and Martin Hellan to develop and to give depth to the right wingback position.
Key players – Sivert Nilsen, Bård Finne and Joachim Soltvedt. Nilsen is the leader of the team and does impressive defensive work (9,3 possession recoveries per game and 3,2 tackles per game)*. Finne has great movement off ball, unbalances opposition’s defence easily, creates spaces and finishes well. Soltvedt is one of the set piece takers, competent defending and often finds solutions for the attack (2,6 key passes per game)*.
Top 5
Viking – After one impressive that made them reach the 1st position 9 matches away from the end, they lost 5 of the last 8 matches and finished 4th in the Eliteserien. The team played in a 1-4-3-3 formation with variation to 1-4-1-4-1 depending on the approach to the match. Viking are a team with good work rate and good in transitions. Despite having a good attack, the team lacked in defence thus stopping them from reaching a higher position. The exits of Brekalo (one of the best defenders in the Eliteserien), Pattynama and Markus Solbakken (key player in the midfield and one of the best passers in Norway) will certainly decrease the squads depth, the passing quality and the defensive capacity of the team. Without being able to reinforce all these positions, they brought Franco Lino, an 18-year-old Australian left back and Peter Christiansen, a gifted winger with good ball control who was probably the best player in the NordicBet Liga (Danish 2nd tier). It will be interesting to see if Viking manages to play the same way, if there will be subtle changes or if the depth of the squad is enough to fight for a similar spot as last year.
Key players – Zlatko Tripic and Lars-Jørgen Salvensen. Tripic is the leader of the team and one of the best playing in Norway (13 goals; 10 assists; 20 big chances created and 3,4 key passes per game)*. He has experience, reads the game well, has good passing skills and he finishes well. In my opinion, Salvensen (10 goals)* is probably one of the most underrated players in the Eliteserien: he’s physically strong, has good mental attributes and he has a very good work rate. The work he makes in the field might be invisible to many but is pivotal for his team and he can cause problems to any defence.
Lillestrøm – After finishing 6th last season the team hired a new manager, Andreas Georgson (ex-Assistant manager in Arsenal), who will certainly bring new ideas to the club. The squad saw Skjærvik and Eskil Edh exit the club. To replace them, they brought in Foss, a centre back strong in duels to reinforce what was last season’s weak spot; Knudtzon, an experienced right midfielder (more than 400 matches in Eliteserien); and Eric Kitolano, a fast and versatile player. The team played in a 1-3-5-2 formation last season but is still early to know if it will be maintained in a medium/long term.
Key players – Gjermund Åsen, Thomas Lehne Olsen and Eric Kitolano. Åsen was one of the best players in Norway in 2023 and the biggest creator (9 assists; 24 big chances created and 3,3 key passes per game)*. Olsen is experienced, finishes well (14 goals in 2023, 85 in his career in Eliteserien)*, has good vision and is a team player. Eric Kitolano gives the team speed, explosiveness, unpredictability and can be an asset in transitions/counter attacks.
Middle Table
Rosenborg – The biggest club in Norway is away from the title since 2018 and it doesn’t seem ready to fight for it. They are one of the youngest squads in the Eliteserien. Last season they finished 9th and it wasn’t marked by stability. Tactically, the team used several formations, starting the season with 1-3-5-2, alternating with a 1-3-4-3, and changing in the mid of the season to 1-4-3-3 formation. The players never managed to assimilate the routines and gain much familiarity with the different systems. The team lacked defensively. With a new manager (1-4-3-3 formation, high pressing), without important changes in the squad and betting in players from their youth system (one of the best in Norway), they have the conditions to raise their game and finish better than last season.
Key players – Ole Selnæs, Jayden Nelson and Ole Sæter. Selnæs (centre midfielder) is the player that brings balance to the team. His passing quality and variety (89% accuracy, 65% accuracy long balls, 76% chipped passes)*, vision and reading of the game are what links the team together. In addition, his capacity to recover possession (8 recoveries per game)* gives defensive cohesion. Jayden Nelson is an important player to the attacking strategy of the team, especially in counterattacks and quick transitions. The young Canadian winger has good acceleration and speed, has good movements off ball and is creative. He already possesses creativity and technique above the average for an Eliteserien player. Despite Sæter having had injury problems last season, he was the team’s best goalscorer (12 matches, 8 goals)*. He’s extremely effective (28% goal conversion)* and he’s able to make a difference. Despite being a rising star with lots of quality, Sverre Nypan doesn’t seem yet at a point where he’s a key player for the strategy of the team - he’s just 17. He still needs to be more consistent in his performances which, looking at his development, can happen very quickly.
Sarpsborg – After finishing 8th last season, Sarpsborg suffered a revolution this winter. The exit of Victor Torp, Lundqvist, Maigaard, Kristian Opseth and Utvik is a lot to replace since these players scored, altogether, 60% of the team’s goals in 2023. To replace them, Sarpsborg signed Aimar Sher, a centre midfielder with 2 caps for Sweden U21, Ørjasæter, one of the best and most promising players in OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) and the experienced midfielder Stefan Johansen (55 caps and former captain for Norway). The team played in a 1-4-2-3-1 that is going to be maintained this season with a bit more intensity in the pressing. Despite having produced plenty in the attack (1st in accurate crosses, 2nd in shots and shots on target, 55 goals), the team was one of the worst in defence (52 goals conceded)*. The consistency of the performances, mentality, and how the defence can maintain concentration will be essential.
Key players – Stefan Johansen. The team had many changes. Last season they lacked mental strength and consistency. Johansen is experienced (played in Premier League, Championship, Scottish Premiership and European competitions) and is a leader (Captain for Norway’s National team in 24 occasions). Besides what he can give on the pitch, is what he can give to the team`s collective mentality and approach. He can contribute to raise concentration levels, attenuate some of the pressure and increase motivation.
Strømsgodset – The club is well established in the Eliteserien and finished 7th last season. They played in a 1-3-5-2 formation, alternating with a 1-3-4-3, preferring to give the initiative to the opposition. Despite that, the team showed to be very well organised and managed to end up with one of the best defences in the league. Most likely, they will exhibit the same playstyle this season. This winter, they transferred out Leifsson, Stenevik and Myhra. Theybrought in Taaje, a centre back with good positioning and strong in duels, and Bråtveit, a goalkeeper with international experience. It’s expected that Strømsgodset will be able to do a similar performance.
Key players – Gustav Valsvik and Herman Stengel. Valsvik is one of the most effective centre backs in Eliteserien, he has good positioning (8,8 clearances per game and 2 interceptions per game)* and is strong in aerial duels. Stengel is the creative of the team and its set piece taker (5 assists and 2,4 key passes per game)*.
Haugesund – Last year, the team finished 12th in the Eliteserien. They played with a 1-4-4-2 formation and, despite defending well (40 goals conceded, 6th best record)* they failed to produce in attack (10 shots per game, worst in Eliteserien; and 34 goals scored, 3rd worst record)*. A new manager has arrived, they will play between a 1-4-3-3 and a 1-4-4-2, focused on ball possession and high pressing. Several players departed the club, being Therkilsen, Krygård and Christensen among them. The club brought in several players, mostly young, making them the youngest squad in the League. From the new players that transferred to Haugesund this winter, we can highlight Konradsen, an experienced midfielder, Anton Lúðviksson, a quality midfielder with potential, and Emir Derviskadic, a creative midfielder.
Key players – Egil Selvik and Anton Lúðviksson. Selvik is one of the best goalkeepers playing in Norway (1 cap for Norway and some experience in the Eliteserien). He positions himself well, has good reflexes and is good rushing out. With the new playstyle he will be crucial in many matches. Lúðviksson has shown in the pre-season to be a player that can bring quality to the midfield. He’s technically good (dribble, passing), handles contact well and can grow a lot during the season.
Tromsø – They had a great season in 2023 and finished 3rd with the same points as the 2nd. They were one of the surprises in the Eliteserien. Without presenting a flashy or dominant football, they were very competent and organised (best defence in Eliteserien). Tromsø played in a 1-3-5-2 formation that privileges teamwork and they will probably stick with it for now. This winter, they lost a few key players, Gundersen, Diouf and Vesterlund, as well as their manager. They acquired Skjærvik, a young centre back with good passing skills, Guddal, a promising centre back that was playing in the 2nd tier, and decided to bet on the young players already at the club (several with caps for Norway U20/19/18). Although it will be very hard to repeat the 3rd place, the team has value and can grow during the season. The main question is how the team will react to so many changes.
Key players – Vegard Erlien. In a team where every goal counts, the clinical striker is the most influential player. He moves well, has good positioning, plays simple and finishes well inside the area. Last season he proved to be crucial (15 goals, 22% goal conversion, 34% goal conversion inside the area)*.
Fredrikstad – Sir Alex Ferguson once said that “Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. After 11 years away from the top tier, Fredrikstad won the OBOS Ligaen in 2023 with the best defence (23 goals conceded)* and got promoted to the Eliteserien. The team showed to be solid in the back (14 clean sheets)*. They played in a balanced 1-3-5-2 that seems to be continued in this 2024 season. The team maintained its key players and worked well in the transfer window to cover the exits of Konte, Ricky Alba and Maden. They brought in Fisher, Bjorlo, Mai Traore and Jeppe Kjær, to increase the team’s quality and to provide them with experience in Eliteserien.
Key players – Júlíus Magnússon, Mai Traore, Morten Bjørlo and Jeppe Kjær Jensen. Magnússon is a defensive midfielder who does remarkable work in the defensive moments (9,3 ball recoveries per game and 5,6 interceptions per game)*. Despite not being “flashy”, he’s effective and connects Fredrikstad’s midfield. Traore is a forward that moves well off the ball, appears well at the defence’s back and has Eliteserien experience. Despite not having scored many goals last season, he has less pressure this year that can help him to showcase his talents. Bjørlo is a creative midfielder with good passing quality and vision (3 goals, 3 assists, 7 big chances created and 1,1 key passes per game)*. Kjær is one of the most promising players in Norway, with quality to play in a higher level. My reading is that perhaps the clubs he has been being loaned to, have not been able to make a full use of his skills since he hasn’t played in his position (Winger/Attacking midfielder). Consequently, I think that there has been a delay in his development.
Bottom 5
Odd - The team finished in the 10th position, and assumed a 1-3-4-3 and 1-5-4-1 formations with a cautious and patient playstyle. Despite having 10 clean sheets (best in the league)*, the team lacked creativity, presence in the area and accuracy (Bellow average shots on target, successful dribbles, and penalties in favour)*. Diogo Tomás, Bråtveit and Gjengaar left the club. André Hansen, an experienced goalkeeper, Etzaz Hussain, a midfielder with vision and passing quality, Børven, an experienced striker and two young centre backs, Miettinen and Ivancevic. The manager has changed as well and we can expect the team to be playing in a more balanced 1-4-2-3-1/1-4-3-3 formation.
Key players – Mikael Ingebrigtsen, Filip Jørgensen and Espen Ruud. Ingebrigtsen plays on the right wing and is creative, with good technique and appears well in finishing zones (6 goals and 4 assists)*. Jørgensen is a playmaking midfielder, with good vision and passing skills to back it up. Rudd is the leader of the team and the most experienced one. Despite his age (40) he is one of the most influential players in Odd and he led the team in several metrics (6 assists, 8 big chances created, 1.8 Key passes per game)*. His experience provides him with knowledge to read the game well, good vision, passing and crossing quality.
Kristiansund – The team finished 4th in the OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) with the best attack (56 goals)* and reached promotion after winning the playoff. Played last season with a 1-3-5-2 and a 1-4-3-3 formations (plus variations). They showed to be a resilient team with good work rate and they have fast players in the wings. Kristiansund will be one of the youngest (average age) teams in the Eliteserien. During this transfer window the team made some adjustments. Gjertsen, Nilsen and Stokke left the club. They reinforced themselves well by bringing Mikkaelsson, Gueye and Nyenetue for the attack, Alte for the midfield, Sjåtil for the right wingback and Lansing as a goalkeeper. The team has now more depth and players with experience at Eliteserien level.
Key players – Brynjólfur Willumsson and Oskar Sivertsen. They are the biggest creatives in the team. Willumsson (7 goals and 7 assists)* plays as centre forward (Iceland National team) or centre midfielder (since last season at Kristiansund). He has good vision, good technique and good passing skills, which help him find solutions in the attack. Sivertsen (4 goals and 8 assists)* is a fast winger with good technique and good ball control. He has good movements with ball and often appears near the area to finish or assist. Being only 20-years-old, he can grow and develop a lot during the season.
HamKam – They had a discrete season in 2023 but managed to stay out of the battle to avoid relegation. The team played in a 1-3-5-2 formation, altering with 1-3-4-3, and variations. The formations will likely be maintained and maybe a 1-4-3-1-2 can be included. The cautious and more direct playstyle of last season, led to an under average attacking performance (39 goals scored)*, a bad defensive one (59 goals conceded, 2nd worst)*, and an even worst ball possession (37% ball possession on average; 6,2 accurate dribbles per game and only 241,1 accurate passes per game, the worst records in the Eliteserien)*. HamKam released 7 players, including Gammelby and Melgavis, and acquired Luc Mares, a consistent centre back and one of the best defenders in the 2nd tier. They also acquired Nilsen, a balanced right wing back, and Niklas Ødegård (loan), a promising midfielder and young players to give depth and develop.
Key players – Marcus Sandberg and Pål Kirkevold. Sandberg is an experienced goalkeeper with a few seasons in the Eliteserien under his belt. He has good positioning, and thanks to some good exhibitions, helped the team to win some points (8 clean sheets). Kirkevold is an experienced striker. He reads the game well, has good positioning and moves well inside the area. Last season, he was one of the most influential players of HamKam (6 goals, 4 assists, 1 key pass per game)*. Despite all they can offer on the field, the season can be quite though. Their ability to lead by example can be what differentiates a good season from a bad one.
Sandefjord – They saved themselves from relegation by winning the last match of the season. The team used a 1-4-3-3 formation based on quick transitions. They performed well in the attack but lacked mental and defensive consistency (55 goals conceded, 3rd worst record)*. This season, it seems they’ll be alternating between the 1-4-3-3 and the 1-3-4-3 formations. Sandefjord had important players leaving the club, both starting centre backs Taaje and Foss, and players that gave depth to the team, such as Nyenetue and Koomson. They managed to sign two of the best players in OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier): the centre back Van der Spa, strong in aerial duels, and Mettler, a creative midfielder (7 goals, 6 assists and 2,2 key passes per game)*. Additionally, they secured the loan of Emen Markovic to give depth to the wings.
Key players – Danilo Al-Saed, Filip Ottosson and Vetle Walle Egeli. Al-Saed is a fast left winger and one of the best dribblers in the Eliteserien. He has good technique and dribbling skills that allow him to unbalance the opposition’s defence and appear in finishing areas (11 goals)*. Ottosson is the leader in the midfield and one of the most creative players of the team, having good vision and good passing ability (6 assists, 4 big chances created and 1,6 key passes per game)*. Egeli is a promising left fullback/wingback, set piece taker and one of the team`s biggest creators (3 assists, 7 big chances created and 1,2 key passes per game)*. He’s committed when defending and he’s good in ground duels.
KFUM Oslo - 2003 was a historical season for the club. They finished 2nd in the OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) and secured the promotion to the Eliteserien for the first time ever. They played in a 1-3-4-3, alternating with 1-5-4-1 formation. The team feels comfortable with the ball (52,2% possession and 84% pass accuracy)*and performed well both in defence and attack (51 goals scored and 31 goals conceded,)*. This season they’ll likely to use the same tactical approach (probably the cautious 1-5-4-1 will be used more often). The club released a few players and Silfver-Ramage was transferred to Italy. KFUM did the strategic signings of Amin Nouri, experienced fullback, Aleesami, experienced defender, and Adam Saldaña, Da Rocha and Hickson to give depth.
Key players – Amin Nouri, Haitam Aleesami and Robin Rasch. Nouri and Aleesami are important for the same reason, the psychological factor. Nouri knows well the Eliteserien, how it is played and what is needed to win. Aleesami (31 caps for Norway) has played in several leagues that are more demanding than the Norwegian one. Rasch is an all-round midfielder. He helps in attack, creates and defends (6 goals; 4 assists; 8,9 recoveries per game and 3,8 interceptions per game)*. The central midfielder has good passing quality, vision and positioning that help to connect the team.
Kristiansund BK - Team of Homegrown Talent
Kristiansund is a town of “Møre og Romsdal” region, in Western Norway. It’s the hometown of talented (ex) players, being Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Øyvind Leonhardsen the most famous ones. In 2003 two rival clubs of Kristiansund, Kristiansund FK and Clausenengen FK, cooperated to create an elite club, the Kristiansund Ballklubb (Kristiansund BK).
In 2004, the new club (KBK) debuted in the 3rd Division (4th Tier), and in 2016 managed to secure the promotion to the Eliteserien (1st Tier). Last season, the team secured the return to the top tier after the play-offs.
This season, 2024, Kristiansund BK will be one of the most interesting teams to watch in the Norwegian top tier. The team is the second youngest in the league with an average age of 22.9, with 52% of the players being 21 years old or younger and 80% are 24 years old or less. From this 80% (20 players out of 25), 10 players have had caps by their youth National teams (U21 and younger) at least once. From the 25 that form the squad, 13 are club grown players.
The main prospects are:
Max Williamsen (CB) – Capped for Norway U21. The 20-year-old shows to have maturity and has some experience in the Eliteserien. He positions himself well, has good spatial awareness and leadership skills. He still needs to improve the efficiency in duels and his concentration.
Brynjólfur Willumsson (CF/AMC) – The Icelander has played 2 matches for Iceland’s main national team. Last season he has been adapted to attacking midfielder (centre). He helped the team to achieve promotion after 7 goals and 7 assists in 22 matches. He has good vision, good technique and good passing skills. He isn’t afraid of contact and has good movements without ball. With just a few games in his new position, he’ll need more time to feel comfortable in it. He’d benefit from playing simpler.
Oskar Sivertsen (RW/LW) – The 20-year-old has 3 caps for Norway U20. The right winger started to play regularly for the main squad this season. He is fast, has good technique, has good ball control and he’s quite consistent in his performances. He’s also the set piece taker. Sivertsen gained his space in the starting eleven in the second half of the season and contributed massively for Kristiansund’s promotion, contributing with 4 goals and 8 assists.
Heine Bruseth (MC) – Heine has 3 caps for Norway U20 and he’s just 19 years old. The central midfielder is fast, intelligent and reads the game well. He has good positioning, good passing skills, good ball control and vision. An injury in the beginning of last season delayed a bit his development and affirmation in the squad.
Kristiansund BK has also other young prospects that are already established in the team such as Olsen (CB), Rakneberg (WBL) and promising talents to develop like Alvheim, Haugen or Weidel.
Kristiansund BK played last season with a 1-3-5-2 and a 1-4-3-3 formation (plus variations). They finished 4th in the OBOS Ligaen (2nd tier) with the best attack. In the playoffs they showed to be a resilient team with good work rate.
Now that they’re back to the top tier, we all look forward to seeing how the team and the players develop and perform.
Good luck to them in this Eliteserien 2024.
Peder Brekke - An Arctic Circle prospect
The town of Alta, in Northern Norway, is the home of Peder Brekke. He is a 19-year-old forward that can play in both wings and in the centre. He moved from Bossekop UL (a feeder club) to Alta IF at 16 years of age. Since then, Peder has played in 66 matches and scored 12 times, in both PostNord Ligaen (Norwegian 3rd tier) and NM Cup (Norwegian cup).
In the 2023 season he played quite often (26 matches, 1510 minutes) and scored 6 goals. Peder finished the season in great style, having scored in the last 3 matches.
Usually, Peder occupies the position of winger when Alta plays in 1-4-3-3 or the position of centre forward when the team’s shape is 1-4-4-2. The forwards of Alta have a certain fluidity in their dynamics so there is some shifting of positions or roles, according to the moments of the match.
As a player, Peder Brekke moves well between lines to support his midfield colleagues. He has good movement inside the area and finishes well. The young Norwegian has a good sense of opportunity, decent dribbling skills and can change directions quickly which helps him being effective in progressing through the left side of the attack. The 19-year-old fulfils the tactical requirements of the team.
He plays better as a left (inverted) winger, where he is noticeably more comfortable, active, and confident. Brekke is a player that likes and needs space to play thus, as a centre forward, he tends to “disappear” a bit from the game for periods of time.
The 19-year-old tends to position himself too much in the centre, near the striker (team tactics?). That tendency reduces the spaces given by the opposition’s defenders. Having 1,70m, Peder tends to avoid aerial duels. Due to his attacking characteristics, he lacks on defensive skills and, sometimes, lacks commitment in defensive moments. When playing in the centre, Peder Brekke’s movements off the ball aren’t very effective.
Peder has potential to play a level or two above the one his currently at. Nevertheless, he’s very young and can improve. Naturally, he’ll become more consistent and communicative with his colleagues. Once he gets better in reading the match, movements without ball and positioning, his performances and efficiency will improve.
It’ll be interesting to see how he develops this season.
Jeppe Kjær Jensen - When technique meets simplicity
Jeppe Kjær Jensen is a 19-year-old with 4 caps for Denmark U20. The young Danish started out in Horsens (Denmark), transferred to Ajax and, after nearly three seasons, moved to Norway (Bodø/Glimt). Without space in the squad, he was loaned to Sandefjord until the end of 2023. In the 2024 season (in Norway it starts at the beginning of the year) Kjær was loaned to the recently promoted Fredrikstad to get more minutes and experience.
Kjær is a versatile midfielder/winger that can play in the centre (as MC or AMC) and in both wings. He started his spell at Sandefjord in the middle of the season although he didn’t fully connect with the team nor the team with him. The young Danish has qualities for a more technical and teamplay football. At Sandfjord, he played as MC, in a 1-4-3-3 formation, on the left side. Playing with Al-Saed (LW) didn’t benefit him as the winger is not a team player and it limited him in the attacking moments.
Kjær is just 1,74m, prefers to use his left foot, has good acceleration and pace. Despite not having much strength, he isn’t afraid of duels or contact. He showed to be a creative player, very technical and prefers to play simple instead of overcomplicating things. Kjær has an excellent first touch and ball control which allows him to retain possession with ease. This young midfielder is intelligent on the field, reads the game well, has great vision and passing ability, usually choosing the best option. He also possesses great agility, spatial awareness, and good dribbling skills which in combination with his acceleration, technique and ball control, allow him to effectively change directions with the ball, and create spaces on opposition’s midfield and defence.
Kjær is tactically disciplined and knows the spaces where he should be. He’s calm, confident, has a decent work rate and teamwork. He’s often communicating with the team and asking for the ball.
On the other hand, he struggles to fight in aerial challenges. He still needs to improve his stamina and the way he manages it. He would benefit from more experience to manage the different phases of the game. Kjær needs to improve his defensive skills and his positioning while defending. Since he’s a more attacking player and has only been used frequently as central midfielder (MC) when he moved to Norway (2023), he still needs more time/games to be more effective and feel comfortable in this role. Finally, he needs to be more consistent (at least as an MC).
His first season in Norway hasn’t been a stellar one, but there were several factors that may have conditioned it. Sandfjord was struggling to avoid relegation. For Kjær, who moved mid-season, playing as MC in that playstyle was a new situation (previously he was at Ajax and Bodø/Glimt). The team didn’t fully connect with him nor understood him.
Overall, Kjær is a very young player with great skills and an amazing potential who still needs to grow and mature. There aren’t many doubts that he has talent to play in a higher level or bigger league. I hope that now in Fredrikstad, he’ll have the opportunity to play and to develop further.
Review of EliteSerien (Norway) 2023 - Part II
After the review of what was the 2023 season of the Eliteserien (Norwegian League) more focused on the competition itself, it is important to give a notion of the existing talent and market.
In the last five years, the Norwegian top tier league has been dominated by Bodø/Glimt (3 league titles in the last 4 years) and Molde (2 league titles). The participation in the groups phase and later stages of the UEFA competitions provides a big amount of money for the participating clubs. As the club budgets are small, earning a few million euros from UEFA makes a big difference.
In terms of finding talent, acquire it and develop it, Bodø’s team has been better than everyone else.
Despite this, the players with enough talent to play in a higher-level often leave at young age. In terms of performance and decisiveness, experience makes the difference in the Eliteserien.
This season, Amahl Pellegrino was the league’s top goal scorer and the one with most assists. Bodø/Glimt’s left winger was the most influential player in the league, with 24 goals and 14 assists. Amahl participated directly in 38 of the 78 goals of his team and helped them win the title. The 33-year-old has good positioning, vision and reads the game well, finding openings to assist or score. Despite not being a very fast player, the intelligence in his movements is perceptible and he appears often in the right spot. Pellegrino has good technique, finishes very well (23% conversion) and has a gifted right foot that allows him to place his shots well and score from set pieces and medium range.
Also decisive, for Viking FK, was Zlatko Tripic. The 31-year-old, with 13 goals and 10 assists, was the soul and the leader of Stavanger’s team. The left winger uses both feet, has good vision, positioning and reading of the game. The Viking’s captain is also very good in set pieces. He helped the team reach the 1st position just to fail spectacularly in the last 8 matches (2W, 1D, 5L).
There were some quality players that can further develop their skills and affirm themselves. Al-Saed (11 goals, 2 assists and 49% successful dribbles per match) is one of the best dribblers of Eliteserien. He plays as a left winger (inverted winger) and likes to come to the middle to use his preferred foot. The player of Sandefjord has speed, acceleration, technique and would benefit from playing in a bigger team.
Patrick Berg (3 goals, 6 assists, 7,4 recoveries of possession per game) is already one of the best players that are still in Norway. He has character, positioning, pass quality, vision and is determinant to secure the midfield of Bodø/Glimt’s team.
Albert Grønbæk (9 goals, 7 assists, 54% duels won, 56% successful dribbles per match) has good vision, technique and passing ability. The movement off the ball and how he appears between lines help him to be successful. In my opinion, it is unlikely that he’ll stay much longer in the Eliteserien.
Teams are now defining the next season, some changes will happen in all teams and everything will start from zero. The Eliteserien kicks off on 31st of March.
Review of EliteSerien (Norway) 2023 - Part I
Norway is a country with deep roots in sports. Despite not being a top nation in football, they have produced talents like Erik Thorstvedt, John Arne Riise, John Carew, Steffen Iversen, Tore André Flo and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. After failing to qualify for any major competition since 2000, the NFF - Norges Fotballforbund (or Norway’s Football Federation) restructured the football competitions and player development in the country. Nowadays, according to the NFF, there are 480 000 football players (all ages) in Norway. This represents almost 9% of the population. In more recent years the Norwegian football has developed some good talents, among them Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland.
The Eliteserien is the Norwegian top tier league and is usually played between April and the beginning of December. It has a set of rules that makes the League interesting to find talent. The teams must have between 20 and 25 players. There is a minimum of 16 homegrown players (2 of which must be club grown), thus a maximum of 9 foreign grown players per season.
Despite the Norwegian being more enthusiastic about the Premier League and the stadiums being small, this year the attendances reached 64% of stadium occupation. This creates a good environment and motivates the players.
Being an attractive market and because the most important transfer window is in the Summer for the main European Leagues, the Norwegian teams often lose their best players or young talents in the middle of their season. The teams must replace the players who left with new ones, but the money received is important to reinvest and keep the clubs afloat.
The Norwegian football has been developing and evolving in the last ten years, now standing in 15th in UEFA’s country ranking. The Eliteserien is played by 16 clubs, where the squads are constituted by a mixture of experience and youth. Most of the Stadiums have synthetic pitches.
In a football championship, being able to have stability and maintaining the key players is essential. This season, unsurprisingly, Bodø/Glimt’s dominated the League from day one. Having maintained the most of their key players and having been able to prepare others to replace them was crucial. The team is balanced, consistent and dominant. The individual quality of Pellegrino (24 goals*/14 assists*), Grønbæk (9 goals/7 assists) and Berg (6 assists/7.4 possession recoveries per game) was critical to achieve success.
Brann finished 2nd after being promoted last season (was playing in OBOS-Ligaen or second tier last season). They showed a very intense playstyle with high pressure, quick reaction to ball possession and with much mobility in the front. An intense team, both defending and attacking based on a zonal positioning and always working as a block. Nilsen (9 goals / 3.2 tackles per game*/ 9.3 possession recoveries per game) was the pilar of the midfield and Finne (16 goals / 9 assists), with good movements, was troublesome to the opposition’s defenders.
Tromsø finished 3rd, achieving its best position in 10 years. A disciplined, patient and pragmatic team. They showed high teamwork and work rate that helped them in finishing with the best defence of Eliteserien. Gundersen (4.2 clearances per game/ 61% total duels won) gave solidity in the back while Erlien (15 goals/ 22% goal conversion) was clinical in the front.
On the negative, Molde finished 5th after being champion in the previous season. Rosenborg, the most titled club in Norway, finished in a modest 9th position after being 3rd last season. The historic Vålerenga ended in the 14th position, being relegated in the play-off (was 6th last season) after 22 years in Eliteserien.
In a top tier with few financial resources, scouting for talent and developing players are essential. Thus this “Part I” serves its purpose to give context to the “Part II” where the focus will be on the players.
The strange case of Benfica in the Champions League (23/24)
Last season (22/23) Benfica was one of the best teams in Europe playing football. After losing Darwin Nuñez to Liverpool in the Summer of 2022, the team was successfully rebuilt.
The new manager Roger Schmidt brought new ideas and the signings of Enzo Fernandez (transferred to Chelsea in January), Neres, Bah and Aursnes made it work well. The high pressing and high tempo football was a success, helping the team reach the UEFA Champions League (UCL) Quarter Finals and win the Portuguese League.
This season (23/24) is not yet halfway through and it has been disastrous to the Portuguese team in the Champions League.
After the exits of Grimaldo, Vlachodimos and Gonçalo Ramos in the Summer, Benfica signed players like Kokçu (player of the year in the Netherlands), di Maria (free), Arthur Cabral (Fiorentina). Different players, same tactic… What could go wrong?
Seeded in Group D in the Champions League with Inter, Real Sociedad and Redbull Salzburg, the Portuguese only have one point in five matches. In their last match in this competition, at home, they faced and draw 3-3 (3-0 at half time) a second tier Inter, which preferred to rest players for their duel against Napoli.
Benfica is already out of the next phase of the UCL and needs to win by two in Salzburg, the last match of the group stage, to qualify to UEFA Europa League. In the last two matches of the Portuguese League, they lost 4 points, as a result of two draws following the match against Inter, thus making 3 consecutive matches without winning. The fans started to lose patience.
If Benfica still uses the same 1-4-2-3-1 formation (and similar shapes) as last year and only 3 players changed in the typical starting 11, why hasn´t it been working?
So far, in the UCL macthes, Benfica has shown:
1. Less ability to press high and to react to the loss of possession. Gonçalo Ramos was very efficient pressing high, quick to react to the loss of the ball possession, stamina and very intelligent in the movements, cutting the opposition’s passing lines. None of the Benfica’s attacking players has the same characteristics. An ineffective pressing only opens spaces between lines and exposes defence.
2. Benfica’s attack has been narrow, more predictable and less efficient. Despite the individual quality of the players, the team plays with two inverted wingers who rarely try to win the line. By default, the game will come to central parts of the field or there will be a 1v2 with the full back. None of the central forwards is well connected to the team (Musa, Tengsted or Arthur Cabral) which results in inefficiency. Nearly half of the crosses came from di Maria, most of them swerving towards the goal. With a right footed Left Fullback (Aursnes) or a center back adapted to the position (Morato), likely there won’t be many crosses from the line on that side. Grimaldo gave a lot of depth to the left side of the attack. Neres gave speed to the right wing. Ramos gave unpredictability and speed, appearing in the opposition’s defence weaker spots.
3. The difficulties felt by the team in getting out of high-pressure, greatly condition the ability to launch quick attacks and to go forward. The incapacity to change sides quickly (where there aren’t opposition players) also made it harder to find free space to go in attack.
4. The Psychological Factor. This season has shown that something is not well with the team, where the best example was the match away against Real Sociedad. The team seemed to lack the mental strength it had last year (22/23). Lapses of concentration and communication (specially while defending) have caused errors and compromising situations (poor decision making, unmarked opposition players inside the own penalty area, missed passes in the defence). Also, lower levels of confidence and motivation were noticeable whenever the team took too long to recover positioning or was too impatient while attacking.
Benfica’s team has quality and only depends on itself to qualify for Europa League. The mindset will be the key factor for the next matches. Follows Red Bull Salzburg (Away).
The German Connection - Jamal Musiala (Bayern - Man Utd. UCL round 1)
The 20-year-old played as an attacking midfielder, behind Harry Kane, and connected the plays of Bayern’s attack.
During the 75 minutes he was on the pitch, he showed great passing quality, vision and decision making, choosing the best options to deliver the ball. His technique, creativity, speed and ball control allowed him to conduct the game and unbalance the opponents, creating spaces and disorganise the opposition’s defence. Finally, his determination made him very effective in the duels.
A superb performance of this young player:
20/22 Passes completed (91% accuracy)
3 key passes
1 assist
2 big opportunities created
5/5 dribbles (100% accuracy!!!!)
6/9 duels (on the ground) won
Jamal Musiala connected Bayern Munich’s attack, was determinant for the win of his team and troublesome for the opposition. Great match!
Bayern Munich - Manchester United - UEFA Champions League round 1 2/2
This Wednesday was all about a Champions League Classic Bayern Munich - Manchester United. The reedition of the 1998/99 Final of the most important club competition in the world. In sum, the biggest Match of the 1st round.
In Munich, Germany, the giant Bayern faced a Manchester United far from their best days.
Both teams went to the field with a 1-4-2-3-1 formation.
The Germans shape varied between a 1-4-4-2 and a compact 1-4-3-3 while defending 1st and middle third. They transitioned to attack (entering middle third) displaying a 1-2-4-2-2 and 1-3-3-2-2 shape to attack with fluidity in the 2nd third and in a 1-3-3-4 or a 1-2-3-5 in the last.
On the other hand, the English side defended deep with a 1-5-3-2 shape and with a 1-4-4-2 or 1-4-3-3 in the middle third. After recovering the ball they transitioned with a 1-2-3-4-1 to attack middle and last third in a 1-2-4-4 or 1-3-3-4.
The match started well disputed and quite balanced with both teams creating danger. Bayern, more mature and tactically superior, was more patient and rational to keep ball control. The defence didn’t give many spaces and was overall strong with Upamecano and Kim in the center. Transitioning in 1-2-4-2-2 allowed them to make several triangulations and always find passing lines to go forward even when pressed. The calm and safety of Goretzka and Kimmich controlled at will with the help of the wingbacks to later deliver to the creative 3 behind Harry Kane. When attacking, the ball would go to the wings where Gnarby and (specially) Sané would put some speed. Supporting the wings were Musiala and Kane.
Manchester United started the match trying to push the team forward but the team didn’t feel connected and often without ideas. The four defenders didn’t have the best days and in the midfield only Casemiro and Fernandes seemed to have maintained some clarity when reading the game. The team often bet on quick transitions, mostly through their left side where Rashford could use his speed and skills. In the front Hojlund appeared at the right places but seemed too alone in the front.
After the first 20 minutes, the German side took the reigns of the match and put themselves in front, first by Sané (Onana seemed to lack concentration and focus) and later by Gnarby.
The 2-0 at half time rewarded the well-structured football of Bayern where the teamwork and decision making were the strongest points.
In the second half, the Red Devils started strong and made the 2-1 by Hojlund just four minutes played. It didn’t last long and, four minutes later, Kane was increasing the lead (3-1).
The second half was entirely dominated by the Bavarians with Sané, Musiala, Gnarby/Koman and Kane creating several goalscoring opportunities.
The last 10 minutes were full of goals. Casemiro managed to score (3-2) at 88’. Bayern accelerated the game a bit and Tel made the 4-2 (90+2’). In the last play, Casemiro again, scored to the 4-3 (90+5’).
A more than fair result for Bayern. Tactically superior, better positioning, better teamwork, and well-structured decision making were bases for this win. It gave the impression that, if they wanted, the German side could have put even more speed in the match (seen in the reaction to the goals suffered).
Manchester United is still far from the level shown when Sir Alex Ferguson was the manager. The team made several mistakes and failed to connect properly. It’s the third consecutive defeat and the fourth in the six official matches this season.
The F(élix) Factor of Barcelona - Antwerp (UCL round 1)
João Félix moved to Barcelona 20 days ago. Yesterday, in the Champions League against Antwerp, scored twice and assisted Lewandowski. But it is more than that. The 23-year-old Portuguese player finally arrived to a club with a playstyle that suits him and Barcelona gets the missing piece to their squad.
Félix has superior technical qualities that fit like a glove in the Blaugrana team. On this first match of the Champions League (as in the previous match against Betis) he showed why.
Movement and football IQ allow him to read the game and to explore spaces between the opposition midfield and defensive lines. Vision, creativity, decision making, passing and technique help him to control the ball easily, know where other players are, find passing lines and make combinations or assists. Finally, his positioning, composure and finishing are top notch enable him to position and finish well.
Against the Belgian side he showed how to do all these things:
2 shots
2 goals
1 assist
33/35 passes completed with a 94% accuracy!!!
Royal Antwerp wasn’t a tough opponent. Still, João Félix has arrived in Barcelona less than 3 weeks ago. Let’s hope he finally shows all the talent he has.